stop fancy nancy from laying eggs in the wrong place

[creedatticus]

we currently have 2 chickens, and only one has started laying. She lays them on the ground in the corner of the coop instead of the nesting box. how should i get her to stop laying it there and use the nesting box instead?

 

[Sussex19]

Have you tried putting fake eggs in the nesting box?

 

[creedatticus]

Have you tried putting fake eggs in the nesting box?

yup! we have two fake ceramic eggs in the nesting box. I don't think ive ever really seen them go in there, i have seen the laying chicken in there about once.

 

[Sussex19]

yup! we have two fake ceramic eggs in the nesting box. I don't think ive ever really seen them go in there, i have seen the laying chicken in there about once.

I don't really have any other suggestions, my hens have always worked it out sooner or later.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can try putting something to block off the area she's currently wanting to use, i.e. a cardboard box with a brick inside to weigh it down.

There's also this, but it requires some micromanaging:

Now this isn't practical if you don't have time to stalk them, but what I did was I learned the problem bird(s) laying schedules, and when they went to their preferred spot to lay, I'd go and pick them up, stick them in a nest box, and barricade them in using my arms to cover the exit. 30-60 seconds was all they needed to calm down and start exploring the box and decide that maybe it wasn't such a bad place to be. They each started reliably using the boxes after that.

Alternatively, some folks design "doors" on their nest boxes so birds can be locked in, which basically does the same as above, but forces the bird to stay in the nest box (whereas once I see them exploring and sitting down in the nest, I leave them to it and walk away).

 

[creedatticus]

You can try putting something to block off the area she's currently wanting to use, i.e. a cardboard box with a brick inside to weigh it down.

There's also this, but it requires some micromanaging:

Now this isn't practical if you don't have time to stalk them, but what I did was I learned the problem bird(s) laying schedules, and when they went to their preferred spot to lay, I'd go and pick them up, stick them in a nest box, and barricade them in using my arms to cover the exit. 30-60 seconds was all they needed to calm down and start exploring the box and decide that maybe it wasn't such a bad place to be. They each started reliably using the boxes after that.

Alternatively, some folks design "doors" on their nest boxes so birds can be locked in, which basically does the same as above, but forces the bird to stay in the nest box (whereas once I see them exploring and sitting down in the nest, I leave them to it and walk away).

thats a great idea! it is almost christmas break and i will be off school and i am going to try to put her in the nesting box before she lays! she also has a weird schedule, sometimes laying super early in the morning, and sometimes at like 11 am or 12 pm!