Trying to lay in the wrong coop?

[cpsmith02]

My girls (free-ranged) have been laying for awhile and yesterday one of my BG went to the neighbors coop. I thought she was just going over to look around and eat their food. I went back out to check on her later and my silver rooster was not in the yard. I couldn't find them for a while. Then I heard her clucking and found them inside the neighbors coop. I took them both out and they went back over to the other girls. I checked on them once again later that day and my BG had gone back into the neighbors coop. She was in one of their boxes trying to lay her egg. I took her down to her coop and she finally laid in her usual box. I thought it was over until today when she was back in the neighbors yard again trying to get into their coop. Shes started attracting the other BG to the neighbors to. How do I get her to break the habit of going in the neighbors yard?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Perhaps observe what may be more attractive about your neighbor's nests/coop to your chickens than your setup.

I had a Jaerhon that flew into an adjacent pen to lay in that coop even though she was persecuted if they caught her in there. More strange than that, she had never been in there so I don't know how she even knew there was a nest box in there.

 

[cpsmith02]

Our girls boxes have hay in them and the neighbors has bedding instead. The neighbors don't care if shes in there but i do. I was wondering if she maybe wanted privacy. The neighbors girls are turning 18 weeks in a week so they haven't laid yet. Maybe she wanted to be alone?

 

[shelby h]

Maybe switch to bedding, and hang a curtain?

 

[cpsmith02]

Maybe switch to bedding, and hang a curtain?

I'm not sure if the privacy is a problem because they have wooden walls in between the boxes but i will try getting bedding in there today instead of hay.

thank you!

 

[shelby h]

I'm not sure if the privacy is a problem because they have wooden walls in between the boxes but i will try getting bedding in there today instead of hay.  thank you!

No problem. I recently discovered one of my hens laying away from the nest box because of privacy reasons. She WAS laying in the box, but once the other girls wanted to help, she changed where she laid, that's why i suggest a curtain. It can't hurt to staple up an old pillowcase! Lots of luck in getting your girl to stay home!

 

[cpsmith02]

No problem. I recently discovered one of my hens laying away from the nest box because of privacy reasons. She WAS laying in the box, but once the other girls wanted to help, she changed where she laid, that's why i suggest a curtain. It can't hurt to staple up an old pillowcase! Lots of luck in getting your girl to stay home!

THANK YOU sooo much!!!

 

[cpsmith02]

Im happy to say that my black giant returned to her coop today to lay without even looking at getting into the neighbors coop.

 

[shelby h]

Yay! Maybe she decided it wasn't worth the hassle. No matter the reason, that deserves a big woot woot!

 

[cpsmith02]

Yay! Maybe she decided it wasn't worth the hassle. No matter the reason, that deserves a big woot woot!

Thank you sooo much for all of your help!! It was greatly appreciated!