The longer they have to travel to water across land the greater risk they face to predation. A couple of cats can make short work of an entire brood so I would put it as close to the water as possible. We use to have good luck with our houses but the last few years have not been good. It seems like only one house gets used and that is just an egg drop box that never gets sat on. We will find probably 20 eggs in it but no hen will sit on them. Does anyone have any ideas why this happens?