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Can a hen claim a nesting box for her own personal laying?

post #1 of 5
8/29/12 at 4:27am
Thread Starter 

hu.gif 3 Days in a row now I have started finding a broken egg in one of the nesting boxes towards the front of it. This morning I had one hen just squawking up a storm like she was trying to tell on someone. I filled the water dishes in the run and she continued and finally went inside the coop. I decided to see what she was carrying on about and she had just got in a box and was pecking at an egg beneath her, like she was trying to move it out of her way. Like it didn't belong there. I reach in took the egg and she stopped and sat to lay. 

Do or can a hen get possessive, not wanting anyone else to use her box? I have 8 nesting boxes and 11 hens. It is the same box I keep finding the broken eggs in.

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post #2 of 5
8/29/12 at 4:35am

Yes they can!!!!  Be careful that you have a lot of straw hay and if she's pecking at an egg, she may be an egg eater!!!!
 

Remember God's sunshine in your heart. GA farm sell vegetables,goats, bunnies,hatching eggs/babies: turkeys, chinese geese, ducks,guineas,lavender ameraucanas,lavender orpingtons;bbs,white, buff & partridge silkies,Black Copper Marans,BBS Marans,Welsummers,wheaten marans,bbs orpingtons, delawares,etc http://thegarryfarm.yolasite.com  See our BYC listings:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/clas...

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Remember God's sunshine in your heart. GA farm sell vegetables,goats, bunnies,hatching eggs/babies: turkeys, chinese geese, ducks,guineas,lavender ameraucanas,lavender orpingtons;bbs,white, buff & partridge silkies,Black Copper Marans,BBS Marans,Welsummers,wheaten marans,bbs orpingtons, delawares,etc http://thegarryfarm.yolasite.com  See our BYC listings:  http://www.backyardchickens.com/clas...

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post #3 of 5
8/30/12 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you but I caught her in the act yesterday~! She was trying to move an egg from under her. I quickly grabbed the egg and this morning no problems! I really do feel she was trying to claim that nest for herself. 

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post #4 of 5
8/31/12 at 10:05am

I don't know how they do it, but I have had hens move eggs from box to box.  

 

Chris

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post #5 of 5
9/4/12 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 

I have one that just started laying and we keep finding her eggs in the sand on the floor of the coop. This morning it was under were they roost at. I just wonder if she is laying her eggs when she roost. The reason I know she just started laying is because the eggs we are getting off the floor are smaller than everyone else.

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Can a hen claim a nesting box for her own personal laying?