My girl laid an egg in her coop, but now she won't

[Bagawk2017]

Hey!! My girls are finally laying! Well, two of them are at least. My leghorn lays nicely in the coop (we have free range) so I have been leaving them in the coop until about noon and let them out.
My sexlink laid in there once. And now it has been 3 days, no eggs! Do I leave her in there all day and let the others out?? What do I do? She obviously has to be laying somewhere else, but how do I get her to lay back in the coop?

Thanks!!

 

[ronott1]

They are not regular at laying at first. They often lay an egg and then stop. Will then lay two or three and stop. After several weeks, they will get into a regular egg laying pattern. Some will lay several and then miss a day. Others like the leghorn and sexlink might lay an egg every day for months before taking a break.

Congratulations on the new egg layers!

 

[Askme42]

Yeah I got my first egg 4-5 days ago. Haven't gotten another one since.

Same thing I try to let them out early afternoon. There's a chance she's laying somewhere else but right now I'm chalking it up to normal early layer.

 

[cmom]

It's not uncommon for new layers to lay their first egg and then not lay again for a few days. They are working out the kinks. Mine lay at all times of the day. Some will lay early in the morning and some later in the day. Check around and see if there is a place where they might be laying. Often times if one bird lays in a certain spot and others take notice, they may also lay their eggs there too.

 

[aart]

Could be slow start..... but I vote for locking them up for a few weeks to habituate them to laying in the coop nests.
If you let them out at all,
I would wait until late afternoon to do so,
like 5-6pm as new layers can lay anytime of day.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.