Chickens only using one nest

[jfays]

I have 7 chickens currently in my flock and I am about to add more so I would like to figure this out before I do! I have a shelf in the coop with 3 boxes in it for egg laying. For some strange reason, ALL 7 of my chickens use the same one box for egg laying. It's becoming an issue because they are laying on the ground now when the box is not free. I have even seen 2 chickens sitting in one box at the same time. Why is it they refuse to lay in the other 2 boxes? Any advice on how to correct this behavior?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have 7 chickens currently in my flock and I am about to add more so I would like to figure this out before I do! I have a shelf in the coop with 3 boxes in it for egg laying. For some strange reason, ALL 7 of my chickens use the same one box for egg laying. It's becoming an issue because they are laying on the ground now when the box is not free. I have even seen 2 chickens sitting in one box at the same time. Why is it they refuse to lay in the other 2 boxes? Any advice on how to correct this behavior?

Skimpily because they all like the one nest better for one reason or the other. It is to a chicken's advantage to lay on the ground. However it hurts our weak human backs to stoop and bend to gather eggs so in our superior human intelligence we try to force the simple hen to lay her eggs where we want her to lay them..

 

[Blackberry18]

Chickens tend to love certain boxes, depending on location, lighting, privacy, and how cozy the nest is. I have eight (four stacked on four) and my girls tend to lay in the upper ones. Just wait a while, and the nest will change. You could also try adding more nests.

 

[jfays]

Chickens tend to love certain boxes, depending on location, lighting, privacy, and how cozy the nest is. I have eight (four stacked on four) and my girls tend to lay in the upper ones. Just wait a while, and the nest will change. You could also try adding more nests. 

They've actually been laying in that same one for almost 2 years now. I introduced 3 new ones to the 4 I had last year and right away they started following the older ones in only using that one nest for the last year now. It's frustrating because I'd like them to not have to fight over it when there are more nests lol. I can't add more unfortunately so I guess I will keep letting them do their thing and when the newbies come down hopefully they will adjust

 

[SoProlix]

They've actually been laying in that same one for almost 2 years now. I introduced 3 new ones to the 4 I had last year and right away they started following the older ones in only using that one nest for the last year now. It's frustrating because I'd like them to not have to fight over it when there are more nests lol. I can't add more unfortunately so I guess I will keep letting them do their thing and when the newbies come down hopefully they will adjust

Have you tried putting an egg or two in the other nest boxes? My hens are kind of followers. They see a chicken doing a thing and they want to do it too, including where they lay. You may not be able to pretend you're a chicken and lay an egg in the new boxes, but putting a couple eggs in might trick them. My ladies aren't tricked by golf balls or fake eggs either, so I'd put real ones in. I had some trouble with them laying in the yard and found adding curtains to the boxes made them more attractive too.

 

[Blackberry18]

SoProlix is right. Golf balls are good, and that is actually how I get my chickens to lay.