4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[MedusA]

I have posted in another thread that Violetta (one of my Araucanas) is now laying at last.

 

The only thing is - she is laying really early in the day, before I go out to them, and all of her eggs have been laid on the roosting bars, not in the nest box. I'm worried that some will get broken if she keeps it up. Does anybody know of any way I can "teach" her where I want her to lay? Bearing in mind she and her sister are the dimmest hens imaginable. I had to teach them how to go to bed for ages after I first got them and then all over again after I moved the eglus up to platforms.

 

I have visions of her wondering what these strange blue poos are!!!

[Purplemaniacs]

Hi, you can put a 'pretend' egg in the nest box to give her a clue. Ebony always used to lay on the bars some used to fall through into the poo tray I think only one got broken. Despite others laying in the nest she prefered the bars until she went broody then she discovered the nest

 

Now she lays in the nest. I didn't find the 'pretend' egg in the nest worked but I think it has for others, it is worth a try, you can use a golf ball if you do not have a china or rubber egg.

 

Congratulations on the egg

 

Chrissie