Chickens fighting over a preferred nesting box

[AODonnell]

I have 8 girls and 5 nesting boxes but they all fight over one of them even if all the others are open. I have put fake eggs in some of the others in hopes they will want to use them but they still all prefer one over the rest. Any suggestions?

 

[Folly's place]

As long as nobody is injured, ignore the drama! They have to sort it out and will, eventually.
Are these pullets just coming into lay? New or older birds?
There's always going to be boxes that are more popular than the others, it's a chicken thing.
Mary

 

[AODonnell]

They are pullets just starting to lay.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are they physically fighting or peacefully pacing and waiting their turn? What does that behavior actually look like?

Them all or most wanting to lay in one specific nest is really common. Which nest that is can rotate over time also. I have four nests, two rows of two. One time most may want to lay in the top left, a month later most may prefer the bottom right. I don't know why they change.

It is fairly common for me to see three hens piled into the same nest laying eggs while the other three are empty. I've also had hens that refuse to share a nest and fight to keep any others out. I've seen a more mature hen grab a pullet that was on the nest by the head and jerk her out of that nest. I've seen a hen go into one nest while a different hen was laying an egg in a different nest and moved to the preferred nest when it became empty.

I agree. As long as no one is being injured and eggs are not being broken because of fighting I let them sort it out.

 

[Folly's place]

Right now we have 22 hens, not all in lay, and eight nest boxes in two separate areas. Only two or three boxes are used, a very typical story.
Your girls will sort it out and decide which boxes are 'best'.
Mary

 

[AODonnell]

Two have been fighting. No one is hurt but it did make me nervous for a second. I think I am going to just watch there behavior and make sure it doesn’t get two aggressive.

 

[Mrs. K]

Block off the favorite nest so no one can use it for a few days.