Can a chicken randomly change nest sites?

[HonkABC]

I have tow Cochin pullets who look the same, and are both at POL, the only difference between them is that one has more points on her comb. The one that I know is laying lays on top of a wall, (I am working on stopping her from laying there,) And today I found another Cochin egg in the nest box, I am thinking the second hen started laying. One of my family members saw a Cochin in the nest box, but they did not know the difference and was unable to identify it. Is it possible that the first hen changed nesting sites? Thank you.

 

[fluffycrow]

It’s definitely possible. Some girls are more committed to their nests than others, but in general young pullets are quite flexible with their nest sites.

If you keep finding eggs in both places, I would guess that the second pullet has started laying as well

 

[User690263]

That does happen occasionally

 

[HonkABC]

I will have to wait for tommorow to find out, because there was no egg in the first hen's nest spot today. Also, the egg was a little larger than the first hen's average egg.

 

[HonkABC]

I will update tommorow.

 

[PopoMyers]

Mine change nests at will, whenever they feel like it. Don't worry unless you start finding eggs regularly not in the boxes, or not at all, in which case you will have to have an Easter egg hunt.

 

[Nym]

My Pekin frizzle (and her two daughters) are currently under yard arrest so I can find the eggs before the dog does lol. She will even hold on to eggs if she can't get to the agapanthus patch.

 

[Floopy]

Mine love free ranging, but I'm going to have to contain them because they really enjoy making me hunt on my wooded acreage for those precious eggs!

 

[Mrs. K]

On a whim, they will change nests. But they do like to lay eggs where someone else did. That is why fake eggs can really help in getting them to lay in the right spot.

 

[RoyalChick]

On a whim, they will change nests. But they do like to lay eggs where someone else did. That is why fake eggs can really help in getting them to lay in the right spot.

Yes this ^^^
What mystifies me is why they suddenly all change to a different spot after days of being totally content with an earlier nest.
I am sure they have their reasons!