New chickens in flock won't lay in nest boxes help please

[07butler]

I got two new chickens they are laying 1 egg a day and they will not go in the nesting boxes. They lay out in the yard. The are in a coop and they will roost inside but won't go in to lay. They were already laying when I got them they are 1 yr old and are used to being in a fenced in yard with no coop how do I get them to lay in the boxes? This is my first flock of chickens I have 9 total

 

[gamebirdsonly]

keep them locked up for few days and maybe they will figure it out. Myself I don't mind if my birds lay where ever. It's like easter egg hunt every day.
Good luck

 

[B Redhawk]

The other good trick is to put a fake egg in the nest box (s) so they will see it and that might give them the idea. We have a Rooster and he was the one that showed his girls where to lay their eggs (once we put the fake egg in the box, he knew what that box was for and showed his girls).

 

[Angellamouse]

My babies could start laying in the next 2 weeks, and I don't want to shut them in that long. They get really loud when they are bored and there isn't much to do in the coop. I put a fake egg and a golf ball in two of the three egg boxes. Any other ideas to have them laying in them? Their coop is over top of our compost, since we garden. They have access to it, and they go in when it is after 11:30 (about 105 F at that time). Should we close it off until they lay in the coop? I can't have them laying in the compost, because I don't want to crawl in there for eggs 3 times every day.They have a large run that is tall enough for me to stand in. I can pick up eggs there, but they spend lots of time there and I don't want them to try pecking them open. We have a fan in the coop so they don't get hot. Any ideas that I haven't tried? Thanks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sometimes new layers are surprised when an egg falls out of their "butt". Eventually, they figure it out, but there may be a stubborn bird who just doesn't get it. You might try changing the bedding in the nest boxes is you are using shavings. Give them some hay.

 

[LarryTX]

Since you guys are talking about nesting issues, I have a question. I try to keep straw in my nest, but the hens remove all the straw and lay on the bare floor of the nest. Is there anything that can be done to stop them from removing the straw?

 

[lazy gardener]

How deep is the lip at the front of the nest box? How deep are you putting the straw in? I find that a coarse grade of hay works better for me than a finer grade of hay. Wondering if perhaps your straw is TOO coarse? Try hay, and have the lip be at least 4" deep. I make the bed of hay quite thick: put in enough so it almost fills the box, so when they stomp around in it, they make a nice cupped nest that actually curls up over the inside walls. Pics of your set up helpful.

 

[LarryTX]

Thanks. I have a good lip on the nests and have tried Bermuda hay and straw. You can see the nests in the background of the picture on this message. Have you ever used those mats that chicken supply companies sell? Again, thanks for your help.

 

[lazy gardener]

Never used a mat.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have you ever used those mats that chicken supply companies sell?

Take an empty feed bag and fold it to fit the nest box. It'll provide all the cushion you need and costs nothing extra.