I have 3 bantam hens and a rooster. I have 2 12" x 12" nestboxes, but only one hen is laying and she lays in the run. I've only had them 3 days, so does it take a while before they start laying in the boxes? I can tell where they've made nests in the straw in both boxes. Thanks again for your help.
They are in new surroundings so yes it will take her awhile before she figures out where those nestboxes are....I've had young pullets lay in the run before they get the hang of laying in the nests...
I recently moved my nest boxes to prepare for new chicks ang several of my 3 year old hens layed in the run for about a week.
You could try putting in fake eggs to get her to get the idea. Or if you don't have fakes, mark a real egg so you know which one it is and put it in the nest boxes.
Quote:I agree with Farmer Kitty. My girls simply won't lay in the next box unless I have fake eggs there. They prefer a little corner by the roost to hide them on me. (Not that any of them want to go broody ) Sometimes, that doesn't even help. You have stubborn hens that want to lay where they want to.
My hens started to lay ALL over the place (they are in chicken tractor at night & free range during day). I started keeping them in their chicken tractor till later in the morning, by then, they would lay in the nesting box. I did that for a couple of weeks, now they lay there all the time, even if I let them out early AM.