My EE is not laying in the nest box

[SconnieChickens]

I’m new to chicken raising and My EE Hazel is having some trouble. She laid her 4th egg today and none have been in the nest box. The first day she laid she was very nervous and agitated for an hour or so. I was outside the whole time, went around the side of the house for a few minutes and when I came back there was her egg in the run, dirty of course. Next time she laid a little softer shell egg on the coop floor bedding (which is the same height as the nest boxes- we have a raised floor coop), again dirty. Yesterday I was cleaning out the coop and she was up there pacing around but never staying in one box. One of the middle-of-the-pack hens came up and was poking at her every time she went into any nest box at all. This other hen is also laying but didn’t lay that day and I think it was just more of a bullying thing. I was keeping an eye on it and was going to move the bully hen out and let Hazel have the place to herself to do her business, but I turned around to put some poo in a bucket and when I turned around there was her egg. Literally that quickly. Today the egg was in the run again where she laid it the first time,not at all hidden. Any suggestions? I’m worried that with her eggs out in the open they will start getting eaten by curious flock mates. For reference I have 3 nest boxes for 11 hens (could possibly add a 4th and 5th on the other side of the coop). I know 5 are laying possibly 6. They have an attached covered run and a 25x25 pen. They are fed layer feed and let out in the afternoon to free range. I have been keeping them in the run/pen longer because I don’t want to find eggs all over the place and I want them all to get used to laying in the nest boxes. The nest boxes are kept clean, I check for eggs multiple times a day, and they are pest free. More privacy maybe?

 

[neo71665]

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

 

[SconnieChickens]

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

Yes I put some ceramic ones in there and move them around between the 3 every day

 

[Chad Oftedal]

I would put some in each nest box and just leave them. Let her see that any one of the three is a good place to lay and let her make up her mind from there - she'll probably pick the one she feels most comfortable in. I think she's not really getting the hint by seeing them move around every day.

Also, adding a 4th and 5th nest box - I don't think - would really change much. Unless they're taking a number and waiting in line, they have enough choices already. And sometimes they'll just be stubborn anyway and ignore an open nest because the one they want it occupied.

Finally, she's only on egg 4, so getting the whole location thing down and the timing of when to get to the nest to lay is still probably getting ironed out. I had a few surprise locations early on in the run, then once their bodies got rolling, they were fine using the nest box.

 

[SconnieChickens]

I would put some in each nest box and just leave them. Let her see that any one of the three is a good place to lay and let her make up her mind from there - she'll probably pick the one she feels most comfortable in. I think she's not really getting the hint by seeing them move around every day.

Also, adding a 4th and 5th nest box - I don't think - would really change much. Unless they're taking a number and waiting in line, they have enough choices already. And sometimes they'll just be stubborn anyway and ignore an open nest because the one they want it occupied.

Finally, she's only on egg 4, so getting the whole location thing down and the timing of when to get to the nest to lay is still probably getting ironed out. I had a few surprise locations early on in the run, then once their bodies got rolling, they were fine using the nest box.

Thanks! I am hoping that she settles down a bit with more experience...she seems a little freaked out by the whole process lol

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I agree with Chad. Put a golf ball or two in each nest and leave them there, I think it creates a feeling of security for the hens. Just guessing of course, they don't actually tell me so . And then leave her alone. Your presence may also be a little off-putting to her. As you said, she picked those few moments you weren't looking to lay her egg! A watched pot, and all that. She'll get the hang of it.

 

[SconnieChickens]

Well she’s gotten better...it’s about 50/50 on whether or not she lays in the box but we’ve gotten them in the coop or nest box only, not in the run or pen. Progress! They do seem a little dirty... there’s always a smudge of something on them. I don’t have that with other eggs and I keep the nest boxes obsessively clean. Could there be something happening when she lays?

 

[Chad Oftedal]

Might potentially be a little blood? That wouldn't be so unusual with her starting out. I seem to recall having that a time or two. Also, maybe just check her bum area and see if she's clean or not. Mine seem to go through phases where they are spotless, and then have a bit that sticks to their feathers.

Also, I bought some egg wipes last year - they pretty much look like what baby wipes are made of - and any soiled eggs, I just clean them up a bit. If she's not showing distress or visible bleeding (which you'd want to address right away) then I'd just continue to keep an eye on her. I had one about a week ago that went through a little spell. Her comb became floppy and she was just a bit off. A few days later, she had perked back up and has been fine ever since. Just keep a watch over her, but sounds like you're doing great!

 

[SconnieChickens]

Might potentially be a little blood? That wouldn't be so unusual with her starting out. I seem to recall having that a time or two. Also, maybe just check her bum area and see if she's clean or not. Mine seem to go through phases where they are spotless, and then have a bit that sticks to their feathers.

Also, I bought some egg wipes last year - they pretty much look like what baby wipes are made of - and any soiled eggs, I just clean them up a bit. If she's not showing distress or visible bleeding (which you'd want to address right away) then I'd just continue to keep an eye on her. I had one about a week ago that went through a little spell. Her comb became floppy and she was just a bit off. A few days later, she had perked back up and has been fine ever since. Just keep a watch over her, but sounds like you're doing great!

Thanks! So many new things to learn. I’m interested in these egg wipes...where did you get them? Do you have to refrigerate the eggs after using? I’ve never had any really dirty eggs, just a smudge here and there that my OCD needs to get cleaned off lol. I don’t wash the eggs and would prefer to not have to refrigerate if possible.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have 10 hens that are over a year old that have been laying right along, and one of them, an EE, frequently lays anywhere at random, like a young pullet that gets taken by surprise! I have found her eggs in the coop at different places on the floor, as well as outside, in the run, but usually quite near the coop, as if she was headed to the nests but just didn't quite make it. I don't know what her problem is. Just one of those things, I guess. Could she be a sister to your hen, I wonder???