They won't use the nest boxes.

[Stasi]

My girls lay their eggs in a corner of their coup. They will not use their nest boxes. Is there a way to get them to use them? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks

 

[chickenannie]

Put golf balls or fake eggs in the nestboxes. They are creatures of habit, and they like to lay eggs where there are already "eggs" laid. Then they think it is a "safe" place for their own eggs.

 

[miss jay's mama]

One of my girls did the same thing the first several eggs she laid. I put plastic easter eggs in the nest boxes and put her in the nest box. I don't know what did the trick but she goes in the nest box all the time now. It could be she saw the other gals in there.

Good Luck

 

[digitS']

Maybe put a little something like some wire netting in the corner to keep them out of that spot. If your nest boxes are movable, maybe you can set the box on top of where they've been laying.

Make sure that they've investigated their nest boxes. Hopefully, the boxes are kind of out-of-the-way, quiet and cozy.

You may know that one will lay that day. Keeping everything calm, put her in the box. Come back again in an hour and put her in the box again. Put 1 or 2 of her sisters in the box. Do it again. The next day, put them in again.

If you can get one using the nest, others will probably follow. If they make a nest on the floor - mess it up some way so that it loses its appeal.

Best of luck, Stasi, and welcome to BYC!

Steve