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question about hens laying

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by kushball21, Dec 24, 2011.

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  1. Dec 24, 2011 #1
    kushball21

    kushball21 Out Of The Brooder

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    May 30, 2011
    Harveys Lake, PA
    I have at least 1 hen laying out of 15 and she seems to lay them in the corner of the coop under the roost. Somehow the eggs get covered up by the pine shavings. I have to hunt for the eggs. [​IMG] I do have nest boxes hanging on the walls with golf balls in them. So my question is, how do I get her to lay in the nest box?

    P.S. just took 1 nest box off the wall and put on the floor of the coop.
     
  3. Dec 24, 2011 #2
    seminolewind

    seminolewind Flock Mistress Premium Member

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    No idea. I guess I would be putting one of the nests over there too.
     
  5. Dec 24, 2011 #3
    RaZ

    RaZ Overrun With Chickens Premium Member

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    Good luck trying to change the behaviour.
    I have 6 hens and 6 boxes, but 5 of them will all lay in the same box and 1 BO who always lays on the floor under the nest boxes.

    At least you know where the ground layer is hiding her eggs.
     
  7. Dec 24, 2011 #4
    duckinnut

    duckinnut Chillin' With My Peeps

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    If she lays there all the time I would put something in her way,and if she changes the spot but still not in the box move it to that spot. Hopefully she will get the point. Otherwise you're doing all the things you are supposed to do.
     
  9. Dec 24, 2011 #5
    kushball21

    kushball21 Out Of The Brooder

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    May 30, 2011
    Harveys Lake, PA
    thanks all for the reply.... i think if she doesn't get the hint i might glue her feet to the nest box, maybe then she'll get the idea. [​IMG] he he he
     
  11. Dec 24, 2011 #6
    Fred's Hens

    Fred's Hens Chicken Obsessed Premium Member

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    Up North when it's hot, Down South when it's not.
    Give the hens at least one box, which is placed virtually on the floor. Just bang together a 18" cube of scrap plywood or similar. Put little 3" lip on the front opening to help keep the straw/chips in the box and set the box on a couple of half blocks or some bricks, just 3" off the ground. Many hens will not jump up to an elevated box. Give it a try. You've nothing to lose and everything to gain.
     
  13. Dec 24, 2011 #7
    discoveregg

    discoveregg Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Quote:Having the same problem here, except I have two hens laying on the floor. At least the eggs are right by the door. Maybe I should go hunting too....
     
  15. Dec 27, 2011 #8
    kushball21

    kushball21 Out Of The Brooder

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    May 30, 2011
    Harveys Lake, PA
    ok so i took the nest box down and put it in the corner where i saw her lay the egg and now she lays them in another corner!!!!!! [​IMG] and it was buried again!!!!!! [​IMG]
     
  17. Dec 27, 2011 #9
    Shooting Star

    Shooting Star New Egg

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    I was having this problem too - I placed an egg in each nest box (I scribbled on the egg with a pencil) - so I could identify the eggs I placed in the box - after a few days, they were all laying in the boxes. [​IMG]
     
  19. Dec 27, 2011 #10
    Lollipop

    Lollipop Chillin' With My Peeps

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    You`re stressing too much over this, my friend. Since you know now where she is laying, let her lay there and leave a marked egg for her refference. You know where the nest is, so you can collect the fresh ones. Everyone is happy........Pop
     
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