Think the free ranging is over.....

[nuttyredhead]

My son found several nests yesterday....all over the yard! I love free ranging them, and I don't want to lock them up, but I I can't be searching for eggs everyday!!!! Ugh......

 

[bridget-rdh]

Our hens free range during the day also. In the beginning we left them in the run/coop for a full 24 hrs. Then we only let them out for a couple hours in the late afternoon/evening for a while. Now, even when we free range them all day, they go back to the coop to lay.

Also, make sure nest boxes are clean and cozy. I use 2-3 inches of shavings and keep them poop-free. You might also try covering their nest spots in the yard with something temporarily.. A board or bricks maybe.

 

[JeffOeuf]

It will only take a week or so. Lock them up, get them used to laying in the nest boxes, and then you can start letting them out again. Mine head back to the coop when they're ready to lay, then just head back to the yard when they're done.

 

[nuttyredhead]

I will try that thanks. They were laying in the coop until the last couple of weeks. Maybe they need a reminder of where to lay!

 

[luvmyEs]

One of my BR had a nest in a tree stump in the yard. Instead of locking her up or upsetting her to the point she moved her nest, I took a sharpie marker and put a 'X' on the eggs already there and just collected the new ones. If you can't beat them...

Recently she has taken it upon herself to start laying in the nestboxes again