Nesting box help!

[Linzie381]

We have 13 girls, 10 of them are laying right now. We have 3 nesting boxes in the coop and one on our back porch because they decided to lay in the corner there. They all want to lay in the same 2 boxes in the coop. If they can't lay in there, they jump our fence and lay in the neighbors yard. We live in a neighborhood but have about 1/3 of an acre. They free range through our yard.

We will be clipping their wings this evening, but how else can I encourage them to use the nesting boxes we have? From everything I've read, 4 boxes should be plenty right? Or do I need to add another one somewhere?

Side note: Our neighbors are rarely home and probably don't even know that we have chickens let alone that they're laying in their backyard and our kids are jumping the fence to collect eggs every day!

 

[Jules1349]

You can try putting fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes that they are not using. Also try adding an additional nesting box even though they have the others to take turns in might work. I basically put my girls on lock down for a week until they all lay in the coop when I find them laying where they are not supposed to.

 

[aart]

You can try putting fake eggs or golf balls in the nesting boxes that they are not using. Also try adding an additional nesting box even though they have the others to take turns in might work. I basically put my girls on lock down for a week until they all lay in the coop when I find them laying where they are not supposed to.

Ditto Dat^^^

one on our back porch because they decided to lay in the corner there.

I'd put the porch nest in the coop, then....
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 a week or so 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 and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, 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.

Hopefully your coop and run is large enough for the lock down not to cause undue stress leading to abusive behavior.

 

[chickens really]

I hang curtains on my nests and always make sure they have exciting bedding to entice hens..

 

[aart]

exciting bedding to entice hens..

Hmmm.....how to 'excite' a chicken hen??

 

[chickens really]

Hmmm.....how to 'excite' a chicken hen??

Fluffy bedding of course..