New pullet not laying in nesting boxes, should I be concerned?

[Sofainthefog]

I have a cuckoo maran pullet who just started laying at 18 weeks. She started squatting a few weeks ago, and then practiced the egg song a couple times before I found a very cute tiny egg under the brush where they typically relax during the hot part of the day. then a few days went by and nothing, but this morning I found an egg on the droppings board and according to the ring camera last night, under where she was roosting. In the last week I will see her go into the coop and "nest" in the bedding under the board, but doesn't seem very interested in the boxes. I have read that sometimes when a pullet is new to laying she's just trying to get the swing of things and will sometimes drop eggs wherever she is at the moment, so at this point I don't suspect hidden nests. Will she eventually start nesting/exploring the nesting boxes? The other thing I was wondering is if this is somehow not actually her egg. I posted a photo of the shell from her first one and then the one I found this morning, and it's significantly lighter. Is that normal? The other 2 pullets are coming close to POL as well (they're all the same age), one has a very bright red comb. They are supposedly an ameracauna and easter egger. Thanks!!

Edit:
Wanted to mention I changed their automatic door to open a little later so they are in the coop longer each morning, to see if that encouraged her to go into the nesting boxes. I have see one poke around at them on the camera but not her.

 

[CoopBoots]

Following out of interest. Not anywhere near an expert, but I wouldn't expect such drastically different egg color such a short time apart. My guess, two different birds responsible for these eggs.

 

[Sofainthefog]

Following out of interest. Not anywhere near an expert, but I wouldn't expect such drastically different egg color such a short time apart. My guess, two different birds responsible for these eggs.

Me either! The only consistency with the 2 is the speckles. I think the other two birds are both easter eggers, I wasn't that experienced when I got them and don't feel super confident I received a purebred ameracauna with what I know about the breed now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not sure if it's the same bird or not, but it's not unusual for a new layer to need some time to figure out where's the best place to lay eggs.

Fake eggs in the nest box can help convince them that that's a good place to lay.

If a few weeks go by and she's still laying in random or undesirable places, then maybe she'll need more encouragement to lay in the nest box, but I wouldn't worry about it just yet.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Following out of interest. Not anywhere near an expert, but I wouldn't expect such drastically different egg color such a short time apart. My guess, two different birds responsible for these eggs.

I would say for those first tiny pullet eggs or a fart egg, it's not unusual to have that much color variation. Sometimes they get more concentrated brown color. Two coats of paint, sort of.

I second what rosemarythyme said about not worrying about it yet.

 

[Sofainthefog]

Not sure if it's the same bird or not, but it's not unusual for a new layer to need some time to figure out where's the best place to lay eggs.

Fake eggs in the nest box can help convince them that that's a good place to lay.

If a few weeks go by and she's still laying in random or undesirable places, then maybe she'll need more encouragement to lay in the nest box, but I wouldn't worry about it just yet.

Thank you for the feedback! She has since laid 2 more eggs, back to the dark brown. (I did a bit more research and I think the lighter one was still hers, just an anomaly.)

She is still sticking to the coop floor as her spot to "nest" and both of the most recent eggs were laid on the floor. I attached photos; you can see under their droppings board is cozy and dark which is why I think it's appealing to her. I'm putting the eggs in the nesting boxes but I'm apprehensive about being to pushy with her going into the boxes as opposed to the floor because I'm glad she's at least going in the coop, as opposed to some other spot in our yard.

I added some photos and I'm wondering if part of what she doesn't like is the vents on the boxes adding additional light? should I try draping a tarp over them on the outside to make them darker? I also have different material in each one to see if there's a type they prefer, should I try just adding the bedding that's on the coop floor?

 

[rosemarythyme]

She is still sticking to the coop floor as her spot to "nest" and both of the most recent eggs were laid on the floor. I attached photos; you can see under their droppings board is cozy and dark which is why I think it's appealing to her. I'm putting the eggs in the nesting boxes but I'm apprehensive about being to pushy with her going into the boxes as opposed to the floor because I'm glad she's at least going in the coop, as opposed to some other spot in our yard.

I added some photos and I'm wondering if part of what she doesn't like is the vents on the boxes adding additional light? should I try draping a tarp over them on the outside to make them darker? I also have different material in each one to see if there's a type they prefer, should I try just adding the bedding that's on the coop floor?

Great photos, I can see why she likes the spot under the poop board.

You could temporarily block the area off with cardboard so she can't get under there.

I've had nest boxes with "windows" and it's never caused an issue for me, but doesn't hurt to try blocking the vents (cardboard taped into place should do). But I don't think that's the actual issue. Same with nesting material - I've done the same material as the litter on the floor, I've done different materials, and it's never seemed to make any difference.

Do you know if she or the other birds have ever looked in the nest boxes? Have you ever seen signs of the nesting material being disturbed or kicked around? I'd expect that when you have birds close to POL. The nests are pretty close to floor height but since they're slightly elevated I'm wondering if they've ever bothered to peek in...

 

[Sofainthefog]

Great photos, I can see why she likes the spot under the poop board.

You could temporarily block the area off with cardboard so she can't get under there.

Thats what I was considering doing. I just don't want her to then seek somewhere outside of the coop out of spite She is a little bratty sometimes lol. I have checked on the ring cam various times and placed her in the boxes and she acts as if they don't event exist.

My supposed ameracauna has been curious about them and poked around a little on her own. She isn't squatting or doing any egg songs, but her comb has come in quite a bit and is bright red now. I placed her in the box today with the two eggs from the marans, and she gently pecked around at them and then at the bedding before hopping out. I wouldn't be surprised if she automatically took to the boxes when she does begin to lay, which hopefully will be an obviously different colored egg. I'm kind of thinking I will let the marans continue to go in the coop and once the ameracauna starts laying (assuming it's in the boxes) then block off the area under their roosting bars.

Actually, today I did go ahead and add a bunch of the soft pine bedding to the boxes and the ameracauna hopped into the coop on her own to see what I was doing, and the marans followed her and did peek at the boxes as well. So I do think if I can get one to use it, the other might follow.

I've had nest boxes with "windows" and it's never caused an issue for me, but doesn't hurt to try blocking the vents (cardboard taped into place should do). But I don't think that's the actual issue. Same with nesting material - I've done the same material as the litter on the floor, I've done different materials, and it's never seemed to make any difference.

I appreciate you sharing your experience, so funny how sometimes they just do as they please

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you block off the underside of the poop boards, give it a few days and see if she moves to the nests (or if she just lays right in front of the blockade), and we can reassess from there. Hopefully just this much will encourage her to move to the nests instead!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Golf balls or fake eggs in the nests really help give them the idea that THIS is where eggs go. I like golf balls because fake eggs fool me as well as the hens, lol, and golf balls are cheap and easy to find. WM has them in the sporting goods section.