where to lay????

[lilkriket]

My chicken is a freak about where she lays eggs! I built her a beautiful coop with a few places for her to lay, she's an indoor/outdoor chicken so sometimes she finds a bag she likes, or a pile of laundry. (which doesn't last long) Most days she runs around frantically looking for somewhere to lay! I'm worried she'll become egg bound! I just want her to use the coop! Can I make it more appealing for egg laying? She is driving me nuts!!! I want to relieve her of this stress as well!

 

[Judy]

She should learn to use the coop if she is confined to it for several days until she lays. Is it possible the coop is too hot/not well ventilated enough?

Is she your only chicken? If so, she will do much better with another one.

 

[EngieKisses]

Try putting fake eggs or some golf balls in the nests in the coop then make her stay outside for a few days if possible and you know your coop is ventilated well enough as ddawn pointed out.

 

[lilkriket]

She is my only chicken and has never slept outside, but I could make her stay in her coop when she starts up, getting all flustered about laying. Her coop is well ventelated.

 

[Judy]

Didn't think of fake eggs; that's also a good idea.

I'd still consider one more chicken.

 

[StupidBird]

Thanks to BYC I now know what to do with all those golf balls that have been mysteriously appearing in my front and back yard...fake eggs to train my pullets! Thank you, golf ball fairy! I'd been wondering, since we are miles and miles from a golf course...

 

[Judy]

Quote:
They can be real frustrating to snakes, too.

 

[RendonRoo]

I was picking egg up out of the floor every day(mine just started laying saturday). I put fake eggs in the nest boxes saturday when i found the first egg. This afternoon i found an egg in the boxes. They do catch on after a few days. Good Luck

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

The fake egg idea is a great one. You may also want to make the nesting box more appealing. My girls love to lay in dark, private spots. Maybe you could hang some dark fabric over 1/2 or 1/3 of the nest box entrance? Then when she hops in and finds herself in a dark, private spot with fake eggs already in there she might be thrilled to lay her eggs there!

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Yes, also a good idea.

That's why BYC is so great -- what one misses, 6 others think of....