chickens not laying in top row of nesting boxes.

[IndiesChix]

I have 14 mixed flock of EE,RIR,BR chickens. Large coop with 6 nesting boxes, three on bottom ,three on top. They do free range all day, but all but 1 come into coop to lay. They fight over the bottom three. I have golf balls in the top three, removed the golf balls from the bottoms, in hopes that they will take an interest in the tops. No luck. I had to add some old crates to make three more boxes to lay in. How in the world can I get them to lay in the top nest???? And yes I have picked them up and placed them in there a few times, they move things around but never stay and lay.

 

[QueenMisha]

This is normal behavior and there's nothing much to be done about it. You can give 10 hens 10 identical, ideal boxes, and they will still only use 2, even if it means piling on each other 3 birds high. As long as they aren't hurting each other or damaging eggs it's best to let them do their thing.

 

[EastmanEggs]

Sounds like more of a benefit than a burden... easier to collect!

Mine lay in 3 of the 8 boxes available. (Same level)

 

[IndiesChix]

Ok thanks for the replies. Nobody is getting hurt and no damaged eggs, so I'll just leave em alone.