Six new chickens this year, all whackos

[rabtfarm]

After a brief three year hiatus from hens and eggs, we picked up 6 assorted chicks and raised them; they are now in our renovated roost. One of the Buff Orpingtons has decided I am her man and repeatedly escapes the roost and comes in the garage looking for me. The other day she flew into the farm office screen trying to get into where I was on the computer. She appears to have been the first one to start laying, of course behind the old stereo speakers in the garage, not in the nests in the coop. She laid a half dozen there before we found her there with them. Not sure how we will successfully move her egg laying to the coop(I'm not going to start living there!) We did get a pair of ceramic eggs which they keep pushing out of the nests..but no real eggs. Any suggestions?
Also tonight the Comet missed the roost dowel and somehow managed to do the Carl Wallenda act on the rope that goes across to the coop door...swinging back and forth as she tried hard to balance there. Dunno how long she had been there, but she had a good 15 seconds more rocking on the dowel after I rescued her from the rope...

 

[AidKD]

How soon did you let them range after putting them in the coop?

 

[rabtfarm]

I'm guessing now..too soon. Before they started laying! They are about 4 months old.

 

[AidKD]

I would suggest leaving them in the coop for about a week and making them roost, then see how that goes.

 

[rabtfarm]

Yup...stall rest for these hooligans..no free range until the eggs are showing up in the roost! Two eggs today...but one made her nest under the roost ramp outdoors..go figure!

 

[aart]

Pics of the nests?

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.