1 spot for egg laying

[Peggysday]

Hello,
I have 8 chickens (7 + rooster) and for some reason even though we have 4 places to lay eggs, they only like one spot. When one chicken is on the nest, sometimes the other one/s raiser hell. I have to go out and see what all the fuss is about. Any suggestions? I put the fourth one in a different spot but they have never used it.

 

[sourland]

There's always a favorite nest, and everyone wants what the other hen has. Have you tried bedding and nest eggs in all of the nest sites?

 

[Peggysday]

There's always a favorite nest, and everyone wants what the other hen has. Have you tried bedding and nest eggs in all of the nest sites?

Yes I have done those. Thank you. I still use nest eggs, but I think I'll change out the bedding.

 

[Penpal]

You might close off the favorite nest to force the girls to use different nests.

 

[Debbie292d]

We have hens that congregate in two of them of five, but sleeping in them was making messy eggs so I replaced the straw with horse bedding pellets. That "cured" a couple of them and the best part was the eggs come out clean! You just have to take a stick and stir the pellets in the popular nests every few days.

 

[Peggysday]

You might close off the favorite nest to force the girls to use different nests.

Never thought of that. thanks

 

[aart]

Blocking the favorite nest will only make them choose a new favorite.
Put a fake egg in each nest to help spread the love.

 

[TooCheep]

Put a fake egg in each nest to help spread the love.

Doesn't hurt to try that, but I did it and everyone still uses the same nest box.

 

[Mrs. K]

Mine will pick a favorite for weeks...then change to a new favorite