she's laying her eggs in the WRONG place!

[bj taylor]

i've tried to talk to her about this. today she laid her second egg. it's so cute and perfect - just like her. the problem is she's laying them outside in a little dirt hollow.
don't really know what to do about it. the coop is intolerable during the day. i'm going to see about setting up some outdoor nest boxes that are raised (for my benefit) & have complete ventilation in the shade.

by the way, i'm going to take my two perfect little eggs & show them to mom (she's 89) when i take her to lunch tomorrow. she probably has never seen such a perfect little egg before.

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Have you tried putting golfballs or fake eggs in the nest? Or locking her in with the nest box?

 

[bj taylor]

if i locked her in the coop during the day, she would be dead from heat. despite two fans in there it's still unbearable. it was 105 today. i can't blame her. outside there is more ventilation & the misters are going. wish i could do misters in the coop, but that would be a disease paradise.
i've got a rabbit hutch in the run. i'm thinking about trying to get her to use it as her nest box during the summer.

 

[Bullitt]

I also live in North Texas. I opened the door and it felt like a blast furnace outside.

I can't blame your hen for not wanting to go inside a very hot coop. Their little brains work pretty well sometimes.

I think your idea about an outside nesting box is about your only option. Maybe you can find a shady spot near where she has been laying her eggs.