12wk old Rhode Island Red sitting in nesting box, normal?

[Scrabbleof4]

Do chickens practice sitting in nesting boxes? My chickens are about 12wks old according to the place I bought them from back when they were about 1wk old.
Tonight when I was checking on the ladies, I found one of the reds in the nesting box, squatted down in laying position. Do they normally do this at this age, or is this unusual?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

When a pullet starts laying in the nestboxes at that age it is usually because they are on the bottom of the pecking order or near it and isn't allowed on the roosts, they then begin sleeping in the nestboxes because it's safe there. I would observe your flock at roost time to see what the dynamics are, you may need to add more roost options and block the nests off for a bit.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

Agrees with oldhenlikesdogs.

You don't want to allow them to create the habit of sleeping in the nests.

More info on your flock and coop,nests, roosts(or pics are best) would help us help you figure out a solution.