Chicken nesting condos.....questionable design??

Finally decided after many years to provide the chickens with nesting boxes more robust than cardboard boxes.  They seem to favor dark hidden corners, so this may be part of my current problem.

Came up with a design that would provide 4 nesting sections in one larger box (photos attached).  Note both the location (rather exposed in the larger chicken coop) and the somewhat open-air design (gaps on both front and back).  Perhaps I need to place a board along the back to make the hens feel less exposed?  They boxes have been in there only one week.  I can see they've been in the boxes from the way the hay has been matted down, but I'm only finding their eggs in the dark recesses of the back room on the floor or other shelving.  Perhaps move the whole box farther back into the darkened room area?   Maybe they are upset that these apartments didn't have a pool, laundry, and exercise room included in the rent?  ;-)

Thoughts?.... Thanks

John, I can't say for sure with your hens but when a couple of mine start laying eggs in unusual places, I block those places. I'll lay down a piece if plywood or put an empty plastic tote there.

They eventually get back to the nest boxes. I have 24 hens and 4 nest boxes. I have 2 fake eggs and I leave one in 2 of the 4 nest boxes. I move which box they are in regularly. I swear it helps keep them laying eggs regular in the boxes. I get the eggs every day about this time and today there were 22 eggs but only in 3 of the boxes.

You can make the fake eggs out of wood and paint them, buy them at the TSC or use golf balls. There are probably other options I do not know about but I bet once you get them to start laying in there, they'll continue. I would try putting a couple of fake eggs in a couple of boxes.

Also, I have what the kids call a pincher grabber. For the times those eggs are in a strange spot, like under the rabbit cages, this thing keeps your hands and knees from landing in a fresh chicken !@#$.

Compared to the dark area at the back, yes, I would suggest your chickens think the new boxes aren't "private" enough.

What is the height and depth of each box? My birds have a strong preference for at least 14" deep vs 11" wide as that creates more shadows.

They also like the wood to be dark - either try that Japanese "burn the surface" treatment, or even just take some charcoal and rub the wood thoroughly?

I would be inclined to cover the back solidly, but I screw my backs on (I use 3-seaters) and make it easy to remove the whole group for cleaning and sun-sterilizing when needed.

Nest boxes that are attached together has not been a problem on my farm.

Thanks for all comments and suggestions.

Yesterday I completed another condo of the same design as the first.  But this went into a different building and was deliberately located in a rather darkened, out of the way location.  By morning, two hens were in taking a tour....and going over the lease with property management! ;-)   So I'm going to re-locate that first box to a less 'public' area of the chicken coop.   I will make two more boxes of a 2-stall variety since they will go into coops with fewer chickens and have less space over all.  Here's hoping they warm up to the new 'cribs'.   Thanks again!....