countryboy
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nest boxeshi, i have just bought four hens, i think they are rhode island reds, i have got them in a poultry shed 8x8 with a large out door run, i have made three nest boxes but they dont use them they lay on the floor, i think the nest boxes are not big enough, does any one know the size i should make them ? how far off the floor ? do they need a perch in front of the boxes ? do the boxes need a top ? any advice would be appreciated, thanks. 
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Lorrainelovesplants
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Put some dummy eggs in one of the boxes.
As long as its big enough for the hen to get in, its big enough. 
I have used old crisp boxes when we were poor...........  (not that long ago)
they were good cos I could just burn them when they got poopy or mite infested. Put one in th corner of the shed on the floor and see what happns. (Put som woodshaving or something in it).
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Tavascarow
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Any box or container will do, an old washing up bowl with some straw in it, carboard boxes as Lorraine says, bucket on its side, anything really but it needs to be away from the light in the darkest part of the house & below the height of the perches or they end up roosting in/on it & spoil the bedding with droppings.
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countryboy
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Thanks to lorraine and tavascarow for your replies, much appreciated, thanks.
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Woodburner
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If they're just starting to lay they may not have much control over where they lay! Re-conditioned ex-bats probably won't either. If the eggs were in a dark corner, you could put the nest boxes there to give them a bit more encouragement. 
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Mutton
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We have one brainless hen - raised here last year from an egg (by her mother so all the advantages!) who sometimes finds a nest box, other times just stops where she is and drops. In the middle of the concrete path at times. We know it is her - only one who lays blue tinted eggs.
She fancied brooding earlier this year - couldn't find her way back to the right nest box some days - so we had to monitor and set her straight. About half way through she gave up and so did we.
We are making sure no more of her blue eggs are ever hatched by other hens!
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