Nesting boxes

[Crazyfarmlady25]

My coop came from a family friend so came with built in (nesting boxes that screw into a wall that can't be accessed from outside) there are 6 of them and have a roof (so it looks like kind of like a barbie house) and is up off the floor like 24" give or take. My hens (the one that is laying and 4 others won't go in them (even after added some nesting pads and golf balls that had at home) the one laying will lay in the corner behind then roosting bar or in front of the boxes but on the floor or out in the run (still laying only 1-3 a day). She started laying before we got them out of our temporary coop/pen that didn't have nesting boxes. I'm wondering if need to lower them to the floor or at least closer to the floor or hope if another starts laying she will go in? They face the back wall so (to me ) they are dark inside and even when the door is open when they are in the run they seem in the dark to me but maybe they are not dark enough? Or do I need to remove them and go with like milk crates or litter buckets instead? Here's pics of the current nesting boxes (pic 3 is with the flash pic 4 is without flash to show how dark during the day) last pic is where she has been laying behind roosting bar.

 

[BDutch]

Try to make 2 of them comfy, more shady with a fake egg in it. Maybe some kind of curtains may help. A real curtain, a piece of a fly curtain or add some ropes on a slat. Hens like to see what is going on outside the nestbox but like to be hidden too.

Btw: For 5 hens you only need 2 nest boxes.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

Try to make 2 of them comfy, more shady with a fake egg in it. Maybe some kind of curtains may help. A real curtain, a piece of a fly curtain or add some ropes on a slat. Hens like to see what is going on outside the nestbox but like to be hidden too.

Btw: For 5 hens you only need 2 nest boxes.

I have some fabric lying around I will measure and make some for a couple and see if that helps. We have been placing her in it at night but she just quickly gets out.

 

[BDutch]

I have some fabric lying around I will measure and make some for a couple and see if that helps.

This is for laying eggs.

We have been placing her in it at night but she just quickly gets out.

Better not. Its easier to clean if the chickens roost at night.

The roost should be higher than the nest boxes. Most chickens like to sleep as high as possible.
Maybe you need to close the higher nestboxes.