confused Hens

[Fuzzyfelt123]

Since starting to lay again last week i haven't had an egg - i actually think they are laying them in the bushes; today i kept them in their run until late morning to find one egg on the run floor 07 tonight at bed time i checked on them AND 6 hens were all squashed in one nest box, literally sat on top of each other I had to physically push them out and put the flowerpot in the nest box but they were still trying to squeeze back in!
How do I get them to lay eggs in the nest box and let them free range?
frustrated Fuzzy x

 

[Wrigley62]

Hi Fuzzy, I keep mine in the run until around 11am, then I let them free range. I put golf balls in the nesting boxes to give them so sort of an idea what the nesting boxes were for. The ones that don't lay before 11am seem to come back through out the day. I did put boxes in the nesting boxes to keep them out at night.

Good luck,

Wrigley

 

[chrismahon]

Similar arrangement to Wrigley Fuzzyfelt. We keep ours in the run until lunchtime and then let them out. The nest boxes have curtains made from car mats so they are very private, warm and they feel secure. When we have had problems with them sleeping in the nest boxes we have put large plant pots in at night and removed them during the day. We have had the occasional need to actually pick a laying hen up and put her into the nest box. When that's been done once or twice they then continue to lay in the box. It's all about creating a secure safe area where they want to lay what is potentially a brood of chicks.

 

[Wrigley62]

I used the re-usable grocery bags, they're made from some kind of cloth. Like Chris said, it gives them some privacy. They really seem to like it in there, but they don't sleep in there at night.

 

[Fuzzyfelt123]

thanks for the reply - have put plant pots in the boxes ...although they still try to squeeze around them, so i have to physically push them out! I have kept them in until lunch time and had 2 eggs in nest box yesterday and 3 in nest box today....so they must of been laying their eggs somewhere in the bushes before! :lol:

 

[Icemaiden]

Sounds as though you could do with larger plant pots, Fuzzyfelt- try the biggest ones that will physically fit into the nest box, right up to the roof if possible.
A china egg is useful too; it gives the girls a clue, though it sounds as though yours are now getting the idea...