Lippers is suddenly laying outside the coop

[NeseO]

Hi,
My chicken was happily laying eggs in the coop and all of the sudden she is going through the motions of laying in her nesting box, sitting there for hours, coming out and laying it right outside the coop. What could be wrong?
Thanks!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Do you have fake eggs or golf balls in the nest boxes?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Is she the only bird? If not, are the other birds still using the nest box(es)?

 

[NeseO]

There are several other ladies that use the box next to her and there are plastic (motivation) eggs in the box she likes to use.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

It is possible she is being bullied and doesn't feel comfortable laying there?

 

[NeseO]

It doesn't look like she is being bullied, and she sits there all morning.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

It doesn't look like she is being bullied, and she sits there all morning.

Hmm I can't figure out this one.

Sometimes if there are bugs in the nest they lay elsewhere but she is sitting in the nest a long time so I guess it wouldn't be that.

 

[justplainbatty]

It doesn't look like she is being bullied, and she sits there all morning.

This is weird. I wonder if she is straining and so getting up bc she is uncomfortable and frustrated. When I brought in my BO after a fox attack, during the 3 weeks she was in the house, I noticed she actually strains and kinda grunts when she lays. Since she's gone back out, I've noticed she still does it. She worries me a little but her eggs are always perfect and she doesn't give up and leave the nest early (yet).

 

[NeseO]

She doesn't seem to be straining. She got her egg in the nest today, hopefully it was just a phase. My next question would be, is it normal for some chickens to take their time laying. It seems I have some get in and get out chickens, then I have my all morning hang in the nest chickens.

 

[justplainbatty]

She doesn't seem to be straining. She got her egg in the nest today, hopefully it was just a phase. My next question would be, is it normal for some chickens to take their time laying. It seems I have some get in and get out chickens, then I have my all morning hang in the nest chickens.

I'm glad she made the nest today! Yes, some take along time, constantly turning, throwing litter on their backs and wriggling in. Other hens wait on line for the favored box or just get in there in the nick of time and get out without even singing the egg song! Do you know that when they don't sing and I am there, I'll start it and then they'll all start to sing it. How weird, yet true! I know, I'm a nut job! Who cares!