Leghorn will only lay eggs by my feet?

[LennyoftheSwamp]

I'm new to chickens, and although my husband is not, he says he hasn't seen this type of laying behavior before. My leghorn has just started laying eggs a few days ago and so far for each one she's laid, she will sit in the nesting box for about a half hour, but will then come looking for me and drop the egg directly at my feet. All of my chickens are free range, so this usually means she's laying in the middle of our yard. I've tried putting her back in the nesting box, but she keeps coming out and refuses to lay anywhere other than directly where I am. I'm wondering, is she just nervous about laying and feels safe near me or could something else be going on? Her behavior otherwise seems normal other than being more affectionate and seeking me out more often throughout the day, but she's still sleeping, eating, pooping, and foraging as she usually does.

 

[sourland]

She believes in delivering the goods.

 

[GoatGirl123]

She is most likely a little nervous about going into the nesting boxes and doesn’t view them as a safe place to lay. In nature when a hen can’t find a safe place to lay she will stand next to the rooster to lay her egg while he protects them. She is viewing you as her protector.

 

[LennyoftheSwamp]

She is most likely a little nervous about going into the nesting boxes and doesn’t view them as a safe place to lay. In nature when a hen can’t find a safe place to lay she will stand next to the rooster to lay her egg while he protects them. She is viewing you as her protector.

That seems very sweet, although I do have a rooster, does that mean she doesn't like or trust him?

 

[GoatGirl123]

She’s probably just still getting used to this whole egg laying thing. Eventually she will figure it out

 

[McChooky]

Roosters have been known to ignore some hens while catering to their favorites .Some keep more than one so no one feels left out. I'm not sure how many chickens you have but if you can't get another rooster maybe you can teach her the nesting boxes are safe. Roosters also escort their favorite hens to the nest boxes and show them which ones to use .Maybe you could try this and see if she'll stop laying at your feet?

 

[RubelliteRose]

Roosters have been known to ignore some hens while catering to their favorites .Some keep more than one so no one feels left out. I'm not sure how many chickens you have but if you can't get another rooster maybe you can teach her the nesting boxes are safe. Roosters also escort their favorite hens to the nest boxes and show them which ones to use .Maybe you could try this and see if she'll stop laying at your feet?

This. We have a hen, who when she first started laying, would stand near the back porch and yell until someone, chicken or human, came to escort her to the nest box. She did eventually decide to go to them on her own without an escort
- just looked at the original date of your post. How is she doing? Is she going to the nest box to lay now?