Why wont my one chicken lay her eggs in the nesting Box ?

[Just Horsinaround]

We have 2 RH reds and 1 Plymouth Rock all bought together as chicks.
The 2 RH reds started laying approx a month ago..pretty much on Schedule for their age. But the Plymouth Rock hasn’t been laying. We assumed she was just a late bloomer or something and haven’t really been worried about it because we mostly got them for pets

They have a nice big chicken coop with 3 huge separate nesting boxes and a good size run (if I was a chicken Id like living in it

).

Recently ,while Iv out working in the yard ,and can keep an eye on them (cause we have hawks), I have been letting them out to free roam..they like to go in the horse paddock and pick up the dropped grain

The Plymouth Rock who has not laid till now has now surprised us by laying her egg in the feed room on the hay bales. It appears to be the only place this chicken will lay.

On days where we cant/don’t let them out to free roam we only get 2 eggs from the RH reds.
On days when we let them out we will get 3 eggs as the Plymouth rock will make a beeline for the feed room and lay an egg. No matter what time of day.

Can anyone tell me is this normal ? Can chickens really be that picky about where they lay ? The Plymouth Rock isn’t afraid of the nesting boxes, she goes in them…she just will not lay her eggs in it.
Id really like her to lay in the nesting box like the others as there are days when its not convenient to let them out to free roam.

Since there is no set time we let them out, on weekends if I let them out its usually in the morning. On weekdays it wont be till the very late afternoon after I get home from work. Is this chicken holding on to the egg all day on weekdays ? (sounds painful).
I’m wondering if I never let them out whether this one chicken would eventually start laying in the nesting boxes or would she just stop laying all together ?
Thanks

 

[Wynette]

They CAN hold their eggs, but not for an entire weekend. I would get some wooden eggs (some folks use golf balls...my pullets seemed to know they weren't eggs, but the wood ones worked) and put them in the nest boxes. I would not let them free range until late afternoon, since they typically lay in the morning or early afternoon hours. If she's still not using the nest box, then yes, I'd now allow them to freerange until she begins laying her eggs in the nest box.

 

[Just Horsinaround]

Thank you

The two RH reds lay ..one between 7-8am and the other between 9-10am. Usually, and even though there are 3 Big nesting boxes they only use the one...sharing it. If we dont get the first egg after its laid and wait, the second egg will be right beside it. We have even seen the second layer pacing in front of the box clucking if the first one is still in there later than she usually stays. As if to say "hey hurry up I need in there"

Did notice this past weekend That the Plymouth Rock doesnt seam to like anything (human or chicken) around her when she lays.
When we let them out this weekend...She went to the feed room and made her nest..but when the other chickens came in to see "what was up" she got up from the nest and strutted around in the door way clucking as if to say "get out of here" " I want privacy" When the other chickens moved on...she settled back into her nest and laid her egg.
Wondering if this is why she doesnt want to use the nesting boxes in the coop? Do chickens really have "privacy" issues LOL LOL

 

[crack-o-dawn]

I have one of those hens with issues also. Just won't lay in the nest box, and always goes to one corner and thats where I will find her egg. Silly hen.

 

[Just Horsinaround]

Well Problem seams solved.
Havent let the Chickens out to free roam all week now and supprise supprise everyone laid their eggs in the box this morning