How to Get Hens to Lay Eggs in Laying Boxes

Fresh eggs have a shelf life of approximately five weeks. That's because a protective coating call the bloom covers the outside of the egg. It provides a barrier which helps keep bacteria from traveling through the pores of the egg. If the hen lays her egg on the floor of the coop where it is exposed to feces and other contaminants, washing the egg removes the dirt. Unfortunately, it also removes the protective bloom. Encouraging hens to lay their eggs in a nest box is a way to produce clean, bacteria-free eggs.

Things You'll Need

  • Nest boxes
  • Ceramic decoy egg or golf balls
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide an adequate number of nest boxes inside the coop. There should be one nest box for every four to five hens.

    • 2

      Construct nest boxes to the proper dimensions. For large-fowl hens, nest boxes should be 12-15 inches high and wide and at least 12 inches deep. Nest boxes for bantams can be proportionately smaller.

    • 3

      Install nest boxes on a wall in the darkest corner of the coop with the bottom of the box at least 18 inches from the coop floor.

    • 4

      Place at least 2 inches of straw or wood shavings in the bottom of the nest box to protect eggs from being cracked as the hens get in and out of the box.

    • 5

      Place a ceramic decoy egg or one or two golf balls in the nest boxes for new layers. Hens prefer to lay their eggs where there are other eggs. Once they know where to lay, the decoy eggs can be removed.

    • 6

      Confine hens inside the coop until the majority of eggs have been laid for the day, which usually takes place early in the day. Once they learn where to lay their eggs, the hens can be let out into the run, as desired.