not using some of the nesting boxes

[chickeylady]

we have 6 nesting boxes all the same size on each side of our coop for a total of 12... The chickens all use the 4 outside corner boxes and only 2 or 3 of the middle 8. Is there anything I can put in the boxes besides the obvious nesting pads to entice the hens to use these. My husband suggested flower petals.

Any ideas??

 

[nuthatched]

You only need 1 box per 3-4 hens so you really don't need that many boxes to begin with, plus chickens have favorite boxes, it would be hard to sway them in to others.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

xD oh yes. There are covered nesting boxes and some that the hens just agree to not use for some ridiculous reasons it's happened/happening to me. I don't think there's a good way of enticing them there without bad habits following. It's just how life goes and their preferences will probably change that goes on. The end nesting boxes have always seemed to be the favorites.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How many hens do you have? As said above most hens will share nesting boxes.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

You only need 1 box per 3-4 hens so you really don't need that many boxes to begin with, plus chickens have favorite boxes, it would be hard to sway them in to others.

I agree, we Have 4 and the usually only use 2, it just depends on the chicken’s favorite, sometime they’ll even fight for a nesting box (in my experience).

 

[aart]

Is there anything I can put in the boxes besides the obvious nesting pads to entice the hens to use these.

Fake eggs.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have 6 boxes for a flock of 19 hens and POL pullets, not all of whom are currently laying. I rarely find eggs in more then 2 of the boxes -- though not the same two ever day.

I have 2 golf balls in each nest. I like golf balls because they are cheaper than fake eggs and I can reach under a hen to extract eggs and tell them apart from the golf balls by touch.

 

[rosemarythyme]

All 3 of my nest boxes get used but birds definitely have a preference as to which ones they like. I figure as long as they're all laying in nesting boxes, regardless of which one(s) they prefer, it's a win.

 

[Grams56]

I agree, we Have 4 and the usually only use 2, it just depends on the chicken’s favorite, sometime they’ll even fight for a nesting box (in my experience).

Thanks. I have 4 hens and they only use 1 box. They all love box #1

 

[mamajos]

And just when you think you have figured them out, box 2, 3, or 4 will become their favorite!