Nesting Box Curtain

[rosemarythyme]

Yep, she has layed for all life in a nest, when she started to molt thats when she started layinf everywhere but the nest. Lately, we have been finiding eggs in the run, before we would find it outside.

If there's other dust bathing areas they can use I'd try blocking off access to the spot and see if that doesn't make her rethink her choice in spots.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If a snake has visted a nest, chickens won't lay there again, they don't like the smell and it doesn't feel safe to them. If your hens are rejecting a nest they've previously used, I'd empty out the nesting material, give it a good scrub, maybe put some lavender or mint leaves or a drop of lavender essential oil in it, and put in fresh nesting material. See if that helps.

 

[Themellowyellows]

If there's other dust bathing areas they can use I'd try blocking off access to the spot and see if that doesn't make her rethink her choice in spots.

Well that is just the most commom places she lays. Sometimes it is by the feeder or coop door. Also, whenever she goes in the nest, she cant stay put. She has to movd around.

 

[Themellowyellows]

If a snake has visted a nest, chickens won't lay there again, they don't like the smell and it doesn't feel safe to them. If your hens are rejecting a nest they've previously used, I'd empty out the nesting material, give it a good scrub, maybe put some lavender or mint leaves or a drop of lavender essential oil in it, and put in fresh nesting material. See if that helps.

No snakes, all the other hens lay in a nestinf box. She goes into the box but then gets bored and leaves.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If a snake has visted a nest, chickens won't lay there again, they don't like the smell and it doesn't feel safe to them.

And yet I've found snakes in a nest eating eggs and the chickens still laid in those nests the next day. Never missed a beat. I guess my hens are too dumb to read that memo.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

And yet I've found snakes in a nest eating eggs and the chickens still laid in those nests the next day. Never missed a beat. I guess my hens are too dumb to read that memo.

Or mine are just picky, lol.

 

[FlockAround-andFindOut]

Or mine are just picky, lol.

I've got one girl doing the same thing. I'm not sure which one, but they were all using the box and now I've got one who puts her egg at the front steps or at my front door. It's a mystery to me.

 

[ChaosMom]

I've got one girl doing the same thing. I'm not sure which one, but they were all using the box and now I've got one who puts her egg at the front steps or at my front door. It's a mystery to me.

She's just trying to be helpful and save you steps!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A few years back we had one or more EE that would lay their eggs in hidden nests. We never found them, but our little Gracie dog did (R.I.P.), a Sheltie. She would bring them to us carefully in her mouth, never breaking any - until she dropped them at our feet on the kitchen floor, lol. Sometimes she would bring as many as 6 or 8 at a time. When this happened we'd keep all the hens confined for a week or so until they re-"homed" to the nests.

 

[FlockAround-andFindOut]

A few years back we had one or more EE that would lay their eggs in hidden nests. We never found them, but our little Gracie dog did (R.I.P.), a Sheltie. She would bring them to us carefully in her mouth, never breaking any - until she dropped them at our feet on the kitchen floor, lol. Sometimes she would bring as many as 6 or 8 at a time. When this happened we'd keep all the hens confined for a week or so until they re-"homed" to the nests.

I've gotta do it. I'm losing too much food with them hiding nests.