Stubborn chicken just started laying.

[khloee]

It looks like you don’t have bedding in the nest boxes. If that is the case, try adding some. They are very much creatures of instinct and they like to have a medium they can nest in.

I did have bedding in the nest boxes but all they did was kick it out and left nothing in it. So to prevent the eggs from cracking on the wood beneath I cut some pieces of carpet to fit in there. Besides the carpet I don't really know what else to try in there.

 

[khloee]

Try some of the suggestions noted above. If she continues to not lay in the nest box despite the changes, then taking a hands-on approach could help:

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).

Every morning around about 9-10 am she seems antsy. Should I maybe try to place her in the nest box then to see if she'll do her bussiness?

 

[khloee]

Good point. Bedding can make the nests more inviting, and also help avoid broken eggs.
If there is bedding in the nests, I'm not noticing it in that photo.

I have carpet squares in there because the other five just kicked it out. I've tried straw and pine chips. The carpet was the only solution that has worked. I haven't had any cracked eggs for a while and the girls seem happy with it. Well all of them except my newest hen.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Every morning around about 9-10 am she seems antsy. Should I maybe try to place her in the nest box then to see if she'll do her bussiness?

If that's when she seems to be laying you can try it.

 

[ella]

I did have bedding in the nest boxes but all they did was kick it out and left nothing in it. So to prevent the eggs from cracking on the wood beneath I cut some pieces of carpet to fit in there. Besides the carpet I don't really know what else to try in there.

They naturally kick out bedding while they are nesting, Especially When they are youngsters. They are a little bit obsessive in the first year because they are running more instinct than experience. But even with older hens you need to replace the bedding occasionally.

 

[NatJ]

I have carpet squares in there because the other five just kicked it out. I've tried straw and pine chips. The carpet was the only solution that has worked. I haven't had any cracked eggs for a while and the girls seem happy with it. Well all of them except my newest hen.

Good idea to use the carpet! No cracked eggs, no lost bedding

You could try putting in some hay or straw or something to see if it makes a difference for this hen. Even if they kick it back out, she might form the right habits by then.

Or you could try putting her in the nestbox at the right time, as you mentioned.

Or you could just keep collecting eggs from whatever weird places she puts them, and see if she eventually decides for herself to lay in the boxes

 

[khloee]

Good idea to use the carpet! No cracked eggs, no lost bedding

You could try putting in some hay or straw or something to see if it makes a difference for this hen. Even if they kick it back out, she might form the right habits by then.

Or you could try putting her in the nestbox at the right time, as you mentioned.

Or you could just keep collecting eggs from whatever weird places she puts them, and see if she eventually decides for herself to lay in the boxes

Today I reattached the door to the nesting boxes and put her in there. After about five minuets she finally calmed down. Right now she's sitting in there as any of my others would. She really is a stubborn chicken. Hopefully this is the only thing I'll have to try!

 

[khloee]

They naturally kick out bedding while they are nesting, Especially When they are youngsters. They are a little bit obsessive in the first year because they are running more instinct than experience. But even with older hens you need to replace the bedding occasionally.

Well one reason I also did this was because They'd climb in there to look for bugs, not to lay eggs . And of course because of them kicking it all out. With my other batch of chickens before them I had no problems with them kicking the bedding. My chickens are just weird