my crazy chookies - laying all over the place

[chookadoo]

So I am new to this whole chicken thing and am wondering if anyone had any advice or tips for what is going on with my chickens.

2 started laying about 4 weeks ago at 20 weeks - they started laying in their box, one at a time. There are 2 laying boxes but they were only laying in the one so would take it in turns.

The 3rd hen has laid about 3-4 eggs total, only starting a couple of weeks ago and lays later in the day, again in the same box as the others.

All was going PERFECTLY!

The last few days the first layer of the day has left her egg on the poop board where they sleep, this morning it had rolled off and cracked (so disappointed). I think one of the others has been sleeping in the box so she can't get in, early in the morning when she lays. The second layer of the day lays in the box, no problems.

Then tonight my 3rd chook decided to lay, on the floor of the run near the food and water bowls, I just found it!

What is going on?

I put some egg shaped rocks in both of the laying boxes so they would hopefully lay in both of them (I can't find the golf balls) and they do lay in both boxes, but randomly which one they lay in for the day, if they lay in them at all!

Any ideas?

THANKS!

 

[poultrycrazy]

Its not rare for multiple chickens to have a favorite nesting box, and when they start to lay you have to give them a chaance to actually realize the nesting box is for eggs, and until then they will lay were they want

 

[dsqard]

Are your roosts higher or lower than your nest boxes? If your roosts are lower than the nest boxes, you might want to get them higher. This will encourage them not to sleep in the nest boxes. Other than keeping the rocks in the boxes I don't know what to suggest. How many pullets do you have? You might need another nest box? I know the guide is one box per five hens but if the "favorite" box is occupied, they might be laying outside the box because they just can't wait any more. I had two eggs laid inside the coop the other day and I think that is the reason they did it. Just couldn't wait for that nest any more.