Where is she laying eggs!

[Mother Chicken Lover]

Hoping for some advice. Without going into too much backstory. .
Found myself with 1 rooster and 2 hens at the end of February of this year. Here it is June and now have, oh... about 40 chickens! We couldn't build a bigger coop fast enough. They all roost in one of our pines. Using mealy worms to train them into coop. Two questions: How do I find where my one hen (One eye Henny Penny) is laying?? I follow her throughout the day and can't find the eggs. I do not one day want her to disappear and reappear with another 16 Chickie's! And,
any tricks on transitioning from tree to coop
Thank you!!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

well, I'd get that coop and an enclosed run set up. I'd lock them all in the run for at least two weeks, in the coop itself if its cool enough... so they know where home is. Then I'd let them out for short times. by this time they'll start seeing your nest boxes as the preferred place to lay.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Totally agree with frazzemrat1 is exactly the same thing I would do

 

[RWise]

I cannot lock mine in, it is only a roost.
Here is what I do, collect said hen from her roost at night. Put her in a wire cage and bring her inside so I can watch her. When she gets to a point she really wants out, I take her outside and open the cage. She has lead me straight to her nest each time, good luck!

 

[Mother Chicken Lover]

well, I'd get that coop and an enclosed run set up. I'd lock them all in the run for at least two weeks, in the coop itself if its cool enough... so they know where home is. Then I'd let them out for short times. by this time they'll start seeing your nest boxes as the preferred place to lay.

Thank you. Just getting the finishing touches on a 12 X 12 coop with a 12 X 30 run. Just need to get them ALL to get in there. It's like wrangling a bunch of 3 year old children. Lol.

 

[Mother Chicken Lover]

I cannot lock mine in, it is only a roost.
Here is what I do, collect said hen from her roost at night. Put her in a wire cage and bring her inside so I can watch her. When she gets to a point she really wants out, I take her outside and open the cage. She has lead me straight to her nest each time, good luck!

Oh great. I'll try that for my Hen. I had found a clutch of 7 in one shot then another 3 in another shot! These birds!! I sure enjoy them though. Thanks again!

 

[boz]

Hoping for some advice. Without going into too much backstory. .
Found myself with 1 rooster and 2 hens at the end of February of this year. Here it is June and now have, oh... about 40 chickens! We couldn't build a bigger coop fast enough. They all roost in one of our pines. Using mealy worms to train them into coop. Two questions: How do I find where my one hen (One eye Henny Penny) is laying?? I follow her throughout the day and can't find the eggs. I do not one day want her to disappear and reappear with another 16 Chickie's! And,
any tricks on transitioning from tree to coop
Thank you!!

get them all in the coop for 3 day in a row and at each night when you all of them in the coop close it off and maybe they go in the coop every time after that

 

[Mother Chicken Lover]

get them all in the coop for 3 day in a row and at each night when you all of them in the coop close it off and maybe they go in the coop every time after that

It seems the average is like 3 days in lock up and they should adopt to the change. Thank you!!