Remove coop bedding?

[71chickens]

Hi All,

I am new here and have not seen this question answered...I have one hen that is laying out of my 8 total. She lays her eggs on the floor of the coop and completely ignores the nest boxes. Should I remove the bedding on the coop floor to entice her to use the nest boxes?

 

[chickens r life]

Have you tried putting golf balls in the nesting boxes??

 

[71chickens]

Yes, golf balls and plastic eggs filled with flour for weight. She completely ignores the boxes.

 

[71chickens]

My other chickens will be laying very soon

and I don't want them following her lead. She is a 1 year old Jubilee Orpington.

 

[chickens r life]

My other chickens will be laying very soon  and I don't want them following her lead. She is a 1 year old Jubilee Orpington.

Wow, I just got two jubilees today lol.

 

[chickens r life]

Maybe if you'd like to try removing the bedding... I don't lie to remove the bedding because it becomes a huge mess!!

 

[71chickens]

I have 5 lavender orpingtons-25 weeks, 1 jubilee-1 year old, and 2 silver laced wyandottes-22 weeks. Just thinking I should make my jubilee a nesting box in her favorite spot, but I doubt she will use it.

 

[71chickens]

That was my thoughts as well. I haven't had an issue with dirty or broken eggs...yet

 

[trailrider330]

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!

I would not remove all the bedding just yet. That is a lot of work depending on the size of your coop.

Continue to try the "fake egg trick" to get her to lay in the right spot. I would also check to make sure there are not any little critters (lice, mites, etc.) in the nesting boxes that are deterring her from using them. You could also try using different types of nesting boxes (cardboard box, recycle bin, covered cat litter pan, wood box, bucket turned on its side, etc.) at different levels (on the ground vs. 18-24" high) with different bedding (straw, shavings, etc.) to see if that makes a difference. Also make sure your hens can see inside the nest before they enter (i.e. a perch right outside the nest).

Turns out my hens all fight over the same box and will wait in line to use it. It is a recycling bin (the stacking kind with the slanted front), at ground level, filled with pine shavings. The only time they ever use the other nests is if the recycling bin is already occupied. Who knew?

If all else fails, maybe the other hens will set a good example for her and she will change her ways.

 

[Mutt Farm]

I have 5 lavender orpingtons-25 weeks, 1 jubilee-1 year old, and 2 silver laced wyandottes-22 weeks. Just thinking I should make my jubilee a nesting box in her favorite spot, but I doubt she will use it.

I'd have a look at where she is choosing to lay. Why does she like it better? Is it darker? More private? Same bedding as the nest boxes? Nest boxes too high? too light? I actually would remove the bedding on the floor, at least from where she is laying so the others don't follow her lead. They'll lay in the spot they like best. Make everything other than the boxes uninviting. And yes, be sure she can see into the box before jumping in.