one hen laid in the yard today

[Three Silkies]

Ah, autocorrect! *shell grit*

 

[jhowe0987]

That's the funny thing. I have had oyster shell for them since day one...

 

[mossyroo]

Any tips on getting my pullets to start using the nest boxes? I'm in N FL so I have an open coop built around an older 4x8x3 coop that was on the property. They didn't want to go in there so I got 2 outside boxes but they ignore those as well and lay all over the place on the ground. All boxes are lower than the roosts and all have fake eggs in them.

 

[cavemanrich]

Any tips on getting my pullets to start using the nest boxes? I'm in N FL so I have an open coop built around an older 4x8x3 coop that was on the property. They didn't want to go in there so I got 2 outside boxes but they ignore those as well and lay all over the place on the ground. All boxes are lower than the roosts and all have fake eggs in them.

Read post number 2 . It gives some insight why chickens sometimes lay outside their nesting boxes. I am assuming that there is hay, or straw in the nesting boxes.
WISHING YOU BEST

 

[MrsEskew]

Hello. I had a similar issue yesterday. My hen that I got from a friend laid a weird looking egg in the yard yesterday.




Is she okay? Could it be stress from being moved? I put golf balls in the nest boxes to show her where to lay. And they both roost up in their coop at night. She just seems to prefer a spot under the coop to lay... She seems fine otherwise...

 

[cavemanrich]

Hello. I had a similar issue yesterday. My hen that I got from a friend laid a weird looking egg in the yard yesterday.




Is she okay? Could it be stress from being moved? I put golf balls in the nest boxes to show her where to lay. And they both roost up in their coop at night. She just seems to prefer a spot under the coop to lay... She seems fine otherwise...

If you have oyster shells on the side, it usually is enough for your hens to find it as needed. Feed back ALL yous egg shells to your hens. If you are still getting soft eggs, then mix in some of the shells with their food. Providing oyster shells and cracked up egg shell is a good thing. I don't think they will OD on it.

 

[MrsEskew]

Thank you. I gave her oyster shells yesterday and today she laid 2 perfect pretty little eggs. She still won't sit in her nest box but she is laying in a spot in the coop she has dug out in pine shavings. That's a plus!