all eggs in one box

[Moondog]

I have a coop with 12 nesting boxes my chickens are 7 months old. I have 10 silver laced wineadots one red sex link and one silve laced rooster. All my hens lay in one box I get 10 to 11 eggs a day all in one box. My chickens free range i let them out in the morning and when they need to lay they go back in the hen house and lay in the one box then go back outside. It is not a problem just wondering why they all use the same box.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have a coop with 12 nesting boxes my chickens are 7 months old. I have 10 silver laced wineadots one red sex link and one silve laced rooster. All my hens lay in one box I get 10 to 11 eggs a day all in one box. My chickens free range i let them out in the morning and when they need to lay they go back in the hen house and lay in the one box then go back outside. It is not a problem just wondering why they all use the same box.

The reason is the same reason that using "bait eggs" helps to encourage new layers to lay in the desired location (the nest box) - the presence of other eggs indicates to the next hen to come along that the location in question is a safe place to lay her egg - it is safe because someone else has already used it, giving it the stamp of approval for those that come along behind her.

 

[WeBeCluckin]

I have 6 nest boxes available to my girls and they usually all lay in the same box too. I never really questioned it. Kinda thought maybe chickens are smarter than we give em credit for and they were really trying to wait out who would get broody first and get someone else to hatch her chicks! I was liking the idea that maybe it's because they appreciate us as much as we appreciate them and wanted to make egg collecting easier! Oh my little dream world...e

 

[ShockValue]

Do an experiment. Put a couple fake-eggs in a different nest box and see what happens over the next couple days

 

[aart]

I keep golf balls in all 4 nests in my main coop to help break the cycle of them all wanting to lay in one nest...and minimize the bitching and moaning if that one favored nest is occupied at a time of need, it seems to work most the time.

Am experimenting with removing some of the golf balls to see if that changes any patterns.

In my junior coop, the first layer wouldn't use the nest until I removed the golf balls.

 

[Michelle2639]

That's a good idea. I'm going to have to try that too. I don't really care if they lay all in one box but yes, the squawking and carrying on that happens when a box is occupied is enough to make you crazy.

 

[Moondog]

Thanks for all the ideas I think I will do some experimenting also

 

[aart]

I've found observing these birds and their behavior to be very enjoyable, but then I am inclined to analyze things to the Nth degree, have the time to do so and have learned to be patient and taking time to make many observations before changing things...and starting the observation process over again.