Newbie w/ nesting questions

[5backyardhens]

Hello all. New to raising chickens but have used this form since before I got chicks and have gotten tons of great info. We have 5 young hens now, an Blue Americana, a brown leghorn, a RIR, a barred rock and an australorp. All have been roosting on the roosting bar high since they were 8 weeks old. Now at 26 weeks and all laying my Americana has now decided she likes sleeping in the nesting box she lays in. Spends hours a day in there, not brooding on eggs just resting. She doesn’t seem ill. Middle of the pecking order. I’ve been entering the coop after dark, removing her from the box and putting her up on the rail. Not sure why this habit had began or how to remedy it. Any help would be appreciated please.

 

[christwodog]

Could you block off the entrance to the nesting box early in the evening? Mine has a flip up roost bar that can be put in the "up" position to prevent sleeping in there at night. Of course that doesn't help the daytime hanging out, she may get tired of it - can you bribe her with some treats to get her out of the box? Since she's young, she may not have the whole egg laying thing down yet - she knows she needs to lay eggs in the box, but hasn't learned to time it just right so she stays in there for hours in case an egg happens!

 

[5backyardhens]

Could you block off the entrance to the nesting box early in the evening? Mine has a flip up roost bar that can be put in the "up" position to prevent sleeping in there at night. Of course that doesn't help the daytime hanging out, she may get tired of it - can you bribe her with some treats to get her out of the box? Since she's young, she may not have the whole egg laying thing down yet - she knows she needs to lay eggs in the box, but hasn't learned to time it just right so she stays in there for hours in case an egg happens!

 

[FrankieDoodle]

Welcome to BYC!!! Here is the chicken behavior & egglaying forum, someone there could help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/chicken-behaviors-and-egglaying.18/

 

[5backyardhens]

I’ve thought of blocking it off. Yesterday she layed late in the afternoon and left the box for only an hour to return again. She didn’t lay today at all. Someone is laying a soft egg every couple of days found below the roosting rail. I’m hoping she gets tired of getting relocated in the evening. The Australorp lays in the same box as her, the other three lay in the other nesting box. Neither her nor the Australorp layed today. Just wondering if it’s just new girls learning their production process as you suggested. Thanks for your insight. Research on the forum indicated Americanas aren’t known to be broody so I don’t think that is the issue. IDK...

 

[007Sean]

Howdy

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!

 

[drumstick diva]

Is there any chance the others pick on her - maybe when she was on the roost. Now she doesn't want to be there overnight.

 

[Pork Pie]

Welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us and I hope the advice above helps you.

This is a useful link of BYC guides to take a look at - https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/website-announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3/?prefix_id=3

You can use this link to contact members in your area - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[sourland]

Your 'Americana' if purchased from a feed store/hatchery is very likely an Easter Egger, and depending upon the individual bird's genetic make up they frequently go broody. I would guess that you are dealing with a broody hen.