She will not use the nesting box

[Bobh3615]

I have three chickens that I keep in a small chicken tractor. I've had them for over a year now I have for the past year they laid very well in the nesting box. I let them out in the mornings to free-range they always have been returning to the coop to lay their eggs.
I came home from work last week and found an egg in one of the chairs on our screened in porch thought it was funny LOL. The screen door is broken right now and it's easy for the chicken to get in. Well it's happened a couple of times I tried blocking the doorway and if I don't do a good job the chicken gets in. Usually I'm at work when this happens.
So I'm home today off from work and I let the chickens out I should have my porch to have a cup of coffee and up comes the Rhode Island red why answer the porch and sit down in my wife's chair to lay an egg. I pick her up bring her back to the coop put her in. Instead of going to the nesting box she just runs around the coup looking for a way to get out I felt bad so I let her out and she ran straight to the porch right up into the chair again I picked her up physically put her in the nesting box what she just jumped out of it. I barricaded the porch door so she can't get in and she spent the last 20 minutes frantically running around the porch screen trying to find a way in.
So obviously my question is how do I get her back in the habit of using the nesting box again? Do I need to leave all them just cooped up for the next few days until she gets back in habit??

 

[featheredplanets]

If it’s just her, leave her locked in the coop (and run, if there is one) until she lays her egg, you could place a few fake eggs in the nest box. You might need to do that for a week or two. I was just reading on nesting box herbs, I don’t know if they work, but some people like to place dried herbs like lavender, oregano and mint in them, as they have calming properties alongside other things? Or you can add fresh herbs for them to pick at. I’m sure someone uses them and can give their two pence.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Haha, your wife’s chair is the chosen spot for optimum egg laying comfort! But if you want her laying in the box then yes, I’d try leaving them in the run and not free range for a few days. Since she won’t be able to get the the porch she should take to at least laying somewhere in the coop. However if she’s really set on laying in that chair she might not stick to the coop.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I have three chickens that I keep in a small chicken tractor. I've had them for over a year now I have for the past year they laid very well in the nesting box. I let them out in the mornings to free-range they always have been returning to the coop to lay their eggs.
I came home from work last week and found an egg in one of the chairs on our screened in porch thought it was funny LOL. The screen door is broken right now and it's easy for the chicken to get in. Well it's happened a couple of times I tried blocking the doorway and if I don't do a good job the chicken gets in. Usually I'm at work when this happens.
So I'm home today off from work and I let the chickens out I should have my porch to have a cup of coffee and up comes the Rhode Island red why answer the porch and sit down in my wife's chair to lay an egg. I pick her up bring her back to the coop put her in. Instead of going to the nesting box she just runs around the coup looking for a way to get out I felt bad so I let her out and she ran straight to the porch right up into the chair again I picked her up physically put her in the nesting box what she just jumped out of it. I barricaded the porch door so she can't get in and she spent the last 20 minutes frantically running around the porch screen trying to find a way in.
So obviously my question is how do I get her back in the habit of using the nesting box again? Do I need to leave all them just cooped up for the next few days until she gets back in habit??

 

[aart]

Lock 'em up!
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Bobh3615]

Thank you for your reply that's just what I'll do. I just feel guilty about leaving them in the coop all day LOL

 

[aart]

I just feel guilty about leaving them in the coop all day LOL

As long as the coop and run are of adequate size for the number of birds you have and protected from the weather, there's no reason to feel guilty.
Free ranging is all great and happy, but secure housing should always be available in case of an issue where they need to be confined... ie: predator threats, extreme weather...nest training, etc. Being confined after free ranging can be stressful, they won't be 'happy'(chickens don't like change) but they'll get over it and it's good to get them used to and comfortable with confinement. JMO.