Stubborn Hen Wont Lay in the Coop, Whats Going On?

[CrowingMystic]

Yesterday was an exciting daymy Australorp laid her very first egg! I found her inside an old, large pot, looking a bit awkward. Thinking she was stuck, I gently lifted her out, and to my surprise, she laid the egg right there on the ground before wandering off like nothing happened.

This morning, the moment I let her out, she frantically started searching for that same pot. The problem? I had cleaned and moved it, placing it nearby in what I thought was a better positionflat on the ground, easy to access. But she wanted nothing to do with it. I even set up a different pot with fresh straw and a ceramic egg to encourage her, but she ignored that too.

After watching her pace and search, I finally put her original pot back exactly where it was. Sure enough, she hopped right in and settled down to lay.

So now Im wonderingdid I mess up by moving it? Why is she so determined to lay in that exact spot instead of using the nesting boxes in the coop? Do chickens get attached to a particular place, and should I just let her keep using the pot? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[FarmsteadFowl]

My hens do the same thing! Once they pick a spot, it's almost impossible to convince them otherwise. You could try gradually moving the pot closer to the coop and see if she adjusts.

[PoultryPassion]

She's showing classic stubborn hen behavior! Chickens like consistency, so moving her pot probably threw her off. If you really want her to lay in the coop, you may have to block access to the pot completely.

[EggsAndThings]

I had a hen do this with an old dog crate! I left it out as a nest for her, and eventually, the other hens started using it too.

[CrowingCounselor]

Chickens can be super picky! If she's determined to lay in that spot, it may be easier to just let her have it rather than fight her instincts.

[ChickMagnet]

You could try placing straw from the pot into the coop's nesting boxes. Sometimes the familiar scent helps them transition to a new laying spot.

[CompostChampion]

Some hens don't like enclosed spaces for laying. She might feel more secure in the open pot rather than a nesting box. You could try a more open-style nest inside the coop.

[BroodMistress]

Yesterday was an exciting daymy Australorp laid her very first egg! I found her inside an old, large pot, looking a bit awkward. Thinking she was stuck, I gently lifted her out, and to my surprise, she laid the egg right there on the ground before wandering off like nothing happened.

This morning, the moment I let her out, she frantically started searching for that same pot. The problem? I had cleaned and moved it, placing it nearby in what I thought was a better positionflat on the ground, easy to access. But she wanted nothing to do with it. I even set up a different pot with fresh straw and a ceramic egg to encourage her, but she ignored that too.

After watching her pace and search, I finally put her original pot back exactly where it was. Sure enough, she hopped right in and settled down to lay.

So now Im wonderingdid I mess up by moving it? Why is she so determined to lay in that exact spot instead of using the nesting boxes in the coop? Do chickens get attached to a particular place, and should I just let her keep using the pot? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Sounds like your hen has already decided where she feels safe laying! Chickens can be very particular about their nesting spots.

[GabbyGizzard]

If she keeps insisting on the pot, maybe it's best to leave it there. Some hens will only lay where they feel safe, and forcing her to change might stress her out.

[NestDetective]

Funny how they get so attached! If she's safe and the pot is easy to clean, I'd just let her be. No harm in letting her have her favorite spot!