Laying under roosts

[Kalebsmomma]

I have 25 6 month old Golden Comets. Most have been laying since 17 weeks. All were laying by 19 weeks. 2 weeks ago I noticed one of my pullets was laying an egg in the corner at the opposite end of coop (which is under their roost) from the nesting boxes. Then the beginning of the week I noticed now 2 are laying there. AND now today there are 3!! The nesting boxes are comfy and clean. Is there a trick to make them stop or stop others from starting? Would be nice to not having dirty eggs again! Thanks!

Edit: I do have 6 nesting boxes.

 

[aart]

How many nests are there?
Pic of nests please?

Block off the are they are laying in.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some people have had success blocking off the area they are laying in. I didn't when I tried, they laid next to what I put there, but we get different results. If it works for you great.

The weekend is coming up so you may have a chance to do this. I made a couple of my nests so I could lock a hen in there if I wanted to. That's come in handy for a few different things. When I have a hen not laying in the nests like yours, I wait until she is on that bad nest and move her to a nest I want her to use and lock her in there until she lays the egg. Usually that takes about a half hour after I lock her in but one hen took 3 hours to finally lay her egg. Usually I only have to do that once and they learn that the nest is a better place to lay. Usually.

Sometimes I can pick her up when she is on that bad nest but usually she runs off. I chase her down with a fishing net. First lock the coop door and pop door so she can't get out, makes it easier to catch her. Yes, she usually gets quite upset, especially if I chase her around the coop with a fishing net. But I'm OK with her associating that bad nest as not a safe place to lay. The real nest is a lot more calming.

Try to keep the eggs cleaned up in that bad nest. If they see an egg laying there they might think that is a safe place to lay an egg. Also, put a fake egg in the real nests. That might encourage some to lay there.

Good luck.