Laying Eggs on the ground

[Lori 8507]

I am a new chicken owner and really enjoy it. I have 4 chickens and one is a buff orppington. Their coup is A framed. They roost in the top and were laying eggs there regularly. Recently, they started laying eggs on the ground rather than in the top area. I have tried several things (i.e. golf balls in a box, etc.) to get them to not lay on the ground. I use pine shavings and keep their area clean. It is also on wheels so I move it every week to 10 days so they have fresh grass underneath. I read that the orpington does not like to climb and they tend to lay on the ground. Suggestion on how I can get them to lay in the upper part again?

Thanks, Lori

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could you share a photo of your set up? My Orpingtons have no troubles getting up to my boxes. Are they new layers? Is your coop hot or stuffy? Have you checked for mites in the roost cracks or corners of the nestboxes?

 

[Lori 8507]

I have a feeling it is the Texas heat. I am attaching a few pics. They do roost in the top but are now laying in the grass below. They won't use any type of container I have tried. thanks! Lori

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They do look hot. It could be you boxes are too open as hens like a darker nest, though I have some out in the open and they are used all the time.

Could also be the shape and size. And of course the heat used rises so it could just be too hot up there, plus there's no escape, a bottom hen would feel trapped up there.

You may have to redesign your nestboxes and move them lower.

 

[Lori 8507]

Thanks, I appreciate your advise.