Chicken beds...why do all my hens want the same bed to lay? They all have straw and wood shavings--but they battle for the one bed. Why?

[dianforbes1]

Chicken beds...why do all my hens want the same bed to lay? They all have straw and wood shavings--but they battle for the one bed. Does Anyone know Why?

 

[rosemarythyme]

By "beds" I assume you mean nest boxes, for laying eggs (not for sleeping in). Normal for chickens to want to lay where other chickens lay.

 

[GuineaMania]

Mine do it too-it's just a chicken thing!

 

[Ginmary]

Probably the same reason they chase after the same worm the first hen picked up even though you put 20 worms down at the same time.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You've obviously never baby-sat a room full of 2-year olds.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You know that noise chickens make when they want to lay an egg and they're hunting a nest to lay it in? What they're really saying is ...

But, but, but, but, but, but, but, but ... it's MIIIIINE!

 

[SourRoses]

Is that the bed with the goose down pillow?

 

[dianforbes1]

hahaha...okay-thanks everyone for your answers-makes complete sense! and no, never babysat a room of 2 year olds-- very funny.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The thing is, if one chicken finds that nest perfect and delightful, chances are others are too, for the same reasons.

 

[Shadrach]

Chicken beds...why do all my hens want the same bed to lay? They all have straw and wood shavings--but they battle for the one bed. Does Anyone know Why?

I believe it may be a combination of factors; not quite knowing but some reasonable conclusions for observation.
If there is an egg in a nest then that egg has "survived" after being laid. In the wild, a lot of eggs don't. Predators find the nest and eat the eggs, and the hen if they get the chance. So, the fact an egg is there implies some safety.
Next, not all hens lay eggs with the intention of hatching them, but when they do intend to hatch, many hens I've cared for make a new nest away from the nest she's been using until now. If one accepts this, then the eggs a hen doesn't ntend to sit on, for whatever reasons, may be sat on and hatched by another hen that lays her eggs there when she decides to sit.
Quite an effective way of trying to ensure fewer eggs going to waste by not being hatched.
Hard to bear in mind when so many people keep hens for egg laying that the hen lays eggs to further the species, not to provide us with breakfast.
I'm sure there are added complexities.

Currently I care for four hens and a rooster. There are only two nest boxes in the coop and both are used by the three hens that are laying. While it seems from the numerous, often quite funny tales of nest box sharing, hens will lay in other nest boxes.