Nesting boxes vs. Trees

[chickpack2024]

I have been letting my chickens (I am just starting and only have four 17 week old Pullets) free range through our yard from like 7am to 5pm. I put them in the run or the coop after that and then they walk themselves up into the chicken house that I can lock. We have two nesting boxes all set up nice and cozy!

They are not using their nesting boxes yet at all (just the roost bar) but starting last week, they love to make nests under the bushes and trees that are more hidden in our yard. They will spend 20 minutes digging and putting a nest together, and then they lay in it for hours. This is all brand new behavior.

Are they going to start choosing the nesting boxes at some point or do I need to do more to encourage them to go in there? I am worried that I won't find eggs--clearly they are going into some sort of "practice laying" phase. They like to lay in each other's "under tree" nests too!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have been letting my chickens (I am just starting and only have four 17 week old Pullets) free range through our yard from like 7am to 5pm. I put them in the run or the coop after that and then they walk themselves up into the chicken house that I can lock. We have two nesting boxes all set up nice and cozy!

They are not using their nesting boxes yet at all (just the roost bar) but starting last week, they love to make nests under the bushes and trees that are more hidden in our yard. They will spend 20 minutes digging and putting a nest together, and then they lay in it for hours. This is all brand new behavior.

Are they going to start choosing the nesting boxes at some point or do I need to do more to encourage them to go in there? I am worried that I won't find eggs--clearly they are going into some sort of "practice laying" phase. They like to lay in each other's "under tree" nests too!

Generally they like to lay eggs in nests that also have eggs, since it 'means' that those eggs are safe and haven't been found by a predator. And yes, they likely will lay there if given the chance between there and nest boxes.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Sounds like they are dust bathing..also, if it's hot they will lay under vehicles, trees and structures for hours to stay cool in the dirt.

 

[chickpack2024]

ok, thank you. I may do the "fake egg" thing in the nesting boxes, and not worry about their staying cool--it is hot, they are panting and drinking extra water, so I bet it's cooler under the shrubs and trees.

 

[Yardmom]

They are dust bathing, not making nest.
New layers could put their eggs anywhere. Fake eggs in your nests might help them know where to lay. If you do find eggs outside the coop, shut them in a couple days to help them learn to lay in the coop.