[peter rooster]

Hi

I have just been given two new hens to boost my marrans, the only problem is that they were fully free range and lay anywere . How do I get them to lay in the boxes like the others!

peter rooster

[joyfull]

the best way to encourage them is to place fake eggs (whether pot, rubber or plastic ones) in the nest boxes to show them. If you can't get any of these you can use golf balls  . They will hopefully soon get the idea and copy the others. Having said that yesterday I found a stash of eggs outside consisting of 18 araucana eggs and 1 ex batt egg plus 1 silkie egg 

[peter rooster]

Hi

Thank you I will try that will have a look on good old EBAY. I want to build a perch in the run so they can look over the garden but do not want them to lay from a hight and break eggs as the run is all flagged.I am going to extend onto earth section of garden soon .

[joyfull]

when I had a run for my sablepoots (they now free range) I put a huge log with a couple of branches in for them to hop around on and to give them a better view  .
Your birds shouldn't lay when on their perch in the run as usually they like to be in a secluded quite hidden place in the dark 

[Jane-M]

You could try letting them out a bit later if they are laying in the morning?