Where do they lay?

[amcstay]

My hen and her adopted chicks sleep in the nesting box at night. So, since the hen is doing the squat and probably going to lay soon, where should I expect her to lay? On the ground of the run, in the box, on top of the waterer? Do they just start laying in the boxes even though they sleep in them?
I tried to get her out of the box, but she just pulled all the stuffing out or wedged herself on top of it and got stuck...

 

[Karlachix]

I've found that they tend to lay in the darkest smallest space they can find (i.e., wherever they want.)

My husband built some lovely nest boxes and they chose to lay in the corner beyond the boxes. Now they lay in the corner behind the can we keep their feed in.

I'm going to buy some fake eggs and leave them in the boxes and see if that helps.

Karla

 

[amcstay]

Thanks

 

[supermom]

Maybe you should block off the nest boxes for a week or so... Hopefully, they will find a new place to sleep. Once they have a new place to sleep, unblock the nest boxes, put in a golf ball and see if she does her job.

 

[amcstay]

We did that various times, including putting bricks and huge rocks in the nesting boxes, but she somehow 1. got in and got stuck or 2. pulled all the things out. I would swear she has oposable thumbs, but I never can seem to find them.....