Why is my hen laying eggs on the floor?

[AllChookUp]

Hey, everyone. I have 3 one-year-old hens that I just got from my cousin. I've had them since last Saturday. They seem to be adjusting pretty well, except for one thing: The last 2 days, there has been an egg on the floor bedding. I don't think the eggs have been knocked down there from the nest boxes by another hen. I think a hen is laying eggs down on the floor bedding.

I think the egg is from my small Cochin banty, who seems to want to sit in her next box all the time.

What would cause this behavior? Anything I can do to remedy it?

Thank you for any insights.

 

[hinkjc]

It could be because they are new and are not sure of where it is safe to lay an egg. Or it could be that someone was hogging the nest box and they just couldn't hold it in any longer. Sometimes just an adjustment period is necessary for them to learn their way around the coop. You may want to add a fake egg or golf ball to the nest box so they get the idea a little faster.

Jody

 

[AllChookUp]

I don't think it's about hogging the next box, because I have 6 identical nest boxes and only 3 hens. Unless they all love the same one, but I've seen them all in different nexts.

I'll try the golf ball thing - I saw my cousin do that once.

Thanks, Jody!
Ron

 

[greenmulberry]

You might also want to try and make the place they are laying on the floor less appealing to lay in temporarily. I had a problem with hens making a nest in one corner of the floor, so I started pushing all the bedding away from there so it was bare.

 

[AllChookUp]

I could try that Laura, but I don't want a lot of droppings on bare floor. But if it comes to that, then OK.

Thanks!