Nests in new coop not used at all

[ChxLadyCass]

New nest boxes without heir privacy curtains. Water hangs in front of them a few inches up off the ground.


Old nest boxes about 3 feet off the ground which everyone loves

Stash of eggs hiding in the yard

hey All!

This spring we built a brand new coop for our ever expanding flock. This coop is a dream come true with a window, lower nest boxes with privacy curtains, beautiful roosts and ventilation. We kept the old coop and placed the two coops opposite one another on the north and south ends of their run. Their run is open so they can free range. I tried clipping everyone's wings and keeping them in the run but the new layers were the ones who found their way out anyway!

My problem is multifaceted as I have hens of all ages that free range and all want to lay eggs in the old coop! I think my answer will be locking up a group of the flock in the new coop for a few days once it cools down (and I have fewer roosters trying claim territory all over the farm)!

Any other ideas what could be happening?

Here are some more details:
I have a flock of 19 hens.
5 just starting to lay and 2 getting ready to lay this fall.
I have 6 roosters I am desperately trying to get rid of with no avail.
The new coop is an 8x7 with 4 beautiful nest boxes. (1 box occupies by a broody hen). Food and water nearby, adjacent from the little chicken door.
Old coop is 8x4 with 3 nest boxes and a 4th box on the ground. Boxes are up high and require logs in front of each for them to get into them. One box in this coop also has a broody hen.
I have golf balls placed in ALL the nests. The hens started laying in the new coop and then just stopped except one occasionally. All nests have privacy curtains. In total I essentially have 6 boxes available for 15 laying hens.
Also, I recently found 14 eggs hiding in the backyard under a chair and have removed the chair and haven't found anymore hiding elsewhere since. Lots of details!! Please let me know if there is something I am clearly missing! TYIA

 

[Ketty Ash]

You definitely have too many roosters which may affect the behavior of your hens. The Roos may be causing a lot of confusion in the coop so they may feel safer laying outside. I have three nest boxes in one of my coops and my hens all lay eggs in the same box. Go figure. Try locking the Roos out during the day and keeping the hens inside to see if they'll use the boxes. Is it possible to segregate 5 of the Roos in your old coop?

 

[ChxLadyCass]

You definitely have too many roosters which may affect the behavior of your hens. The Roos may be causing a lot of confusion in the coop so they may feel safer laying outside. I have three nest boxes in one of my coops and my hens all lay eggs in the same box. Go figure. Try locking the Roos out during the day and keeping the hens inside to see if they'll use the boxes. Is it possible to segregate 5 of the Roos in your old coop?

Thank you! Yes that is definitely possible with some evening maneuvering! And there is still a lot of room in the new coop to keep all of the laying hens! I'll try that until I can get rid of the Roos!

 

[B Redhawk]

Coq au vin is the French traditional way to deal with too many roosters.
We keep one Rooster per 12-16 hens. Next year we will be letting one or two hens brood and if we get extra roos, they will be destined to become coq au vin or BBQ. In our area, no one really wants roosters, they all have plenty of them already.

 

[aart]

I'd put both broodies in the old coop and lock them in there, and thus the other birds out.

Keep all hens in the new coop and run for a week or more, until they habituate to the new nests. Tho 4 nests for 19 hen might cause some traffic jams and stress, could be part of the problem and you might want to add a couple more nests to the new coop.

8x7 is still kinda tight for ~20 birds.

Are all the boys this years hatch, do you plan on keeping one or two??
I'd isolate them away from the flock until you can get rid of the extras.

Just some thoughts.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Coq au vin is the French traditional way to deal with too many roosters.
We keep one Rooster per 12-16 hens. Next year we will be letting one or two hens brood and if we get extra roos, they will be destined to become coq au vin or BBQ. In our area, no one really wants roosters, they all have plenty of them already.

Hahaha yes I am thinking we are about to resort to this! I am nervous to prepare them, but my man said he'd do the culling if I do the plucking! I was told to put them on ice immediately and then dip them in boiling water to start plucking. It's the same here though. Poor male birds are just unwanted!

I'd put both broodies in the old coop and lock them in there, and thus the other birds out.

Keep all hens in the new coop and run for a week or more, until they habituate to the new nests. Tho 4 nests for 19 hen might cause some traffic jams and stress, could be part of the problem and you might want to add a couple more nests to the new coop.

8x7 is still kinda tight for ~20 birds.

Are all the boys this years hatch, do you plan on keeping one or two??
I'd isolate them away from the flock until you can get rid of the extras.

Just some thoughts.

The one broody has broke and the mama has hatched out a new chick, so they are in the brooder now!

I have 16 hens in the 8X7 now with the 4 boxes. All the roos are separate from those 16 layer aged hens with other very young hens in the other 4X8 coop, out to free range all day. Hoping the 16 hens habituate to the new coop and 4 boxes there. I know they are right on the cusp of being crowded in the new coop, but I hope they become a closer knit flock and learn to lay in boxes and not the yard! They have been in there for about 5 days now.

The boys are from 2 separate hatches, plus the one rooster we have always had with our girls. He is getting old though so we plan to keep him and one other young man and then get rid of or cull the other 4.

 

[aart]

Hahaha yes I am thinking we are about to resort to this! I am nervous to prepare them, but my man said he'd do the culling if I do the plucking! I was told to put them on ice immediately and then dip them in boiling water to start plucking. It's the same here though. Poor male birds are just unwanted!.....

Kill, scald, pluck, gut, then put in ice water....then final clean and rinse then rest cleaned carcass in fridge for 48-72 hours before cooking or freezing.