chickens hogging one nesting box and other issues

[ctracker]

I have a 5x10 coop with a 4 nesting box end. Each box is separated. My RIR have recently started laying but they are hogging one end box. I tried blocking off the box and all hell broke loose so I instead removed the dividers so it was one big box, instead of 4 individual boxes. They stopped laying for a day when I did that. There were 5 eggs in the first box again this mid morning. Two of the eggs had single peck marks and one was broken in half. I've heard that we needed one box for each three hens. We have 11 total. Yesterday two eggs were layed in the two middle boxes and a few days ago we have had a couple laid in the opposite farthest box from the hog box. They also kick out all the straw I place in the boxes(also tried chips and they do the same thing) and have actually kicked the previously laid eggs out into the pen quite a few times.

We feed them layer food, they have adequate supply of oyster shells, and they get garden scraps and wheat kernels for scratch when they roam out of the coop. I also have a pile of grit for them and an automatic watering system they use regularly. This egg laying thing is just a little different and I'm wondering if they will settle into it as they progress with age.

I was also wondering if placing a clay egg in each box might help. Just looking for things that might have worked for others.

My 4 Campbell ducks lay 4 eggs each day like clockwork. These chickens are obviously birds of a different feather.

 

[nchls school]

I have a 5x10 coop with a 4 nesting box end. Each box is separated. My RIR have recently started laying but they are hogging one end box. I tried blocking off the box and all hell broke loose so I instead removed the dividers so it was one big box, instead of 4 individual boxes. They stopped laying for a day when I did that. There were 5 eggs in the first box again this mid morning. Two of the eggs had single peck marks and one was broken in half. I've heard that we needed one box for each three hens. We have 11 total. Yesterday two eggs were layed in the two middle boxes and a few days ago we have had a couple laid in the opposite farthest box from the hog box. They also kick out all the straw I place in the boxes(also tried chips and they do the same thing) and have actually kicked the previously laid eggs out into the pen quite a few times. 


We feed them layer food, they have adequate supply of oyster shells, and they get garden scraps and wheat kernels for scratch when they roam out of the coop. I also have a pile of grit for them and an automatic watering system they use regularly. This egg laying thing is just a little different and I'm wondering if they will settle into it as they progress with age. 


I was also wondering if placing a clay egg in each box might help. Just looking for things that might have worked for others. 

Quite often nest boxes are disturbed as you describe when there are pullets that have not started laying yet. Is it possible that some of your pullets haven't started to lay? Should this be what is happening it will stop when all the birds are laying eggs. I'm having the same problem right now. I'm collecting the eggs more often so my birds don't accidentally break an egg and start egg eating. A bad situation should it start. I do place a dummy egg in the nest boxes when pullets first begin to lay. I know of no easy way to get hens to use separate nest boxes; it doesn't matter as long as the eggs are not being broke.


My 4 Campbell ducks lay 4 eggs each day like clockwork. These chickens are obviously birds of a different feather.

 

[ctracker]

I ordered some ceramic eggs and am going to put one in each box. I am also checking them on a more regular basis. Out of 11 birds I'm only getting 7 eggs per day, so yes, there are some that aren't laying. Hopefully this will eventually iron itself out. Thanks for the input concerning the non laying poulettes.

 

[lysanderish]

You might find, if any of your birds are like mine, that they will see your ceramic eggs in each box and raise you all the ceramic eggs in one box. Granted I only have two boxes, but my Welsummer and BO will not suffer letting eggs be in separate boxes.

All four of my ladies prefer to right-hand box, and I have actually seen my polish, Pouff, (top of the pecking order) run my EE, Pearl, (bottom of the same) out of the coop because that is definitely her nest Pearl was sitting in and Pouff needs to use it now and nobody even acknowledges the other box. Sigh.

 

[BBStacker]

All four of my ladies prefer to right-hand box, and I have actually seen my polish, Pouff, (top of the pecking order) run my EE, Pearl, (bottom of the same) out of the coop because that is definitely her nest Pearl was sitting in and Pouff needs to use it now and nobody even acknowledges the other box. Sigh.

LOL! My RIR hen prefers the right sides well. Not sure if my other two hens are laying yet but my confirmed one chooses that side only. I do have a ceramic egg in that one though. Thinking of moving it to the other side just to see if theyll follow suit.

 

[ctracker]

I put a strip of wood in front of the boxes so they have to actually climb into them. This keeps them from scratching all the chip bedding I put in there out into the coop. This seems to be letting them get settled in and they seem more relaxed without three chickens trying to get in the same box at once. I yesterday I noticed other boxes being used and I can only hope today continues that trend. No pecks in the shells either.