Nest boxes

[630004]

Ugh. Chickens. Left and right nests have like 6 eggs in them each day. Middle ones, nothing.

Ultimately I would like to do some sort of roll away egg nest. On the meantime I would quite happily settle for all of them laying at around the same time in all the nests.

Any suggestions on how to improve?

 

[MWSIFarm]

I have 5 chickens and 5 nesting boxes and they all lay in the same one. I didnt think it was anything to worry about, Why is it an issue?

 

[Buckingham Palace]

My hens have a favourite nesting box to. You could try and put fake eggs in the middle ones.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is normal.

Which boxes are favored will change from time to time.

 

[WIchickMama]

Yep same here 7 girls, 3 boxes and they all lay in the same one.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

For me it's whatever box the first egg is laid in becomes the favorite for the day. My blue orp however, lays in the same box every time regardless of which one is everyone else's favorite that day. I agree, put a few golf balls in the middle 2 boxes. It'll entice them

 

[Callender Girl]

If you're lucky, they will at least use the two favored boxes One At A Time. In a couple of my coops, one of two things happens. Either the second girl in stands in front of the box and screams at the girl already inside. Or, girl number two simply sits on top of the first hen.

One of my Buckeyes has decided to avoid nest boxes altogether. She simply remains on the lower roost and -- bombs away! Her eggs fail into the "poop hammock" -- an easily removable-for-cleaning tarp hung under the roosts. Good news is her eggs don't break when they hit the tarp. Bad news is -- well you can guess how nasty they are.

 

[MWSIFarm]

If you're lucky, they will at least use the two favored boxes One At A Time. In a couple of my coops, one of two things happens. Either the second girl in stands in front of the box and screams at the girl already inside. Or, girl number two simply sits on top of the first hen.

One of my Buckeyes has decided to avoid nest boxes altogether. She simply remains on the lower roost and -- bombs away! Her eggs fail into the "poop hammock" -- an easily removable-for-cleaning tarp hung under the roosts. Good news is her eggs don't break when they hit the tarp. Bad news is -- well you can guess how nasty they are.

“Bombs away”

 

[aart]

Any suggestions on how to improve?

A fake egg in each nest might help 'spread the love'.
But, as stated previously they will still have favorites and 'first nest used' also applies.

 

[630004]

I pulled out the nest box since they were not using it.

I really Want to get them using a roll away nest box so I can do some creative egg management. At the moment I pretty much have to collect eggs each day which I am trying to avoid. They are laying between 13 to 17 eggs each day which fills up real quick.