Nesting boxes built...will they come?

[shakecc]

Our chickens just started to lay this week. We had the nesting boxes closed off to prevent them pooping in them. I opened them up yesterday and put golf balls in each one. When I got home from work, there was a egg on the floor of the coop and poop in one of the boxes.

I understand it will take some time, but I wanted to see if there was anything else that I should be doing to encourage them to use the boxes. Do they just instinctually do it?

Thanks!

 

[BeckyLa]

I usually put the first eggs in the nest box along with the golf balls. Seems to work ok for me, though it may be to cold to leave it in there where you are. Congratulations on the new eggs!!!

 

[gritsar]

How high are your nest boxes in relation to the roosts?
The nest boxes need to be lower than the roosts or they will tend to roost on the nest boxes, leading to poopy eggs. Chickens like to go as high as possible to roost.
On the rare occasion when one of my nest boxes get some poo in it, the hens always pass that box up in favor of a clean one.
Edited for clarity

 

[UP_Chicken_Lover]

I have this question in reverse sort of... my girls - the little darlings, have always laid their eggs in the nesting box. We have two but their preference so far has been the top one. We have a mixture of hay/pine shavings in the nest/s.

We have 5 chickens and so far this week we have 18 eggs, which I think is outstanding considering they were born July 1.

Now my question is - this summer - when they are turned loose to browse - will they still lay the eggs in the box/s?? Or will I have to start wandering around looking for eggs outside?

 

[crooked stripe]

In the summer mine build a large nest in the straw in the run and they all lay there. I have no idea why. Now that winter has set in they all lay in the nest boxes. They just don't like the cold and snow and stay inside most of the day. I leave the run door open all day but when there is snow on the ground, not a tract to be found.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Mine free-range no matter what the weather - their choice. The door to their coop is open all day long and they could go in, but don't want to. You should have seen them playing in the ice the other day.

No matter how far away from the coop they roam, the girls always walk back to the coop to use their nest boxes for laying. Sometimes the whole flock walks back with them and waits outside for the hen(s) to finish with their egg business.
If once yours are ranging, you notice a drop in the number of eggs collected, you may have to go on an easter egg hunt. Maybe you'll luck out like I did and have hens that just love their nest boxes.