Pullet laying under roosting bars

[AlliJackson]

I need some help. I've got 4 pullets (approximately 5 months old) and 1 hen that is 2 years old. The pullets recently started laying. All but 1 pullet use the nesting boxes, but I've got 1 stubborn one lays under the roosting bars. I have a total of 8 nesting boxes that are large enough and are kept clean. I've put wooden eggs in the nesting box and even tried to block off the area under the roosting bars. She will still lay under the bars. She will climb on top of the items I've put under the bars and lay to the point of all the eggs cracking due to rolling off an item blocking the bars or hitting the floor. She refuses to lay anywhere other than under the bars, and all of her eggs are cracked. I put more padding on the floors and she will clean it out so the egg hits the hard floor and cracks. What else can I do??

 

[DobieLover]

I need some help. I've got 4 pullets (approximately 5 months old) and 1 hen that is 2 years old. The pullets recently started laying. All but 1 pullet use the nesting boxes, but I've got 1 stubborn one lays under the roosting bars. I have a total of 8 nesting boxes that are large enough and are kept clean. I've put wooden eggs in the nesting box and even tried to block off the area under the roosting bars. She will still lay under the bars. She will climb on top of the items I've put under the bars and lay to the point of all the eggs cracking due to rolling off an item blocking the bars or hitting the floor. She refuses to lay anywhere other than under the bars, and all of her eggs are cracked. I put more padding on the floors and she will clean it out so the egg hits the hard floor and cracks. What else can I do??

Can you please post pictures of the interior of your coop, the nest boxes and the area she is laying? For 5 birds you only really need 2 boxes.
Where does this bird rank in the flock?

 

[AlliJackson]

Can you please post pictures of the interior of your coop, the nest boxes and the area she is laying? For 5 birds you only really need 2 boxes.
Where does this bird

 

[RubelliteRose]

No idea if it would work, but do you have room to place a single nest box with a couple of fake eggs on the floor by the other boxes? It doesn't need to be fancy, even a plastic tub or crate on its side. If she uses it, then try gradually raising it up to the height of the other boxes.
If she doesn't go for it, maybe put a covered area under the roosting bar so at least her nest won't be in the poop
Chickens, so lovable and so frustrating at times.

 

[AlliJackson]

No idea if it would work, but do you have room to place a single nest box with a couple of fake eggs on the floor by the other boxes? It doesn't need to be fancy, even a plastic tub or crate on its side. If she uses it, then try gradually raising it up to the height of the other boxes.
If she doesn't go for it, maybe put a covered area under the roosting bar so at least her nest won't be in the poop
Chickens, so lovable and so frustrating at times.

Thank you! I may try that. I moved all the items I had under there blocking her when she was stubborn and still laid there, even though the eggs would legit roll off an upside down shovel and crack . I just moved everything and put more pine shavings down there and accepted that she will just be stubborn and lay there.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you know exactly which bird it is?

Now this isn't practical if you don't have time to stalk them, but what I did was I learned the problem bird(s) laying schedules, and when they went to their preferred spot to lay, I'd go and pick them up, stick them in a nest box, and barricade them in using my arms to cover the exit. 30-60 seconds was all they needed to calm down and start exploring the box and decide that maybe it wasn't such a bad place to be. They each started reliably using the boxes after that.

Alternatively, some folks design "doors" on their nest boxes so birds can be locked in, which basically does the same as above, but forces the bird to stay in the nest box (whereas once I see them exploring and sitting down in the nest, I leave them to it and walk away).

 

[aart]

Couple things I see that may be of concern.....
Might be good to put higher fronts(4-6") on the nests to keep bedding and eggs from falling out.... and a perch about 8" away from front of nests for easier access.

Nothing to do with laying, but......
Roosts are lower than nests and are either rather small in diameter and the squarish ones have an edge where feet rest.

 

[Chickmamajessica]

I’m new to chickens too but I’m wondering if you put some dried herbs/lavender in a nesting box and set her in it so she could adjust to it and see that they’re a nicer place to be?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m new to chickens too but I’m wondering if you put some dried herbs/lavender in a nesting box and set her in it so she could adjust to it and see that they’re a nicer place to be?

Herbs and lavender are more for your benefit as a human. I can't say chickens look at a sprig of lavender and think that makes it "nicer."

I strictly keep the "putting in a nest box" trick for birds that are actively looking to lay at that moment, and so far it's worked without stressing them out too much.

 

[Chickmamajessica]

Herbs and lavender are more for your benefit as a human. I can't say chickens look at a sprig of lavender and think that makes it "nicer."

I strictly keep the "putting in a nest box" trick for birds that are actively looking to lay at that moment, and so far it's worked without stressing them out too much.

Hmmm. I thought lavender provided a calming element to the chickens? I understand the benefits for humans but I also thought it transferred over to chickens, which would make it nicer for them??