No eggs

[SulkyBantam]

I have 6 boxes for 5 hens (The coop/run was already here when we bought the property). I have shavings in 3 of the boxes and hay in the other 3. They will ONLY use the hay filled boxes and they like the bedding thin enough that the wood bottom is visible. If I'm in the hen house when one lays an egg, I hear the egg knock when it lands. I would keep yours confined till laying in the house becomes a regular thing. If they are out free, they may well be laying out in obscure places. We had one hen who built a nest under a hedge and we found 12 eggs in there, bad girl!

I don't think it's fair to keep them in the coop for who know how long. The dummy eggs and nice warm boxes should do the trick.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes they always go in the nest box. I always see them in there. I added the basket because they would kick all the flakes out, with the basket it stays more and I thought they would like to lay in it.

Well at least they've seen the nest boxes... sometimes birds don't really notice them and start laying without ever realizing there's a spot for them to use.

As far as the basket (which may or may not be an issue) you can also put a good lip of 3-4" in front of the nest box, to hold the bedding in. But the birds will still try to rearrange things to their liking before they lay.

 

[Dragonfly Farm]

I don't think it's fair to keep them in the coop for who know how long. The dummy eggs and nice warm boxes should do the trick.

I guess I should have been more clear...if the hen is crouching and obviously laying ‘somewhere’, I’d shut her in for a day or two, making sure she was aware of the nesting box and could get into it easily with no disturbances from her sisters. My hen house is an actual peaked roof shed, 20’ square so closing the girls in presents no hardship.

 

[writerskramp]

My chickens are 20+ weeks old and only 1 hen just recently laid a single egg and that was it. I let them out recently for the first time to roam, I never did because they can easily go under the fence and escape or into the pool and drown. I let them roam everyday in rocks (I have no real grass just fake) for 3-4 days. I saw a hen sitting on top of a half empty bag of pine shavings that I use for their coup. She sat their for a little and when she got up there was my first egg. Why won’t they lay inside their nesting box? I put in 2 decoy eggs to help them also. I added pictures to help. I also put 1 picture of the half empty pine shavings bag where the hen laid her egg.
thanks for any helpful feed back.

They are free range so they're free to lay where they want.. usually under a bush.. not George, just a bush. Sometimes mine will drop one wherever they are.. In the run or roost. If one builds a nest in the roost. I toss in a log or brick to discourage them, it works for me.. They are confined, free range is not an option.. To dangerous. Did have free range some years ago.. They liked their coop, but liked my implements up by the house more and waited at the door to rush the kitchen. Keep a broom handy.. They did always seem to lay in the coop though, in old wooden fruit crates nailed to the wall, used straw back then.. Today the chips fall where they May.. next month, HALALUIA!