not laying in nesting box?

[ChrisF452]

I've been "egg hunting" ever since our girls started laying about 6 weeks ago. Stepped on a couple that they buried in the straw in the middle of the coop. I've put fake eggs in the nest boxes (they look so real, the hubbie keeps collecting them!

) The younger Campine layers are laying outside in the run. Yesterday I found most of the eggs in one nest box that's more secluded. We don't have the nest boxes covered, so I'm guessing that will be our next project. It's been snowy and cold for two days, so they've been locked in the coop. I'm hoping this will get them into the groove of laying in the boxes before it warms up and they go outside again.

 

[mrsbos]

It worked, it worked! Our EE Touhou just started laying last week, and was dropping eggs in random places, i.e. the middle of the run, next to the storage shed, etc. So this morning, since she hadn't laid yet, I took a hard boiled egg and placed it in the nest box on top of some fresh pine shavings. I showed it to all 3 pullets. This afternoon, I heard the egg song and rushed outside, to find a beautiful olive egg laid right in the middle of the nest next to the hard boiled one! Do you ever just want to shower your chickens with hugs and kisses? I was so proud of Touhou for getting the message so quickly! They are just so sweet! Now hopefully the two other EEs will know right away where their very first egg needs to go.

 

[OkChickens]

I had to keep them in the coop until 12 or so in the afternoon. I also put golf balls in the nest boxes for them to see and also for the snakes!

Give them a few days locked up until the afternoon and they will figure it out!

-Nate

 

[ivymae]

Our two girls just started laying eggs last weekend (after 9 long months). The first egg was in the nesting box, just like it was supposed to be. After that, they started digging holes in the dirt inside the chicken tractor and laying their eggs in those. The holes are about 7 inches in diameter and a few inches deep.

Should I try making the nesting box more "nest-like?" Right now we are lining the nesting box with wood shavings. Would a better nesting material make a difference, or are we destined to keep collecting dirty eggs from their dirt nests??

 

[LittleChickenLady]

One of my hens never seems to lay her eggs in the same place. I've found eggs in the nest box, under the chicken coop, and out in the middle of the pen that they're in. Not too long ago I found her hidden in some straw I gave them for the winter that was behind their coop. I happened to get a picture of her peeking out at me, which I thought was really cute. I wish she'd just find one place to lay her eggs and stay there. I hate having to search for eggs everyday. Know any ways to get her to do that?