The nesting boxes that we put into our coop were quickly adopted as sleeping quarters for many of our chickens. Now, just in the last week, my chickens have begun to lay eggs. Fortunately, they are not laying them in the nasty "nesting boxes", which are full of poop but they are laying them on the floor of the coop--equally not good. I found some great ideas for alternative nesting "boxes" and have the perfect place to put them in my lean to (where I found a stash of eggs today anyway!).
My question is, in order to get my hens to lay their eggs where I want them to, I was thinking that after I let them out in the morning I could shut off their access to the coop for the day and let them find the places that I want them to lay in instead. Will that just totally mess them up and confuse them? Will they not lay if they are confused or not comfortable with new laying areas?
Also, if a hen doesn't want you to go near her eggs, does that mean she's broody or do hens just like their eggs and don't want to share them?
My question is, in order to get my hens to lay their eggs where I want them to, I was thinking that after I let them out in the morning I could shut off their access to the coop for the day and let them find the places that I want them to lay in instead. Will that just totally mess them up and confuse them? Will they not lay if they are confused or not comfortable with new laying areas?
Also, if a hen doesn't want you to go near her eggs, does that mean she's broody or do hens just like their eggs and don't want to share them?