will they use nest boxes?

[swtmarine]

None of my chickens have begun to lay yet but, they have full run of the yard. I'm afraid that when they do start to lay, they won't use their nesting boxes. How can I teach them to use the nesting boxes for laying their eggs and not some corner of the yard?

 

[doodledoo]

Mine usually automatically go to the nest boxes but every now and again they will start laying in some random spot. When they start doing this I lock them up in the coop for a few days to remind them that the nest boxes are there.

 

[Chicken Woman]

Either put wooden eggs from craft store oe golf balls in the nest boxes. That seemed to help mine figure it out.

 

[Just-Like-Hatching]

They will use them, but don't be surprised to find the first few out in the yard..