Alarm cry over nesting boxes or eggs disappearing, whining? Help

[thoth1990]

I have nine hens about 10 months old. I don't have a rooster or a dog, so I let them out once a day to free range supervised with me.
They began laying eggs recently and laid through winter (north FL). I'm kind of at my wit's end because they typically wake me up early in the morning with an alarm cry. It's just one hen at a time, sometimes it's the same one crying out several times in the morning. Each time I go out and try to assess the situation, don't feed them or support the behavior at all. I have noticed at times that it seems they squabble over the "best" box, or they get territorial about the box, and sound the alarm if another chicken is in it. I'm not sure if I either have insufficient nesting boxes (3 boxes, 9 hens), or if I'm doing something wrong by taking all their eggs in the evening. Should I leave a few eggs each box? Or is it just that they are new layers and they will get over the eggs disappearing? i have two hens that seemingly never cry out at all.

I also have a barred rock hen that whines persistently throughout the afternoons, either for food or to be let out. It's very annoying and though I've never supported the behavior and we go out at the same time every day, she persists. If I have a window open and she can hear me talking she'll whine even louder and more frequently.

What could I improve so that my girls are calm?

 

[sourland]

When they first start laying and are very hormonal birds can be noisy. This may improve as they mature. Try leaving 'nest eggs' in all of the nests. This may work, but they always seem to want the nest that is not available.

 

[deidreg]

The morning alarms are probably the "egg song". I imagine the hens are saying "I just laid an egg! You should lay an egg!" Hens often like to lay in the same nest. I think that's because having the eggs together makes it easier to brood and also safer from predators. I wouldn't worry about the squabbling unless someone is getting injured.

As for your PM barred rock, not sure how to fix that. Others may have ideas. Good luck!

 

[koturnix]

I would put fake eggs/ping pong balls in all their nest boxes. Even if there are multiple boxes chickens tend to all want to lay in the "best" one. I read somewhere that in the wild all the hens lay in one nest and then the dominant leader hen hatches everyone's eggs. I had the same issue so I left some eggs in the other boxes and eventually they figured it out.

As for your barred rock, try hanging some treats around the run as a distraction for her or give them some toys. I use this to occupy the hens so they spend time pecking at it.