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I have 2 nest boxes inside the coop with a wooden egg in each. I would assume they would lay in those. BUT, they sleep in the nest boxes. Would that ever deter them from laying where they sleep? and the first one was inside the coop, but not in the box. Don't think I believe these were laid by them, I'm just not sure how it works when they sleep where they should lay.
My BA lays eggs that are reddish, almost newsprint like. Don't discount an occasional egg outside the nest box though. I have golf balls in mine and before they started laying one of them would get cheeky and roll it out and bury it in the bedding. I found one egg one day in the bedding, but what probably happened was nest box congestion and it just had to come out.
I have two nests for 3.25 birds (1 chukar) and observe their behavior DAILY via webcam while I work. Most of the time there is plenty of space available. Sometimes there is slight congestion where they are waiting for an opening or a certain nest to become available. It's so funny because you know they're cooking up an egg by the way they just stand there, watching. One day I watched all birds double occupancy... some lay faster than others... some just will not take this kind of invasion of personal space and will reschedule at a later time even though they were there first. At first I thought there was a favorite nest, but it seems to have more to do with which way the wind blows.
Yes, definitely make sure your roosts are higher, and if they are, is it enclosed/dark enough?
I would get absolutly NO work done if I had a web cam of my chickens at work!
