WHYYY!!! need advice!

[birdbrain5]

my girls were using thier nest boxes and my rir who just started to lay has not missed a day! well yesterday, no egg. i thought she took the day off, but today i found her egg in the corner of the coop under some shavings, and under the roosts where they poop all night

why would she all of a sudden stop laying in the box? i have 4 hens and a roo, and 2 nest boxes. one of which no one has layed in. one of the girls is real young yet and she hides out in the nest box everyone uses, but they all hop up in there with her and lay anyway so i dont know why this would change? should i put a box in the corner of where i found the egg? thats the most pooped in corner, id hate to do that. i dont know if this was a fluke or something shes going to continue to do! any advice?!
btw- i am using a 5 gallon pail on its side with shavings and some hay, and on my coop floor i use deep shavings. the only thing i can think is shes either getting to big to fit in there? or maybe i should put hay in there to make it different than the coop floor. i dont know!

 

[CityClucks]

Perhaps her favorite box was occupied, and she simply couldn't wait and layed on the floor of your coop. I have found eggs on the floor of my coop, and sometimes in the run - but it has never become a habit with any of my girls, so if she usually lays in the nest, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[aubreynoramarie]

I have found an egg or two laying in a nice pile of poop underneith the perch a time or two. It doesn't become habit, don't worry

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
I've had that happen. Usually mine will only lay outside of the nest box if there is another hen in it's favorite nest.

 

[birdbrain5]

phew! im so glad to hear this. thanks!!