Nesting boxes

[Crazyfarmlady25]

You probably mean : They lay 1-3 eggs a day. No way one hen can lay ^^ that much.

She was my only one laying she started laying on Aug 5th (had got them all as pullets that were 16-18 weeks when got them on July 20th) up until today when my starlight green egger layed her first egg and did the egg song. My other pullet close to laying is a half Ameraucana/half cochin and hasn't started yet. My two French black copper marans won't lay for a couple months they are 3-4 months old.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

Where are roosts relative to the nests heightwise? Can we get further back shots showing the layout of the coop?

As BDutch noted nests are for laying in, there's zero reason to be encouraging a hen to go in there at night under normal circumstances.

First pic is the best I can get of the nesting boxes which have roost to stand on in front of them. The 2nd is roosting bar showing where eggs are found behind it in the hole. 3rd is the roosting bar from doorway when first got the coop into the location we placed it. I'm wanting to build a roosting ladder (though will be short cus the coops not that tall) I don't force any in the nesting box at night I have just had my daughter who can fit better place each hen in their after got nesting pads and then again when we put gold balls in their and they all leave as soon as placed in and go back out in the run. I figured it was needed to show them where they could lay by placing them in their but I dont force any I'm or hold them in there. I know some have been in them cus they poop on the pads but no eggs have been layed in them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't force any in the nesting box at night I have just had my daughter who can fit better place each hen in their after got nesting pads and then again when we put gold balls in their and they all leave as soon as placed in and go back out in the run. I figured it was needed to show them where they could lay by placing them in their but I dont force any I'm or hold them in there.

So putting them in nest boxes to train them to use them does work but timing matters. You'd need to catch them when they're ready to lay and then place them in the box and yes, potentially block them in there.

What I did was I learned the problem bird(s) laying schedules, and when they went to their preferred spot to lay, I'd go and pick them up, stick them in a nest box, and barricade them in using my arms to cover the exit. Give them 30-60 seconds to calm down and start exploring the box and if they decide to stay in there then they should stay and use it.

Alternatively, some folks design "doors" on their nest boxes so birds can be locked in, which basically does the same as above, but forces the bird to stay in the nest box. I've replicated that by using a dog crate with the opening facing into the nest, so the bird has to choose either being in the nest to lay, or laying in a crate with no bedding, and the bird should choose the nest as a better spot.