0
Most hens prefer to lay their eggs in private, in a small enclosed area near to their roost.
They have a natural instint to 'nest' and will almost always use the nesting box provided.
Sometimes a hen might seem a bit lost as to what to do, so a false egg or a Golf ball can be put in the nesting box as a 'hint' for them.
What else can I help you with?
How do you get chickens to lay inside the coop?
Make laying boxes or nesting boxes for the hens to lay in. They should catch on to, and prefer the laying boxes on their own.
Do roosters use a nesting box?
No The only time I have seen a rooster in a nesting box was when it was sick or injured. The nesting boxes are used for "nesting". Laying eggs or when brooding. The roosters do not do this. If you have a rooster doing this there is something wrong. He is either being harassed by another rooster in the flock or he is hurt or sick. It is easier to protect themselves from harm when in a "sheltered" place.
You just relocated your laying hens how long before they start to lay eggs again?
Usually, it can take around 2-4 weeks for laying hens to start laying eggs again after being relocated to a new environment. It's important to ensure they have access to proper nutrition, fresh water, and a comfortable coop to help the hens settle in and resume laying.
Do chickens prefer to lay eggs in dark places?
Hens lay based off of how warm it is so it realy dependswhere you are. If you wake up in the morning and the hens have laid that does not mean that they lay because it is dark but, it just means it is the perfect time for laying.
How do you stop chickens laying in unusual places?
Always provide good nesting and laying boxes. If they continue to lay in strange places, it might take them awhile to figure out what the boxes are for. Try to set objects were they usually lay so they can't lay in that spot.
Will two different hens lay their eggs in the same place?
Most hens have a preference as to where they lay their eggs. If a broody hen takes over the communal nest then the other hens will find a new spot to lay. It is always a good idea in a small flock to provide alternate nesting boxes just for this reason. When one hen goes broody, the other hens do not go off laying. If you are missing eggs, it is quite likely that the brood hen is taking what she can find to her own clutch.
Hen that lays on the floor instead of in the nesting box?
I have found you can build the finest nesting boxes in the world, but hens are like kids, you buy them that expensive Christmas gift and they spend two weeks playing in the box. Hens will lay where they feel comfortable. Half mine uses the nesting boxes 10 or so use the floor and I have one that lays in an old tennis shoe my son threw in the pen. Go figure!
How many chickens per laying box?
In some flocks as many as 10 hens or more will use a single laying box or nest. Depending on the size of the box it is not uncommon to see two birds nesting at the same time otherwise they will wait their turn and deposit an egg right after the box is vacated.
Where does hen live?
Hens typically live in a chicken coop or henhouse on a farm or in a backyard setting. They require shelter to protect them from predators and the weather, as well as nesting boxes for laying eggs. Hens also need access to outdoor areas for scratching and foraging.
Why are your chickens laying on the ground and not in their nesting boxes like they did before?
Most often this is caused by another hen using the nest when others are ready to lay. If a hen cannot lay in a nest they will find a convenient place just about anywhere. You might also want to freshen the nesting material in the nest daily. Some hens will not lay where another hen has soiled.
How to discourage broody hens?
Simply pick them up, and shoo them out of/ away from the nest/nesting boxes. Repeat this as many times as neccessary, they should catch on eventually!
How do you find free range chickens' eggs?
Your hens should still lay in their nesting boxes, even after they are let out to free range. If they dont (are young/inexperienced) then they will lay werever they see fit. If your hens are ex-battery hens, they will not even lay in boxes; they just drop eggs were they are standing. (If you dont keep the door to the coop open, you should!)
