not laying in nesting box?

Its better if she lays them in the nesting box (if that's where you want them!) What I did with mine was lock them into the coop for about 3 days. They got the idea. Put golf balls in the nesting box, and make sure it's clean! She'll figure it out! Congrats on your first eggs!!

 

I agree with above posters. You want them laying in the nest boxes not just anywhere. lock them up, they will get the idea.

 

Put fake eggs in the nest and she will get the idea, i wouldnt want here laying under the run because the egg might bust and the chickens will start eating them and thats one hard habit to break.

 

So how about one who lays on the floor inside the house......just a couple feet from the nesting boxes? I have golf balls in all the nests, they are lined with clean hay and all the other hens and pullets use them fine. Any suggestions?

 

Mine were laying in the nests for weeks and then started laying in the barn (which isn't safe, we're taking it down soon). Anyway I moved the eggs into the nests, blocked off the barn and I made little privacy curtains on the nesting boxes! Worked really well

 

I'm going to have to try the golf ball idea. We found our very first egg the other day from my 5 month old EE, in the middle of the floor in the run. Luckily it was in good shape. Two days later, we found her 2nd egg far away from the coop, next to my storage shed and yard tools. It was much larger....but cracked. I feel like I'm going to be on an 'easter egg' hunt (ha ha) everyday if they don't start learning to lay in the nest box!

 

the egg trick works, I have friends who do that before they start to lay so they know, and locking them up too sounds mean but when they learn and never have to again, like being grounded for chickens...

 

Two of my Marans just started laying and they both missed the nest box. One of the big girls had knocked the ping pong balls out of the box and under the roosts. The little ones laid their eggs right next to them I put them back in the boxes and sure enough, they laid their second eggs in the box... So it does work... For mine at least!