My duck won't lay in the right place.

[88Haywood88]

I have a pekin hen and she refuses to use the space provided in the duck house to lay her eggs. She instead lays them in the pool. Any advice on how to get her to lay in a designated place? I put an old metal trashcan on iut's side in there, and put plenty of hay in it... just as a quick fix. I should also mention that i've had them only a couple of weeks. any suggestion?

 

[sheila3935]

I dont know what to tell you. I have to go on an Easter egg hunt everyday for my khaki campbell's egg. She never lays in the right place unless I put her in with the chickens then she will get in the nest box with them but they pick on the drake so I dont let her in there. Usually she will make a nest in the corner of the run and lay there but not always, so the search is on. If someone has a way let us know. I have even tried the golf ball like I did the chickens when they started to lay but to no avail.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

when you find out let me know. I have calls that have decided to lay in their food bucket.. a 5 gallon bucket with a hole cut in the side (which you would think they couldn't even fit in) They have pleanty of other room to lay, even a huge dog crate with clean fluffy shavings.. NOPE! in the bucket is where they insist on laying.. So today I made a new feed bucket and put shaving in the original one?? we'll see I guess..

 

[Bleenie]

you guys could try a nest like these. These are what I have for my Muscovies but the chickens like them too because they're nice & private. I just used scrap wood and built them according to my hens sizes.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

I'd say mine would love those, especially the ones with the holes might have to try that

 

[Bleenie]

the circles wre a pain to cut out but they do really like them and good hatches in them too

 

[Bananarose24]

Great Thread.. we are looking for ideas for our Muscovies too.. this is their first laying season ever.. they were all hatchlings last year.. so we're learning as we go

Hubby has the idea to get a cat litter box with lid, fill it with hay and see if they take to it..
Right now they are making sort of nest holes in corners of the pen and then just laying eggs in the middle of the pen.. so I think the hens are figuring it out as they go too..

 

[Teach97]

I have a couple that prefer to lay in the muddiest place they can find...two that lay in the hardest to get to location...couple that are very random...easter egg hunt cuz they are green so no....I don't know how to make them either....but the mud puddle ones tick me off