Laying hens avoiding laying in the nesting boxes?

[FunnyBunny89]

I had straw on the floor of my coop, and my broody chook made a circle out of it, a well as you said. But the base of the well had no straw at all, just plain concrete! How on earth is that comfortable for her?

Good question! Sometimes they dig the nests down to the wood, and I replace them when that happens. But I guess it doesn't bother them. Maybe they just like the comfort of being in a bowl?

 

[ChookaPete]

Good question! Sometimes they dig the nests down to the wood, and I replace them when that happens. But I guess it doesn't bother them. Maybe they just like the comfort of being in a bowl?

Hmmm I wonder - should I get some shallow cloth or weaved baskets like pet dogs and cats have? I am planning to build some nesting boxes.


Just something cheap like this? ($6):

 

[BDutch]

Hmmm I wonder - should I get some shallow cloth or weaved baskets like pet dogs and cats have? I am planning to build some nesting boxes.


Just something cheap like this? ($6):

Why bother to buy rubbish thats not meant for chickens?
Chickens peck, might eat the plastic fabric, which isn’t healthy. please use natural materials like earth, shavings, hemp , grass, a paper bag, cardboard or an old cotton towel. Whatever is available and cheap , but natural.

I use the bottom + 2” of a cardboard box as a base and fill it up with nesting material.
Put a layer of sand mixed with diatom earth in it or change it every 10 days in summer to avoid a mite infestation.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Hmmm I wonder - should I get some shallow cloth or weaved baskets like pet dogs and cats have? I am planning to build some nesting boxes.


Just something cheap like this? ($6):

I would just stick with anything grassy, or simple. Cloth is no good when it gets wet. My chickens laid in a star thistle nest when summer got too hot they do seem to have a knack for making nests with plant or plant-like material.

 

[Love Donkeys]

We've had a hen decide our tractor cab was her perfect spot. Another hen liked a bucket in my husband's shop that was half full of 5 inch Lag Bolts! This year we have two hens that are laying their eggs on the work bench that has the Vice attached to it. The bench has no bedding at all, just wood covered over with steel.

 

[ChookaPete]

Why bother to buy rubbish thats not meant for chickens?
Chickens peck, might eat the plastic fabric, which isn’t healthy. please use natural materials like earth, shavings, hemp , grass, a paper bag, cardboard or an old cotton towel. Whatever is available and cheap , but natural.

I use the bottom + 2” of a cardboard box as a base and fill it up with nesting material.
Put a layer of sand mixed with diatom earth in it or change it every 10 days in summer to avoid a mite infestation.

I just thought it would help maintain the bowl shape.


At present, my chickens lay their eggs in:

• A large patch of weeds
• Inside an open cupboard, upon a doormat
• In the pumpkin patch
• Inside a plastic pot turned on its side, with straw inside it
• In a thin layer of straw (formed into a bowl shape) on the concrete floor of the coop where they sleep (they forage outside all day)

 

[ChookaPete]

they do seem to have a knack for making nests with plant or plant-like material.

That is why I don't remove a huge patch of weeds in my backyard garden! For two of my chooks it is their favourite spot to lay their eggs!

 

[BDutch]

…At present, my chickens lay their eggs in:

• A large patch of weeds
• Inside an open cupboard, upon a doormat
• In the pumpkin patch
• Inside a plastic pot turned on its side, with straw inside it
• In a thin layer of straw (formed into a bowl shape) on the concrete floor of the coop where they sleep (they forage outside all day)

If the chickens are happy with it, the eggs don’t break or get filthy, and you don’t mind, this is fine.

If you want to make the nest inside more comfortable for your chickens you can add a bottom of a cardboard box underneath the straw nest.

If you want them to lay inside the coop , take a few pictures and post them here for advice.
Maybe you need to make more nests boxes inside the coop or add hanging nestboxes if the coop is small + you need to lock them in for a week or so to change their habit (often seems to work. Succes not guaranteed).
If there is too little space to lock them in you need to build a small attached run first.

 

[ChookaPete]

If the chickens are happy with it, the eggs don’t break or get filthy, and you don’t mind, this is fine.

If you want to make the nest inside more comfortable for your chickens you can add a bottom of a cardboard box underneath the straw nest.

If you want them to lay inside the coop , take a few pictures and post them here for advice.
Maybe you need to make more nests boxes inside the coop or add hanging nestboxes if the coop is small + you need to lock them in for a week or so to change their habit (often seems to work. Succes not guaranteed).
If there is too little space to lock them in you need to build a small attached run first.

My "coop" is actually my a corner of my tool shed, where they roost. It just so happens that one or two of them lay their eggs in there at the moment. I don't mind the daily treasure hunt, however that is only five chickens laying.

Otherwise they are all out in the yard all day long. My entire block of land is one large chicken run, with a shed at the back and a house in the middle.


Also the weather is extremely hot at present, so if I locked my chickens in there during the day, they would roast!


I want to build some nest boxes for them, because I plan to double the size of my flock- with that many chickens laying eggs, it would get tiresome hunting all over the garden for the eggs each day!

 

[BDutch]

My "coop" is actually my a corner of my tool shed, where they roost. It just so happens that one or two of them lay their eggs in there at the moment. I don't mind the daily treasure hunt, however that is only five chickens laying.

Otherwise they are all out in the yard all day long. My entire block of land is one large chicken run, with a shed at the back and a house in the middle.


Also the weather is extremely hot at present, so if I locked my chickens in there during the day, they would roast!


I want to build some nest boxes for them, because I plan to double the size of my flock- with that many chickens laying eggs, it would get tiresome hunting all over the garden for the eggs each day!

You know best how things can work for you and your chickens of course.