Need help with three hens laying on coop floor

[Carson213]

I have 23 pullets. 14-16 are laying. All but 3 are laying in the back roll out nesting boxes. I have tried multiple things. I have put random objects in each spot that they lay on the coop floor, I’ve tossed treats in those areas to create commotion in that area, and I’ve tried putting fake eggs in the nesting boxes. The nesting boxes are about 24 inches off of the floor and I can’t move them to ground level because they’re built into the wall. I tried to duct tape the fake eggs in the nesting box to keep them from rolling back but the birds just knock them around and they roll out. Most of the pullets are using the nesting boxes. Any other tricks to get these three pullets to stop laying on the floor? Will they just “grow out” of it? Should I just build a nesting box and put it on the floor to get them to at least lay in a box...and then after a few weeks remove it and see if they start using the roll outs? Aside from COVID, there are many weekends we are out of town...like to go skiing this winter coming up...so, I’d like to try to solve this in the next 4-6 weeks.

Any ideas from the old pros? I asked my Grandpa. He’s almost 92 and had chickens his whole life until we moved onto their farm. I rebuilt a new chicken coop during COVID. The old one was 100 years old but was all rotted so we took it a few years ago. When I asked him about it...he said, “awe...they’ll figure it out.” Any other advice?

 

[ButtonHoarder]

Is there enough nest boxes for the amount of hens?
Are these 3 being bullied and not allowed in?
Other than that I'm clueless on how to help you sorry
Maybe your grandpa's right XD

 

[Carson213]

Is there enough nest boxes for the amount of hens?
Are these 3 being bullied and not allowed in?
Other than that I'm clueless on how to help you sorry
Maybe your grandpa's right XD

I have two, four foot wide, community nesting boxes that are back roll outs...so, with 23 pullets...it should be enough and because they’re community style, they can’t really fight over them. i haven’t seeing any bullying but i’ve watched a pullet just make a nest on the floor to lay...i should have picked her up and blocked her in the nesting box until she laid. that probably would have been a better idea than disturbing her space with treats.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

I have two, four foot wide, community nesting boxes that are back roll outs...so, with 23 pullets...it should be enough and because they’re community style, they can’t really fight over them. i haven’t seeing any bullying but i’ve watched a pullet just make a nest on the floor to lay...i should have picked her up and blocked her in the nesting box until she laid. that probably would have been a better idea than disturbing her space with treats.

Sorry I got nothin

 

[Carson213]

Sorry I got nothin

sure enough...2 on the floor again...in a new spot. you can see wood and extra waterers blocking the corner

 

[ButtonHoarder]

sure enough...2 on the floor again...in a new spot. you can see wood and extra waterers blocking the corner

Maybe your grandpa is right

 

[Aunt Angus]

Maybe they want more privacy? Maybe add a box on the ground, like made out of a crate or bucket? Put the fake eggs in that? I'm just guessing here. Those look like awesome nest boxes you've got there.

 

[4yearsofchickens]

I think new layers do this often. I will watch them and if I see them on the floor preparing to lay I pick them up and put them in a nest box and cover the front of it. As soon as it goes dark they settle down. I let them out as soon as they've laid their egg. Seems like after I do that they don't lay on the floor anymore.

 

[4yearsofchickens]

I think new layers do this often. I will watch them and if I see them on the floor preparing to lay I pick them up and put them in a nest box and cover the front of it. As soon as it goes dark they settle down. I let them out as soon as they've laid their egg. Seems like after I do that they don't lay on the floor anymore.

Just found a pic from my pullets this year. If you check them and it's doing this, stick it in the box and cover the front with a blanket or something (don't suffocate it) and let it out after it lays. This one I only had to do that to once and never had an egg on the floor again.

 

[rosemarythyme]

i should have picked her up and blocked her in the nesting box until she laid.

Yes. Consider trying the following:

Now this isn't practical if you don't have time to stalk them, but what I did was I learned the problem bird(s) laying schedules, and when they went to their preferred spot to lay, I'd go and pick them up, stick them in a nest box, and barricade them in using my arms to cover the exit. 30-60 seconds was all they needed to calm down and start exploring the box and decide that maybe it wasn't such a bad place to be. They each started reliably using the boxes after that.

Alternatively, some folks design "doors" on their nest boxes so birds can be locked in, which basically does the same as above, but forces the bird to stay in the nest box (whereas once I see them exploring and sitting down in the nest, I leave them to it and walk away).