6 hens, will only use one nesting box

[h8mtv]

I have 6 hens and a nice small coop with 2 nesting boxes. All 6 hens will only lay in one of the 2 boxes. Box boxes are identical and I am not sure if I should care about this at all. They seem to just want to poop in the other box. Wow, chickens poop alot.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
I have 8 nesting boxes . My roost is totally opposite side of the coop away from the nesting boxes ....

Try putting golf balls in each nesting boxes . I put 2 golfballs in each nesting boxes .

I had 3 of my hens that use to all lay in same box , but now they using several boxes since I put the golf balls ... try it , it sure can not hurt.


these are the nesting boxes I use and I keep them all upright positions with pine shavings and golfballs ....

 

[havi]

Yea, I had the same problem. But I was using an old nesting box that was left at this house(we just bought a yr ago.) I think it was too small, so I just said the heck with it and made them a new one. This time I made it big enough for two chickens to be in one nest at the same time. I still made two nesting boxes, but sure enough they only use the one. Ive put golf balls, fake eggs, everything to make them use the second nest, but NOPE!

So I just took the one they dont use out for now. Since only 2 maybe 3 of my 6 chickens are laying right now. Silly birds!

 

[Chickenaddict]

I have 7 nesting boxes in the coop and another 2 in the garage where i keep a few hens that get beat up by the others and i tell ya alll the chickens outside come into the garage to lay their eggs in the nesting boxes or wherever they can find a nice hiding spot. Yesturdays spot was a half empty bag of pine shavings they laid eggs in. I did the golf ball thing and they still lay wherever they see fit lol.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
would be better if you had only 1 area for them to lay .

 

[lurky]

I took the divider out making one big nest box.... They love it this way

 

[tink]

I have 24 hens and they all use 3 out of the 9 nests we have made. Yesterday we found 3 eggs in a box of nails!!! go figure that out!!
Tink

 

[h8mtv]

I can definitely take the divider out. Thanks for the tip folks.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
would be better if you had only 1 area for them to lay .

Originally i did only have one area for them to lay. They layed all over then too they are just picky. I have tried everything to get them to lay in the coop. Heck they even lay eggs on the driveway while the garage door is closed and im at work.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
would be better if you had only 1 area for them to lay .

Originally i did only have one area for them to lay. They layed all over then too they are just picky. I have tried everything to get them to lay in the coop. Heck they even lay eggs on the driveway while the garage door is closed and im at work.

Oh NO ... thats why I am so thankful DH has the run and coop attached and totally enclosed so they can not get out of that area .