Picky girls won't lay in coop!!

[Amsav44]

We have let our girls free roam on our fenced property (approx 1acre) since they were about 1 1/2 months, closed in coop at night. Now, the Plymouths and Rhode Islands absolutely refuse to lay in the coop! They will lay in the barn, and in the hay stack, and just today a Rhode Island got on top of our outside refrigerator and decided to lay an egg!! The first egg I found was on Monday, So I kept them in the coop and run all day and Tues as well. But they just became agitated and nervous.. Wouldn't even go into nesting boxes... I've put nesting boxes where I've found eggs and they will lay in them. Should I just let them be?

 

[JedJackson]

I would keep them inside for a while until they get the hang of laying where you want them to. You may need to rearrange a bit in your coop and find a different place for the nesting boxes. Adding fake eggs or golf balls to the nests can help. Generally, chickens want a bit of privacy to lay, so make sure your nest box area gives them that privacy. Nest boxes with 3 sides and a slanting top really help. too.

 

[aart]

Put the nests back in the coop...and lock em up until they 'get it'.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.