by Kim Berg, CoopCrate staff writer
If your hens seem to miss the memo on laying their eggs in a nest box, trust me, you are not alone! You might have an adequate nesting box available, but your hens (especially free ranging hens) are choosing to lay wherever they please. This is frustrating, as you can loose track of precious eggs, and they can easily be found by predators instead. Luckily, there are ways to encourage your hens to lay eggs in the correct place. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Your nest box should be in a dark, cool location. If your hens free range, you’ll notice that they prefer to lay in the shade under bushes and trees. Try your best to emulate that environment with your nest box. Airflow is also important, as a hot, stuffy nest box is the last place your hens will want to be.
2. Make sure there are enough nest boxes available to your hens. Ideally, you should have 1 nest box for every 4-5 hens. If your hen does not feel as though she has enough space, or if there is competition over nest box space, she will go find her own place to lay! Hens at the top of the pecking order are more likely to claim the nest boxes for themselves, so keep an eye on your less dominant hens’ laying habits.
3. Make sure your nest box is the correct size and height. Your hens want to feel cozy and safe. Ideally, a nest box should be 18 inches off the floor of the coop, which will be overall more sanitary and secure for your hens. But nonetheless, their perches should still be placed higher than the nest box.
4. Keep your nest box clean. Clean out your next box daily if possible, adding new bedding at least once per week. A nest box that lacks bedding also puts eggs at risk of cracking. Keeping your next box clean also involves removing eggs daily, as your hens will need space to lay more.
5. Add fake eggs to the nest box. This is a fantastic, easy way to encourage your hens to lay where you want them to. Some people use golf balls for this job, but most have better luck with something more realistic. Though most fake eggs are ceramic, some can be made of plastic or wood. Be sure to label your fake eggs so they don’t get mixed in with the real ones!
6. Block your hens from laying outside of the nesting box. For example, if your hens have started laying under a certain shrub, put a sheet over it that drapes onto the ground, or add wood and rocks underneath it. The more uncomfortable you make this place out to be, the less likely your hens will be to use it.
Your hens should eventually get the hang of the nest box if you follow the above tips. You will both be happier once a proper , predictable laying place is achieved! Your hens will be more comfortable overall, and you won’t have to go on a daily hunt for eggs. Save that for Easter Sunday!