My chickens are not laying eggs in their nesting boxes

[VESMTSchickadee]

Hi. So I recently introduced chickens into my flock. Before my grandmother would train them to nest in their boxes, but she has passed away. We didn't really train them much. When they were younger we didn't know they started laying, but they found a place in between some weeds. We stopped them from laying there, but now they are laying in random places of the floor of the run. Help T-T

 

[sylviethecochin]

Golf balls are wonderful, cheap substitutes for ceramic eggs. Put them in the nesting boxes. The purpose of these round white things is to fool the chicken into thinking "there are eggs in that box!" which leads to the thought "some other hen thought it would be safe to lay her eggs there!" which leads to the conclusion "Safe spot for eggs! I'll put mine there!"

Also, is there any chance your older hens are bullying the youngsters out of the boxes? My chickens learn to lay their eggs in the boxes by following the example of the older birds. I'm thinking something's preventing them from doing that.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I'm assuming that you do have nesting boxes available? Chickens will lay where they are feeling safe and comfortable. If they don't like the boxes they won't use them. Are they wood boxes? Or buckets on the side? What? Are you using straw in them? Sounds like you need to change things up to entice them to use boxes!

My chickens love their coop and the nesting boxes as well!

 

[Northern Flights]

I made several different types of nesting boxes, starting when I brought these buzzards home. But they have never, not even once used any of them. They pick a spot and pile in, all 4 of them.

Lately, I inadvertently left a bit of a gap under 2 bails of hay and the wall and they moved right in. Sometimes you gots to go with the flow. I reckon at least it's inside the coop! Blasted birds...

 

[Verbon30]

I had this problem with my silkies when they started laying but they fingered it out in a few weeks on there own.

 

[Perris]

hello @VESMTSchickadee ! welcome to BYC
can you post a photo of your nesting box(es) ?

 

[aart]

Hi. So I recently introduced chickens into my flock. Before my grandmother would train them to nest in their boxes, but she has passed away. We didn't really train them much. When they were younger we didn't know they started laying, but they found a place in between some weeds. We stopped them from laying there, but now they are laying in random places of the floor of the run. Help T-T

Tell us more about....
-your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
-your coop(size in feet by feet with pics, inside and out).

Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @VESMTSchickadee
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[igorsMistress]

I had some girls that used the nest boxes and some that preferred the corner on the floor of the coop. I didn't really care where they decided was comfy for them.

Eventually the 2 that started on the floor moved to the boxes like everyone else.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I made several different types of nesting boxes, starting when I brought these buzzards home. But they have never, not even once used any of them. They pick a spot and pile in, all 4 of them.

Lately, I inadvertently left a bit of a gap under 2 bails of hay and the wall and they moved right in. Sometimes you gots to go with the flow. I reckon at least it's inside the coop! Blasted birds...

Yes, being INSIDE the coop does seem to be an improvement! It is different when the chickens were raised as chicks in the coop with the boxes already there and even some older girls to show them the ropes. Good luck!

 

[Northern Flights]

Mine arrived as young ladies at 16 weeks, my guess is at a similar age as a 16 year old human. Unfortunately they had no older girls to show them the ropes so they just winged it!