I’ve always heard that placing a golf ball, or some type of fake egg, in a nest box will encourage chickens to lay their eggs in the nest boxes, rather than on the floor or other places. I was reminded of that this weekend when I read a post on a chicken forum from someone who was having trouble getting her chickens to lay eggs in their nest boxes. I remembered that I had some fake plastic eggs that came with an egg basket I inherited from someone a little while ago. I got to thinking that my hens are just about at the laying age, so I grabbed the plastic eggs and set one in each nest box last night. And then I completely forgot all about them.
This morning I opened the chicken door to let the chickens out and, as I do each morning, I opened the “human” door to walk inside the coop and make sure there was plenty of food and water. I looked over at the hen boxes and almost screamed for joy. Eggs! Perfectly beautiful eggs! My heart was beating uncontrollably. I thought I would cry. I kept thinking “They are so white, so perfectly formed, so clean, so large, and there is one in each box! One in each box? Wait a minute…. those….. are…… plastic.” I was looking at the plastic eggs I had placed in those boxes just the night before.
I’m sure I turned every shade of red. But it does give me hope. If my chickens are half as stupid as I am, they may just really believe those are real eggs in those nest boxes and lay theirs right beside them.
Lordy, I sure hope they fall for it. If they don’t, you’ll never know. I promise.
Bee Free,
Penny
