"locking up" chickens

[mtpeke]

I am still trying to get the girls to lay in their boxes. They are about 6 months old and I usually get 2-4 eggs. I am using fake eggs in the boxes and they often kick them out of the box. I have found eggs in our cat's bed, on the porch and on the front lawn. I know they are laying elsewhere but can not find out where just yet. We own 6 acres and they roam all over the yard (about an acres worth) and under the house for their dirt baths.

I have been told to "lock them up". Here is my concern. We only have a hen house... we do not have a run. Normally I just let them free range all day and I do not too much issues putting them up at night.

Can I lock 10 chickens up ...all day... in their 4x5' hen house? Do I need to make some sort of small run for them so they can at least get out a bit?

Thoughts....?

 

[J-Sanders]

Try and hold them in the coop until late AM. See if they don't lay then. Otherwise you will be playing egg hunt regularly.

Jim

 

[Fred's Hens]

That. Don't release them until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. They'll still have lots of "recess time", but their egg laying will be finished, most likely. It's a kind of training. And yes, a run is helpful for those times when you cannot have them released at all. There are those times.

 

[aoxa]

That.  Don't release them until 3 or 4 in the afternoon.  They'll still have lots of "recess time", but their egg laying will be finished, most likely.  It's a kind of training.   And yes, a run is helpful for those times when you cannot have them released at all.  There are those times.

How long would you suggest keeping them locked up for. Not the time, but 2 weeks? Would that be enough for them to get the hang of where to lay their eggs?

 

[off-grid hen]

For a while during integration, they were let out of the run at 9:00 am. I had an egg shortage and suspected either a slow down in production or that the girls were laying elsewhere. I locked them in to coop + covered run for 7 days, until they got back into the routine of laying in the boxes. I counted eggs for a few days after I let them free again. If the egg count drops, I lock them in again for a longer stretch. But 7 days was sufficient for my flock, your mileage may vary.

I still try to keep them in the run until about 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon now until most of the girls are done their business, but on the weekends they get out earlier.

I would suggest that the original poster build a run, as suggested by Fred's Hens. I have one because of predators and not wanting to do an egg hunt every night after work.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Everyone has their own methods and there is no one, precise, correct method. What we know is that where to lay must be developed as a learned, flock behavior. I'd rather spend a little more time at POL with young pullets than fuss with this for a couple of years.

If you have an older hen in the pullet flock, my goodness, does she often do a great job of pointing the way. But in any case, with young pullets at point of lay, I keep them in the coop, focused on what they are to do, until 3 in the afternoon, let's say. That still gives them 5 or 6 hours of outside time each day. Once they master this laying where I prefer, for my convenience, ie, the box provided, they usually never abandon it for a nest of their own making somewhere on the property. All we're really doing here is applying the chicken's own instinct to claim a nest and the social pressure of "follow the leader", ie the superior hens.

I'm too old for Easter egg hunts and don't enjoy. I had a "trainer" hen in with my POL pullets this year and I had 100% laid in the nest from 100% of the pullets. Not one laid in the corner, or off the roost or dropped outside, zip, none of that. I didn't have to use golf balls or wooden eggs, nothing. As they had watched her, through the netting for months and months, I suspect they were very interested in watching her lay her egg. Before POL, I took down the netting and integrated. Since she was a solitary hen, integration went very smoothly. Two weeks later, when the lead hen entered the nest, all the young pullets watched. It was a hoot. They couldn't wait to "monkey see, monkey do".

Chicken social dynamics are a hoot. Still so much to learn about their behavior structures.

 

[aoxa]

Everyone has their own methods and there is no one, precise, correct method.  What we know is that where to lay must be developed as a learned, flock behavior.  I'd rather spend a little more time at POL with young pullets than fuss with this for a couple of years.  

If you have an older hen in the pullet flock, my goodness, does she often do a great job of pointing the way.  But in any case, with young pullets at point of lay, I keep them in the coop, focused on what they are to do, until 3 in the afternoon, let's say.  That still gives them 5 or 6 hours of outside time each day.   Once they master this laying where I prefer, for my convenience, ie, the box provided, they usually never abandon it for a nest of their own making somewhere on the property.  All we're really doing here is applying the chicken's own instinct to claim a nest and the social pressure of "follow the leader", ie the superior hens.  

I'm too old for Easter egg hunts and don't enjoy.  I had a "trainer" hen in with my POL pullets this year and I had 100% laid in the nest from 100% of the pullets.  Not one laid in the corner, or off the roost or dropped outside, zip, none of that.   I didn't have to use golf balls or wooden eggs, nothing.  As they had watched her, through the netting for months and months, I suspect they were very interested in watching her lay her egg.  Before POL, I took down the netting and integrated.  Since she was a solitary hen, integration went very smoothly.   Two weeks later, when the lead hen entered the nest, all the young pullets watched.  It was a hoot.  They couldn't wait to "monkey see, monkey do".   

Chicken social dynamics are a hoot.  Still so much to learn about their behavior structures. 

This must be why most of my POL girls DO lay in the nesting box. However, some of my older girls STILL lay in the corner. Not sure what to do with those few. They are all cochins too.

 

[mtpeke]

Thanks for the tips everyone! After hiking all over my yard I have found 2 nests of their making... 1 had 3 eggs and I suspect they all came from the same chicken. The other nest, under a fire bush had... 31 eggs in it. I will find something to elevate the food/water and then start the pattern of keeping them up until 3pm. Some of my girls are laying in the afternoon so I hope they all get on a cycle! I very much appreciate the info

 

[aoxa]

Thanks for the tips everyone!  After hiking all over my yard I have found 2 nests of their making... 1 had 3 eggs and I suspect they all came from the same chicken.  The other nest, under a fire bush had... 31 eggs in it. I will find something to elevate the food/water and then start the pattern of keeping them up until 3pm.  Some of my girls are laying in the afternoon so I hope they all get on a  cycle!  I very much appreciate the info

Wow what a waste of 31 eggs! I only found on hidden nest and it had 15 eggs. I know they are holding out on me. My silkies lay more eggs than my layers!!