. We really did not do anything. They eventually catch on. Do not be surprise that even on occasion that you will find eggs in strange places. It happens. Congratulations!
Well…if you find anything that works, let me know and I will do the same! I have the curtains pinned and wooden eggs (the one that came with the box and several others). I even sprinkled “nest box herbs” thinking they might draw attention. Second egg was left in the same place the first one was yesterday, even though I fluffed the bedding so the “nest” she created was gone. My kids (adult) are caring for them in my absence this week and are going to put some straw in to see if that is more enticing. If I knew for sure which one was laying I would put her in the box with the bar up like they suggested but I’m not 100% sure which of the 19 (well, really of the 6 older girls) is the one. Sigh…so far the eggs have been clean and safe down there so that is a plus!So you and I are in the same boat... I have the same nest box, but have yet gotten anyone to use it!
My plan is to start them out with the curtains pinned back and regular nest pads inside. Maybe even put some furniture in front of it so it's easier to jump inside. Once I get consistent laying, I'll switch to the plastic pads that let the egg roll out.
Have you tried putting fake eggs in the nest. Usually works like a charm! And, congrats on the first egg!
Congratulations! That is the best feeling! My third girl only just started laying. I'm not that experienced with chickens, but I bought two wooden boxes (one is a laundry hamper an the other is a homemade rabbit hutch on FB marketplace) and then padded them up with sugarcane mulch and put them up on a waist height table. I also built a ladder for the girls out of wood from my garden. They started investigating both boxes pretty quickly and then laid in them. I have found one egg laid in my compost box, but other than that they always lay in the home made nesting boxes. It is also dark and private in the boxes, under a canopy which I made from a tent. I read it's good to get a fake egg and leave it in the nesting box to encourage them to lay. You can get them from pet stores. Good luck and enjoy your eggs!
No, only the pad that came with the box.
Thank you!
