New chicks aren't laying in the nesting boxes

[Countrygirl201]

The chickens I'm having problems with laying in the nesting boxes are 5 new layers. They are wyandottes and orphingtons. I don't think all of them are laying yet but only 1 out of 3 eggs have been in the nesting boxes. I have 8 RIR'S that have been laying for a year now so I don't know why these new ones aren't. I haven't seen them get chased out of the coop and there are eggs in the coop throughout the day to encourage them. I don't know how to get them to lay in the nesting boxes. Any suggestions?

 

[HenHouse Henry]

I used golf balls, worked great. I use lots of herbs in the nest box too, Lavander Rosemary, Mints, Sage, it gives them something to peck at and feel comfortable Dark helps too. I put black plastic with the middle cut almost to the top and hang it on the entrance. Good Luck.

 

[Toothpick]

I got a few fake eggs from TSC. I found eggs in the poop boards, outside in the run, inside the coop tucked back in a corner. But eventually they all find their way to the nest boxes. Despite having 10 nest boxes I routinely have seen hens fighting over the same box. Could be just a case of one hen not willing to give up her nest so the other is forced to lay somewhere else and she picks somewhere outside of the nest box.

I don’t think you can force a hen to lay in a nest box but you can make it more inviting by having enough boxes for your hens to use, maybe adding a “curtain” of sorts to give some privacy, putting fake eggs/golf balls in the nests to trigger that “lay here” mentality, making sure they are clean with a decent bedding (making them comfortable), 12-36 inches off the ground perhaps and easy to get in to.

In the end the hen is going to lay wherever she wants. You just gotta hope you made the nest box appear to be the best place for her. An egg found outside the nest box is just as tasty as one found in the box.

 

[Countrygirl201]

Ok I'll try to add some more bedding and some fake eggs to encourage them. Thanks!

I used golf balls, worked great. I use lots of herbs in the nest box too, Lavander Rosemary, Mints, Sage, it gives them something to peck at and feel comfortable Dark helps too. I put black plastic with the middle cut almost to the top and hang it on the entrance. Good Luck.

 

[Countrygirl201]

I got a few fake eggs from TSC. I found eggs in the poop boards, outside in the run, inside the coop tucked back in a corner. But eventually they all find their way to the nest boxes. Despite having 10 nest boxes I routinely have seen hens fighting over the same box. Could be just a case of one hen not willing to give up her nest so the other is forced to lay somewhere else and she picks somewhere outside of the nest box.

I don’t think you can force a hen to lay in a nest box but you can make it more inviting by having enough boxes for your hens to use, maybe adding a “curtain” of sorts to give some privacy, putting fake eggs/golf balls in the nests to trigger that “lay here” mentality, making sure they are clean with a decent bedding (making them comfortable), 12-36 inches off the ground perhaps and easy to get in to.

In the end the hen is going to lay wherever she wants. You just gotta hope you made the nest box appear to be the best place for her. An egg found outside the nest box is just as tasty as one found in the box.

Ok thank you! I'll watch to see if my other hens are acting aggressive in the coop around them