Chickens Laying Problem

[TheChad]

I currently have 14 hens laying and I have a large coop with 14 nesting boxes. My hens seem to only lay in about 3 of the boxes. I was wondering if I put a wooden egg in each box if they would start using the other boxes.

Thanks

 

[TexasVet]

You can give it a shot, but don't hold your breath. I have 14 laying nests and routinely find all the eggs in just a couple of them. And which nests they use changes from day to day.

Chickens are funny creatures. Some days they lay in the nests where I've planted the fake eggs, and sometimes they ignore them completely.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[LynneP]

I have 6 nest boxes and the hens use about 3 a day- not the same three, but three! (go figure). I think when one starts laying the others want to add to that beginning clutch, and move to a second box when they can't wait long enough...

 

[Country Gal]

I've got 30 hens and 6 boxes, and they only lay in 2 of them! And it's always the same two...

 

[EggGardener]

Try putting some pine shavings and a small handful of straw in the other boxes. My hens like to make themselves nests by making a shallow depression in the shavings, then, as they're laying, they grab bits of straw and add it to the nest. Pretty unimpressive, as nest architecture goes, but they seem to like doing it!!