My chickens are not laying eggs in the designated nesting area, how can I train them to use the nesting area?

It can take time for chickens to settle in. If the hens are free-ranging, they may prefer laying eggs outside the coop.

A good solution is to keep them “cooped up” a little longer in the morning until they get the hang of it. This gives them time to lay eggs inside before going out to roam. Putting a fake egg or golf ball in the nesting area is a good trick. This will tell the hens that it's a good place to lay their eggs.