Training to nest box

[One Lucky Momma]

I just spent an unbelievable amount of time going through a plethora of very helpful posts on training new layers to nest boxes, something that turns out to be a pretty common issue. I’d appreciate some opinions on something I’m trying.

This past week some of our girls presented us with beautiful little brown jewels, in a nest box, a day after their 20 week birthday. One day it was two, then one, then none, then two again; always in the same one (of three) boxes. We have a flock of nine hens, and while I don’t expect the Crevecoeurs to be laying for several weeks, the others are within the anticipated window for first eggs, so it seemed reasonable to expect the daily production to increase fairly quickly.

It never occurred to me that production was already double what I was finding in the nest box. A couple of days ago we literally stumbled over a whole cache of eggs in a haphazard pile on the barn porch. Clearly, someone, multiple someones, has been laying here at least as long as the nest box operation has been, well, in operation. There‘s technically a roof over this chosen spot, but in the way of protection that’s about it. Given the numbers, I think this and the one nest box are most likely the only two depositories, though of course I’m not positive and could very easily be mistaken.

After reading a ton of wisdom from BYC, I’ve decided to keep the hens cooped until noon or so for a few days. They ordinarily would be free-ranging from the time the pop door opens at sun up, so they aren’t happy right now. I believe most of the egg laying is accomplished in the morning so noon seems fair. I put the two roosters out around the time they’d normally have an open door, and they aren’t happy either. They keep going to the door and calling... poor guys.

So there are three available nest boxes in a bright, airy coop that’s about 8x7x6ft high, with water and deep bedding. The temperature and air flow are good. Normally there’s no food in the coop but today I threw in a handful of dry scratch and a few meal worms for entertainment while the egg laying is taking place, I hope. There are 9 birds incarcerated in there, 7 of whom could be laying.

Does this seem foolish or cruel to any of you more experienced keepers? Is there something else I should be doing? I don’t plan to stick with this routine indefinitely; I want to get them back to their all day free ranging. But I can, and am certainly willing to impose this routine on us all if it gets the girls into the habit of putting their little treasures safely where I’d prefer.

Thanks for reading through this and thanks for your opinions!

 

[chickenlittle21]

Try putting rocks or something that would discourage the hens to lay in the spot that they were laying in. Put crushed oyster shells in the coop for extra calcium for laying.

 

[KarynVA]

I agree with Chickenlittle21, you should do something to make the ad hoc nesting spot unattractive for the birds. As for keeping them in the coop during the morning to teach them a new habit of using the nesting boxes, I don't think it's cruel. I think it's your best option for this situation and I think it will work.

Good luck!

 

[One Lucky Momma]

Try putting rocks or something that would discourage the hens to lay in the spot that they were laying in. Put crushed oyster shells in the coop for extra calcium for laying.

I can do that with the rocks. Thanks. Am giving back crushed egg shells, which they appear to relish. So far their eggs have been small but strong and perfectly, what else, egg-shaped!

 

[aart]

Might need to keep them confined for longer than noon.
Time will tell.

I'd leave them feed and water in the coop during confinement.

Might leave that chosen spot open for now so you can find the eggs if they lay after being released.

You've probably seen this, but.....
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[One Lucky Momma]

Might need to keep them confined for longer than noon.
Time will tell.

I'd leave them feed and water in the coop during confinement.

Might leave that chosen spot open for now so you can find the eggs if they lay after being released.

You've probably seen this, but.....
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Thanks very much. I wondered about leaving them in for a greater part of the day. I can do that, but what about the roosters? (2 Roos, 9 hens) I can get them outside the coop and leave the girls in if that seems like a good idea. They, the boys, don’t like it, but I think it would make for less drama inside the coop.

 

[aart]

They, the boys, don’t like it, but I think it would make for less drama inside the coop.

Which ever is less drama.
I would think the boys should be fine confined with the girls,
if not you might have another problem to suss out.

 

[One Lucky Momma]

Which ever is less drama.
I would think the boys should be fine confined with the girls,
if not you might have another problem to suss out.

Actually, I do have a question about that very thing but seems like a separate topic. Thanks very much for your time and thoughtful response.

 

[LilRedmamma]

I just spent an unbelievable amount of time going through a plethora of very helpful posts on training new layers to nest boxes, something that turns out to be a pretty common issue. I’d appreciate some opinions on something I’m trying.

This past week some of our girls presented us with beautiful little brown jewels, in a nest box, a day after their 20 week birthday. One day it was two, then one, then none, then two again; always in the same one (of three) boxes. We have a flock of nine hens, and while I don’t expect the Crevecoeurs to be laying for several weeks, the others are within the anticipated window for first eggs, so it seemed reasonable to expect the daily production to increase fairly quickly.

It never occurred to me that production was already double what I was finding in the nest box. A couple of days ago we literally stumbled over a whole cache of eggs in a haphazard pile on the barn porch. Clearly, someone, multiple someones, has been laying here at least as long as the nest box operation has been, well, in operation. There‘s technically a roof over this chosen spot, but in the way of protection that’s about it. Given the numbers, I think this and the one nest box are most likely the only two depositories, though of course I’m not positive and could very easily be mistaken.

After reading a ton of wisdom from BYC, I’ve decided to keep the hens cooped until noon or so for a few days. They ordinarily would be free-ranging from the time the pop door opens at sun up, so they aren’t happy right now. I believe most of the egg laying is accomplished in the morning so noon seems fair. I put the two roosters out around the time they’d normally have an open door, and they aren’t happy either. They keep going to the door and calling... poor guys.

So there are three available nest boxes in a bright, airy coop that’s about 8x7x6ft high, with water and deep bedding. The temperature and air flow are good. Normally there’s no food in the coop but today I threw in a handful of dry scratch and a few meal worms for entertainment while the egg laying is taking place, I hope. There are 9 birds incarcerated in there, 7 of whom could be laying.

Does this seem foolish or cruel to any of you more experienced keepers? Is there something else I should be doing? I don’t plan to stick with this routine indefinitely; I want to get them back to their all day free ranging. But I can, and am certainly willing to impose this routine on us all if it gets the girls into the habit of putting their little treasures safely where I’d prefer.

Thanks for reading through this and thanks for your opinions!

This is so amusing.. not cruel at all! I’m not quite to that point but am very anxious, hoping for eggs in the next days too