Laying eggs in "play yard"

[Varrington]

I have 5 hens and 3 nest boxes. I will be adding two more nest boxes this weekend. My small flock is made up of 3 Astralourp and 2 Americana. The Astralourp pullets regularly lay in the nesting boxes. The Amerucanas pullets started laying in the hen house on the floor, now they lay in the "play yard". I have used fake eggs but when the Astralourps started picking on the Amerucanas they stopped laying in the coop. I am hoping that the additional coop addin with more boxes will help.
Any other ideas. All of my flock are pullets, and I am very new at raising chickens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The problem is your small coop. There's not enough room for dominant members and submissive members to coexist in it. The dominant members will control the territory. Another coop may or may not help. Dividing your flock up into 2 separate set ups, or building a much bigger coop would be better options.

 

[Varrington]

The problem is your small coop. There's not enough room for dominant members and submissive members to coexist in it. The dominant members will control the territory. Another coop may or may not help. Dividing your flock up into 2 separate set ups, or building a much bigger coop would be better options.

Thanks, that's what I thought. My husband bought another coop and we will be adding it to the first one like a duplex. I am also looking into getting a mobile run to add space to their yard.

 

[Varrington]

Thanks, that's what I thought. My husband bought another coop and we will be adding it to the first one like a duplex. I am also looking into getting a mobile run to add space to their yard.

Spent today adding a second coop. Now I have 5 hens and 5 nesting boxes. Go figure they are all in the addition huddled together. Silly ladies.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Don't they always do that.

 

[Varrington]

Don't they always do that.

Little hussies!

 

[ronott1]

Chickens can be very silly!

I used to have 20 hens but now have 6. They have access to 5 nest boxes. 5 of them lay in one nest box. The sixth one lays her egg behind a pallet by the fence every day. She just likes that spot! Very silly chicken

 

[jolly wattles]

You're going to have bigger problems with that chicken wire eventually. Any predator can easily rip through it except a hawk or owl. I'd quickly get up some hardware cloth.

 

[Varrington]

You're going to have bigger problems with that chicken wire eventually. Any predator can easily rip through it except a hawk or owl. I'd quickly get up some hardware cloth.

Thanks for the info. Will heel an eye on it u til we can upgrade again

 

[jolly wattles]

Thanks for the info. Will heel an eye on it u til we can upgrade again

Didn't mean to sound rude. Turn your head for five minutes like going to the bathroom and a dog or fox or coyote would be through it and decimate your flock before you even finish washing your hands. Remember chicken wire is for keeping chickens in. Not predators out. Best of luck.