New egg laying problems

[SamJ]

I currently have 5 hens that are at that point in time where they should be laying. Our first hen started laying eggs about 3 weeks ago, and after she laid her first egg in the coop I placed fake eggs in the nesting boxes and since then she has always laid in the box. Our second hen just started laying this week and she refuses to lay in the box. I have two boxes so I know even if the one box is occupied she could lay in the other one. Even with the fake eggs she just won’t do it. How do you recommend fixing this.

 

[FortCluck]

Leave them in the coop until they lay their eggs. I’d do that for about a week. Once they lay let them out.

It takes a while for them to get it, but they eventually do

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Leave them in the coop until they lay their eggs. I’d do that for about a week. Once they lay let them out.

It takes a while for them to get it, but they eventually do

I would agree, but sometimes that isn't an option. Only piping in because my coop gets very hot, even with a fan and open windows. My chickens had many bloopers for the first few months of laying, including one laying 22 eggs in the woods, and another chronically popping out eggs all over the yard. Eventually they all started laying in the coop.

 

[FortCluck]

I would agree, but sometimes that isn't an option. Only piping in because my coop gets very hot, even with a fan and open windows. My chickens had many bloopers for the first few months of laying, including one laying 22 eggs in the woods, and another chronically popping out eggs all over the yard. Eventually they all started laying in the coop.

My chickens lay in the morning. It’s 100 here every day.

I would never allow a chicken to lay eggs where ever it wants because that will lead to rotten eggs all over the place and attracting predators. Lots of chicken predators love their eggs and once they find a food source, you can bet your flock will disappear.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

My chickens lay in the morning. It’s 100 here every day.

I would never allow a chicken to lay eggs where ever it wants because that will lead to rotten eggs all over the place and attracting predators. Lots of chicken predators love their eggs and once they find a food source, you can bet your flock will disappear.

Chickens lay roughly every 26 hours. I've got a flock of 14 actively laying hens and 3 roosters and get eggs from dawn to dusk. I don't "allow" any of them to lay outside, but when they free range, and are new layers, it can take time for them to figure things out. Ideally, a flock would be confined but every person's circumstances are different.

 

[FortCluck]

Chickens lay roughly every 26 hours. I've got a flock of 14 actively laying hens and 3 roosters and get eggs from dawn to dusk. I don't "allow" any of them to lay outside, but when they free range, and are new layers, it can take time for them to figure things out. Ideally, a flock would be confined but every person's circumstances are different.

I have 60 laying birds... all lay in nesting boxes. I train mine well because searching for that many eggs would be ridiculous.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have 60 laying birds... all lay in nesting boxes. I train mine well because searching for that many eggs would be ridiculous.

I stated they lay in the nesting boxes now.

 

[SamJ]

Leave them in the coop until they lay their eggs. I’d do that for about a week. Once they lay let them out.

It takes a while for them to get it, but they eventually do

My chicks don’t free range, they have their own run. So both hens that are laying go into the coop where the nesting boxes are. The problem is one goes into the box to pay, the newer laying one won’t go into the nesting box. She just goes to the corner of the coop and lays.

 

[SamJ]

I would agree, but sometimes that isn't an option. Only piping in because my coop gets very hot, even with a fan and open windows. My chickens had many bloopers for the first few months of laying, including one laying 22 eggs in the woods, and another chronically popping out eggs all over the yard. Eventually they all started laying in the coop.

My chicks don’t free range, they have their own run. So both hens that are laying go into the coop where the nesting boxes are. The problem is one goes into the box to lay, the newer laying one won’t go into the nesting box. She just goes to the corner of the coop and lays.

 

[FortCluck]

My chicks don’t free range, they have their own run. So both hens that are laying go into the coop where the nesting boxes are. The problem is one goes into the box to pay, the newer laying one won’t go into the nesting box. She just goes to the corner of the coop and lays.

Do you have a pic of your setup?