Re-training to lay in nest boxes

[Highlander]

I've been finding myself going on an Easter Egg hunt every day as my girls are not keen on using their nest boxes. They are ex-batt hens so clearly they have never been used to them. There are around 8 "special" places that they like to hide their eggs: behind the paint pots in the garage, on top of the barbecue, under a sheet of corrugated metal etc - you get the picture. Well, the novelty of my daily egg hunt wore off today when I stumbled upon another nest with 29 eggs in it!

So I decided enough is enough and they are staying inside until they can learn to use the next boxes. I have golf balls at the ready. Does anyone know approximately how long I would need to keep them in for, and any other tips??

 

[horsejody]

When they lay their eggs in the coop you will probably see that they have favorite corners. Wherever you find the piles of eggs, put a nest box there.

ETA: Keep golf balls or fake eggs in the nestboxes. If they think you have stolen all of the eggs, they will try to hide them in a new place.

 

[crooked stripe]

In my case I haven't been able to stop the behavior. I have 1 Black Australorp out of 8 chickens that uses the nest box. I came across a nest of eggs in a bale of straw. I built a 2'x2' wood frame 12" deep and filled it with straw and they take turns using that. It is funny for the fact no matter where I place the wood frame they use it. They like to dig a hole about 8" deep and lay in the bottom. Good luck with your problem I hope you get some good suggestions. John

 

[basicliving]

It depends on how much time you have on your hands. When I had a couple laying out side the nest boxes, I would find them in the coop on the floor in a nest they made for themselves and pick them up and put them in a nest box. After doing this for a couple of days, they stopped laying on the floor.

 

[Highlander]

The floor of the coop wouldn't be such a problem, but they free-range from 10am until 8pm and they've been laying in all sorts of weird places and probably a few I haven't found yet. Also because I have 67 chickens I need to sell the eggs and if I can't find them then I can't sell them.

I appreciate the advice so far guys, thanks.

 

[tellynpeep]

29 eggs!?!?
Wow. I only found 15 in the nest under the pine branches yesterday. They were stained from being out in the elements for a week or so, so I couldn't sell/give them away. Very frustrating, isn't it?
Good luck!

 

[cmom]

I shut mine in their coop for a week and put golf balls in the nest boxes. Now they lay in them and I haven't found any hiding places.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

I let ours out to free-range everyday around 1 or 2 p.m. By then, most eggs are already laid in the nestboxes and easy to collect.

 

[Highlander]

Quote:
That's a good idea, I think they would be miserable if they didn't get outside for a while. I might leave it even later than that for a couple of days, say 5pm to 8pm and gradually extend it. Thanks.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

My six black australorps are doing pretty well right now at using the nest boxes. They are just starting to lay eggs so I am only getting 3 eggs a day max right now. Here are a few things I did after finding a few eggs in other places.

1) Instead of one or two golf balls in each of several nest areas, I consolidated the majority of the golf balls in one nest. The next day that box had an egg in it.

2) My chickens free range all day, but I do have a small run that I can push up agains the pop door to limit their activities (and keep out cats...not a problem, but just in case). I started pushing the run up and leaving it in place until about 8 a.m. or so. It is a small coup and small run, so I figured that would get them used to seeing the golf ball eggs in the boxes.

3) I still had one that had made a nest of her own by the shed. I put the waterer there to make it less tempting.

4) One day 2 eggs were in the run, which they like to use for shelter even thoough they can get out of it if desired to free range. Again, I took those eggs away and kept the run attached a few hours in the mornging to get them used to seeing the golf balls.

5) One day a golf ball landed on the floor of the coup. I didnt' get it picked up right away and had an egg appear there. I moved the golf ball and took the egg

Today the nest box with the majority of the golf balls in it had 3 eggs in it!

Good luck,
Holly