No eggs in hen box

[Kk's chickens]

i am new to raising chickens. I recently acquired 4 Hyline chickens that are "about" to lay...I've had them a week and have gotten 4 eggs. They do not use their gen boxes and all but one sleep on the ground, not in their boxes! I've bought "fake" eggs but still a No go! They also don't perch. Am I doing something wrong??? Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Pyxis]

You don't want them to sleep in their boxes, and they shouldn't. Have you provided a roost for them? You might have to put them on the roost at night a couple times before they get the idea.

Hopefully the fake eggs give them the idea - are the nesting boxes inviting? Cozy and easy for them to access? Not too small?

 

[Kk's chickens]

The nesting boxes are very cozy... I have a 2 roosts, one up stairs just across from the nesting boxes and another on the bottom. I'm not concerned with them sleeping in the boxes ... just that it's truly an Egg hunt to find the eggs. Also, I was concerned with them sleeping on the ground... I thought they would roost or sleep upstairs.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

I'm not concerned with them sleeping in the boxes

They usually poop a lot and night, that can make for nasty eggs or a lot of cleaning of the nests.

New layers can take awhile to figure out to lay in nests, the fake eggs should help.