Why dont our Hens like the Nest Boxs?

[bellfarm]

We have this nest box and the hens we have pretty much will rarely if ever use it.
They prefer to lay on the ground or we also have some other boxes and they prefer those.
Why is it that they don't like this nest box set up? Any ideas would be helpful and welcomed!
Its not to high they can easily get on the perch and into the boxes. We do have them with clean shavings and sometimes use hay. They go and clean out all the hay but don't seem to stay in there to lay there eggs???

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Try putting fake eggs in so they see it's safe to lay their own eggs in there. Also, make sure that nests aren't infested with parasites.

 

[Spangled]

Try putting fake eggs in so they see it's safe to lay their own eggs in there. Also, make sure that nests aren't infested with parasites.

x2

Also, BellFarm, maybe hang some curtains. Sounds crazy, I know. It's not a decorating frou-frou thing.

A little bit of privacy can help. A hen that can see the door or window won't feel as safe laying. A little bit of darkness, which feels like "cover," can help. As Mountain Peeps mentioned, the hens need to feel safe. They need to know they are safe and can relax and lay the egg. Plus they are actually, though they don't consciously know it, picking a place to set for 21 days on these eggs. A partial curtain, not one that completely blocks their entrance or exit, can help provide the "safe feeling."

Any old torn sheet or towel attached with clothes pins or similar can work. You can just cover two nests and see what happens. If it works partially cover a few more.

Or maybe you can hang the nests on another wall that doesn't face a window or door (if your nests are currently doing that.) Our nests can only go on the wall across from the door, but our hens seem to put their faces in a corner and block out the world and lay.

Fake eggs (nest eggs): Old golf balls from the thrift store is what we use.

 

[bellfarm]

Thanks Ill try those suggestions!