She sat in the nest box, then laid the egg on the floor.

[telehillco]

My second of three chickens has just started laying. The first layer was right on it and has laid an egg every day in one of the two nest boxes. The second also seemed to understand what the nest boxes were for and spent quite a bit of time there squaking, moving material around and sitting, but later I found her egg outside in the run. Today, the same story--time in the nest box, then egg on the coop floor.

Any ideas about what's going on and if there's anything I can do? I've got golf balls in the nest boxes, no one seems to be sleeping or pooping in the nest boxes, and she sure seems to have the right idea, but the execution is off.

Thanks for any input!

 

[gritsar]

It may be that she's still a little confused about this whole egg laying business. Give her a little more time.
Also, something to consider. Is either of the other two chickens chasing her away from the nestbox before she can finish?

 

[canada-goose]

Don't worry too much. It's what I call "kooky chicken-ness" maybe she just likes laying in a public area. Who knows what goes through a chicken's mind.....

 

[swtamour]

I have three chickens and when two of them started laying, they layed in the dirt. But after a few days, they started laying in the nestbox.

 

[Judy]

I have over 20 pullets who started laying about 3 weeks ago. Some are not laying yet, I'm sure, as I've never gotten over 12 or 13 eggs so far. At first, I found eggs on the coop floor fairly often, but it is very unusual now. I use golf balls, too.


Just keep the nest boxes clean and filled with nesting, and give them some time. You could try 2 rather than 1 golf balls; sometimes helps, I have read. I find most of the eggs in the 3 or 4 favorite nests.

 

[Happy Chooks]

The day my BO laid her first egg was hilarious. She'd make some noise and go running to the coop. She'd sit in the nest box for 15-20 minutes, then come back out with the others. Then she'd make more noise and run back to the coop. She repeated this at least a dozen times. When she quieted down, I went out to look, and no egg. I found it under the apple tree, so I guess she couldn't make it back.

The next day it was on the floor of the coop. A couple days after that it was in the nest box. Now everyday it's in the nestbox.

 

[NRacine]

I have an EE who still occasionally lays an egg any old place. She's been laying for 6 months now. Don't know why, she's just a weirdo.

 

[Casey3043]

Who knows what goes on in a chicken's head? Mine have been laying in the nest boxes for two years, and yesterday I found three eggs on the floor of the coop. Fortunately the shavings were fresh and the eggs were clean. I check every day, so I know those eggs were laid that day.

They'll get the hang of it---or maybe not! (Just kidding)

CASEY

 

[telehillco]

Quote:
Thanks! This sounds just like what my RIR is doing. I'll wait it out and assume she gets the idea. Right now she's "singing" away on the nest again!