laying placement

[only one lay]

Got nesting boxes at a sale for a cheap price last summer while building coop. hung them, inside the coop girls continue to lay in the extra straw sitting around instead of in the nesting box. How can I get them to lay in the boxes so I can be lazy and not egg hunt crawl daily?

 

[Opa]

Try placing golf balls in the nests.

 

[waynesgarden]

You could try removing any extra straw laying around or otherwise make the nest boxes more inviting than their old spots. Are the nest boxes shaded?

 

[only one lay]

Define shaded- They are hung on the back wall and my timed light is on the front wall with no shadows. should it be shadowed?

 

[waynesgarden]

Quote:
Basiclally, no direct light streaming in or reflected bright light on the nests. My birds prefer nest boxes with subdued light.

Since my little coop had little wallspace for nests except right next to a window, the birds didn't care for it much until I hung an old pillowcase over most of the opening. They seem happy with the accomodations now.

Wayne

 

[Rustywreck]

My chickens took a little time, but figured out to use the nest boxes on their own. I'll still find the occasional egg on the floor and other places, but the majority are now in the nests.
I don't know if it made a difference, but when I added carpet to the nest boxes they seemed to be more consistant in using them.
I tried the straw and shavings, but they kicked all that stuff out.

 

[LynneP]

How high are they? I was advised to have nests about a foot off the coop floor with perch attached on front and it's worked well. Golf balls do work!