Sneaky layers

[AnnaSophie]

We were concerned with the lack of eggs, but put it down to extreme heat etc. We have 4 hens; an Australorp, a Leghorn, an Isa Brown and a hybrid. Usually 3 eggs a day, then nothing. Occasionally one.
Suddenly we found this, just two metres from the coop. Has anyone else had this happen?
Cheers, Anna

 

[BlueBaby]

I've heard of it happening before with people who free-range their hen's. They can lay the egg's anywhere as long as they have access to the whole yard.

 

[GirlsMommy18]

Mine liked my fire pit. And after I moved that, she preferred under my kayak until I moved it. Just found one under the bush next to the front door tonight. Same hen absolute hates every nest box and nesting material I've tried....

 

[rebrascora]

Some hens have more natural instinct than others and their instinct is to lay their eggs in a safe place where they will not be stolen/eaten. I have found that Leghorns are often more devious than other breeds although I am having a serious problem with my Black Copper Marans at the moment! Free ranging gives them an opportunity to express this natural instinct. My daily egg hunts used to involve ladders as well as crawling into small inaccessible places. I once found a nest in the eves of my stone stable that contained a mountain of 47 little blue and pink eggs from a mother and daughter tag team. Thankfully it was winter and they were all still edible. I now make nests for them and place them, around the yard in obscure places and see how long it takes for them to find and use them. It is amazing how they will find and investigate a new nest even on the same day as I install it. Understanding what they are looking for in a nest helps to be successful and I almost consider it to be a game....when I have the time to set something up and then watch them scouting it..... some of them will be really sneaky and not go to the nest whilst you are watching.
It may also be that your official nest boxes are too hot or too dry if you are in a hot climate and this hen has found a cooler shaded spot in the damper dirt which would better facilitate incubating eggs.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello AnnaSophie.
Welcome to BYC.
Yes, it happens all the time when chickens are allowed to free range.
They're not being sneaky honestly. It's their natural behavior. Egg boxes, nest boxes are unnatural for hens. As far as a hen is concerned the idea of laying eggs is to hatch young, not so humans can have breakfast.
Earth makes a wonderful nest for hatching chicks in. Far better than any nest boxes we make for them.
This article may help understand why.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...e-make-a-sitting-hens-job-so-difficult.74389/

 

[aart]

Never had it happen, my birds are not free ranged.
But if you want them to lay in the coop 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.

 

[Savager]

I had one girl who layed in the long grass around a tree right next to the coop. I have used golf balls for them and it didn't last very long once I figured it out. I think the golf balls work because they have kept all my chickens laying in the same nest and my ducks have also layed where I wanted them to with golf balls.