Nesting boxes in run?

[Ida Red]

Hi folks. Does anyone keep nesting boxes in your run instead of/as well as in the coop? First time chicken keeper over here. My girls are pecking around their 20 x 40 yard from sunup to sundown, with no preference for being in the coop at all. I’m wondering if from spring to fall they might prefer to lay in the yard? Working on an exterior nest box for my coop too, this would be in addition to that. Thanks for your advice!

 

[LizzzyJo]

Although they may prefer it, it sets a bad precedent and habit. They should lay only in their weather proof henhouse so that you can collect edible eggs all year long. If eggs get wet then their bloom is removed and they become inedible if not immediately refrigerated.

 

[Ida Red]

Ahhh okay this makes sense! Thank you for your speedy response

 

[aart]

Hopefully you have some kind of secure run....for predator events and to train them to the coop nests.
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.

 

[Ida Red]

Hopefully you have some kind of secure run....for predator events and to train them to the coop nests.
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.

the run is completely enclosed, with extra wire dug down into the ground. They don’t free range yet as we have a lot of hawks and some of the pullets are still quite small. I’ll keep them enclosed til I see they’re all laying well in the coop nest boxes. Thanks for this.

 

[NatJ]

I’m wondering if from spring to fall they might prefer to lay in the yard?0

Most chickens seem to do just fine with nestboxes in the coop--they go in to lay, then come out again after.

Chickens tend to lay in the same nestboxes each time. So if they get used to ones in the yard, they will not want to switch to ones in the coop for the winter time. And if they do switch to indoor ones for the winter, they may not switch back next summer.

Also consider where you want to collect eggs, because you may have stronger preferences than the chickens do!