Could not enough nesting boxes cause flock issues?

[MIgardengal]

I have been having issues with 2 of my hens getting along for the past month.

Had some discussion on a previous post. My coop and run meet the needed space required per bird. I recently added additional roost space at the recommendation of some folks here.

All my other hens get along swimmingly, no issues. I just have one EE that particularly bullies my one BO. It’s just between these two.

I have 6 hens, 2 nesting boxes. Today I was in the coop both nests were occupied. My BO was in one of them. The EE jumped up in my presence, and started to aggressively pluck at the head feathers of the BO who was
in the box.

Is this a indicator I need more next boxes? I thought 1 box per 3 birds was plenty?

 

[Brooks_]

IDK. Mine don't even use the boxes...they prefer the dark corners. But adding a box or two won't hurt.

 

[azygous]

If anything, most of us have noticed we have more than the number of nesting boxes required to fulfill the needs of our hens. What we do notice is that hens want the nest that's occupied, no matter that there are plenty of unoccupied nest boxes.

Two hens squabbling over a nest has nothing to do with not having enough nest boxes. I've seen three hens crowded into the same nest, and toss in the rooster on some days. They don't care that there is an empty nest right next to it. If another hen is in the nest, they want it.

 

[chickentrains]

We have four for 7 hens. They lay in only two boxes, and will SCREAM at eachother if one is in the nest box when the other wants to be there. Chicken politics. If one was really upset, they'd find another way. They always do. It should be fine, LOL

 

[Mamatomany123]

I thinks it's less of.it not being enough boxes and more of your EE is just being a bully. Is the BO ever the aggressor?if not then I would lock the EE up in a cage for a while and bump her down that pecking order.

 

[3KillerBs]

They don't care that there is an empty nest right next to it. If another hen is in the nest, they want it.

This.

With 5 hens and 2 boxes the only reason anyone uses the second box is that the broody is sitting in the previous favorite.

Do you have a couple fake eggs/golf balls in each box?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't think the number of nests is your problem. I once saw a mature hen grab a pullet that was laying an egg by the head and jerk her off the nest so she could lay in that nest. There were empty nests around. I often see three hens in the same nest laying at the same time with empty nests around. I think that one hen was just being a bully because she could.

All my other hens get along swimmingly, no issues. I just have one EE that particularly bullies my one BO. It’s just between these two.

How old are these two? What other bullying behaviors between them have you seen? It has been really rare but I have seen one chicken simply not like another one. Help us understand what s going on. What else are you seeing?

 

[Brooks_]

I once saw a mature hen grab a pullet that was laying an egg by the head and jerk her off the nest so she could lay in that nest

Oh, that mental image.....

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

My girls like to lay in a single nesting box, and most of the time they don't even lay in the box. They prefer to go make nests in the bushes, and then make me go search for them

 

[Ridgerunner]

Oh, that mental image.....

Chicken TV can be better than anything on cable antenna, or satellite. That doesn't mean it is always, cute, sweet, and cuddly. Chicken society can be pretty brutal. I'll admit this one surprised me though. Usually I see them sharing a nest.