Recently I placed four game hens in with a 7 year old "rooster" where all are contained in a 10 x 10 dog kennel. Initially setup had two barrels standing on end with hole cut at base to accommodate a single nest box in each. Two dominate hens claimed first two and started clutches. One hen commenced setting yesterday. Remaining hens really got rowdy with the "egg-song" therefore I added two additional barrels with nests. "Rooster" then went into one and began the nest selection process where he first did the tid-bitting call bringing all but hen incubating over to investigate. Then he got into nest and began the gurgling growl causing the two lower ranking hens to enter the nest as well as "rooster" came off. Hens got into brief scrap where dominant hen drove subordinate off. Shortly after dominant came off. Process then repeated with other barrel. The two hens are going back and forth between nest with frequent scrapping. Dominant hen will get her nest then subordinate will get hers. This will result in four nest being in close proximity to each other. As a given brood hatches off it will have to be removed to prevent conflicts.
