[dancing trousers]

Big Bird has only just started laying and managed one rather sandpapery egg in the nest box, then nothing for two days, then a squidgy shell-less egg and now she's laid a good one but out on the soil in the run.  How do I persuade her the nest box is the place?  I can't be on hand all the time to watch her and her laying is erratic (unlike Mrs Peckles who is regular as clock work).

[New shoot]

They can get caught a bit short when they first start laying, so bear with her    Think they settle into a routine and get to know what's about to happen after a while, but most of mine has a few random eggs laid around the run at first 

[dancing trousers]

Thank you New Shoot, that's great, I guess Mrs Peckles just got it from the start - she's a smart bird - probably why she's the boss lady!

[Dawnuss]

ive only recently got my hens and one kept laying in the coop whilst sitting on the perch in amongst the poop  i just left her 2 it as she is one of the younger ones but today she went and did it in her nesting box yay!  i think they just take a bit of time to adjust.

[ANHBUC]

You can encourage her to lay in the nest box by putting a false egg, golf ball or hard boiled egg in the nest.  If you use a hard boiled egg make sure you mark it with something so you know it is not a fresh egg.