Need Advice on Nesting Boxes

[QHGirl]

Hi Gang,

I have four hens and two roos. (That's a whole different thread...a result of purchasing straight run chicks).

The girls have started laying and my first question, which is an eye-roller, I know is, will the eggs get larger as they mature? My eggs are mini eggs. Is this normal?

The biggest question is how do I get them to use the next boxes? They have determined that the corner of the poop board is the place to lay? I have little trays in the nest boxes for easy cleaning, so I took them out and put them on the floor of the coop with a few of their eggs in there and still no luck. They have been laying for about two weeks.

Any advice you could give me is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Shannon

 

[123RedBeard]

Put some fake eggs or golf balls where you want them to lay ... Move their eggs into the nests for a few hours ... If you catch them singing the egg song, put them in the nest box, don't let them out until they lay an egg

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi Shannon! You might want to block the spot where they are laying now. Upside down bowl, brick, whatever works so they can't lay there. I'd take the trays completely out, as laying on the floor would be a new habit to break. Like redbeard said, put eggs, golf balls in the nest boxes. Be sure the boxes are low? And private?
Re egg size, the eggs do get bigger pretty quickly. You didn't mention breed though. If you google the breed it will tell you what size eggs to expect once they get a doz or so laid. Best of luck!

 

[Spartan22]

I've noticed on my layers that after few weeks (approximately 4-6 wks) of laying,their eggs gradually became bigger to its appropriate size of their type of breeds. Some layers that were bred for high productions, like my leghorns actually laid extra large eggs almost within 2 wks which were fascinating since they were scrawny and lighter birds.

 

[QHGirl]

Thank you. I have some of their eggs in there right now. When you say don't let them out until they lay, do you mean out of the "hen house" or out of the coop in general? I open the pop door in the morning before I leave for work, but they are not allowed out to free range until I get home in the evening.

 

[QHGirl]

That's a great idea! I will put something there. Thank you.
I have a Rhode Island Red, a Wyandotte, an Australorpe, and an Americana.

 

[aart]

Fake eggs or golf balls(not real eggs) in all but one nest(one of my pullets hated the fakes at first).
Make sure nests are easy to get up and down from...with a perch about 8" out in front so they can land there and take a look before entering nest.

 

[QHGirl]

Oh thank you for the perch suggestion. Mine is not that far out. I need to make some modifications now. This site is just so helpful!