All 8 only using 1 nesting box?

[Sasham]

So we have 8 chickens, they have all just started to lay this month. We built them 8 nesting boxes in a row, and they all seam to want to use the 1 box, so in the morning they all sit there and "yell" at the chicken laying until she is done so they can lay. How do I get them to start using the other boxes? Occasionally one ends up dropping an egg out on the floor waiting. I'm thinking of taking out the dividers and making a "communal" bed

 

[DaveOmak]

I heard of that problem.... So I built my coop with the "communal" nest box.... If need be, I can put dividers in it.....

 

[Sabz]

I have 6 and they all go in the same nest (very funny behavior). Sometimes I open the nest door and 4 of them are in there at once haha.

In my case, they have never dropped eggs on the coop floor though. I never thought it was a problem, I thought it was just normal behavior. I guess DaveOmak's suggestion would be the best then! Mine will never use both nests. They use the left one 90% of the time and then for a day they ALL switch to the right nest.

 

[MelKnee]

I have 17 hens, 5 of them laying now. They all use the same box. I'm hoping all 17 don't try to use the same box. I have seen hens sitting in other boxes, but they wait to lay until the "good" box is free. I have wooden eggs in the other boxes trying to entice them there.

 

[lazy gardener]

You might try putting some real eggs in the least favored boxes, but honestly, I have the same problem. I have 4 old gals who are all laying, and 12 pullets, 8 of which are laying now. There are the 2 original boxes, I've given them a card board box and a square kitty litter bucket with a 4" lip, and a dish tub. They use the 2 original boxes, and lay the rest of their eggs in a corner on the floor of their loft behind the perch. AAUGH!!! They even rolled the plastic egg out of the cardboard box and put it in their little corner.

 

[krista74]

I have no idea why they do it, but all my girls lay in the same spot too.

I have seen three girls crammed into the same nest trying to lay, despite us having 7 nest boxes, all with plastic eggs inside.

Today one girl laid a soft-shelled egg, which smashed and ran through all the hay in the nest. Before I could stop them, two more girls sat down in the muck to lay. Apparently, that nest is The Best Nest even when it's filled with runny egg!

- Krista