why do my hens lay in the same nests

Date sort Score sort
Fred's Hens said:
Two things, I believe, but I'm just basing this on years and years of observation.


First, the "clutch" is made and if one hen's eggs get put into that clutch, if someone goes broody, their DNA gets passed on.  In other words, nature's attempt at preservation.


Second, this has something to do with pecking order.  If the Queen Bea uses a particular box, they all seem to want to use that box too.
Click to expand...
would this indicate a matriarchal social structure? Perhaps because she lays in the cock bird's favorite nest, the safest one that's been approved by the leaders of the flock. o
 
I attribute this to my chickens' tiny little brains. My girls would rather fuss over who gets to use the "good" nest than actually use any of the empty nest boxes. The thing is, which box is the "good" box shifts constantly. But whichever one it is that week, they all want to use it.

Goofballs.
 
lisascenic said:
I attribute this to my chickens' tiny little brains. My girls would rather fuss over who gets to use the "good" nest than actually use any of the empty nest boxes. The thing is, which box is the "good" box shifts constantly. But whichever one it is that week, they all want to use it.

Goofballs.
Click to expand...
because the best nest is the nest that will be sat on should a girl go broody. Purely furthering of the genetics of the pullet/hen and her chosen mate
 
Last edited:
Ours prefer the right - at the present time.

Are there others out there that do this? We have 3 hens right now and sometimes they are in the nest together, sitting on top of each other - usually two of them like this, but a few times I have found all 3 of them all sitting in a pile, on top of each other.

If they are not doing this, then one is in the chosen nest (they won't use the nesting box - they built a nest) and the others are standing around screaming until the nest becomes available.

We have 6 chicks too - hopefully they figure something out before the new girls start laying; I don't want to see 9 of them piled on top of each other....

Also, if the girls are taking turns sitting on top of the eggs and keeping them warm, how long will they be good at this temperature?

Thanks,
Lori
 

Similar threads

LER23
    • Like
2 hens-laying same time, same nest box
2
Replies
13
Views
2K
awagnon
awagnon
G
    • Like
Won't lay in nest box
Replies
7
Views
504
Gma213
G
A
Eggs sat in wet nest box- are they bad?
Replies
6
Views
635
rosemarythyme
rosemarythyme
MaeM
Hen sits in the nest box but doesn't lay any egg
Replies
1
Views
897
azygous
azygous
G
Can the color of egg a hen is laying change over time?
Replies
2
Views
571
McChooky
McChooky

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom