Aggressive hen taking over a nesting box, but not laying. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Apr 14, 2024
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Hampton Roads, Virginia
I have one Easter Egger who has gone from being the timid one in our flock (originally named 'Chicken Little'), to taking on our bossiest hen and kicking her out of their favorite nesting box, but then she doesn't even lay an egg. I'm not talking about C.L. just being bossy back. We're talking WWE smackdowns, here. She literally shoved her head under the other birds and tries to flip them out of the space. If that doesn't work, she climbs on top of them and sits, looking as though she's about to lay an epic egg, and then the other chicken gets up and switches nesting boxes. C.L. stays there for another five minutes or so, then gets up and leaves.
Is this normal? She's not molting, still under a year old, and she lays one egg about every other day.
We have four nesting boxes, but of course, everyone wants the same one.
 
I've had a hen before that loved a certain nesting box and would peck anyone that tried to lay there. I separated her out for a few days so that when I put her back with the flock she became lower on the pecking order and didn't bully as much. Good luck : )
 
I have one that does not attack but sit in the same nest until the other leave the nest or just stare at the hen with their wings a bit up and the others leave, it take time, but they leave, this only happen when she is broody or becoming broody, she is not the alfa
 
I've had a hen that did that kind of nonsense.
You might try to put a fake egg in each nest see if that changes things. But you may have to get rid of the rabblerouser.
If no one is being injured, and it is just for 5-10 minutes a day, you might just let them work it out.
 

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