Crazy Hen Hogging Nesting Boxes?

[FutureFarmGal]

One of my hens is really weird, she will lay her egg and then all throughout the day she just goes into the other hens nesting boxes while they're laying. She kicks them out and they get all upset and squack and then she leaves. Anyone know why she might be doing this? Something to do with pecking order? Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Is she your dominant hen? How old is she?

 

[FutureFarmGal]

They all are 6 months old, and all seem to get along pretty well except for when it comes to the nesting boxes, so I don't see to much of a pecking order. I have 8 boxes and 11 hens but she'll kick them out from any box.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's pretty normal behavior at that age. They sometimes get a bit goofy when the first start laying and for a few months after, whether it's hormones or a new found sense of responsibility that they are feeling, only they know. She should calm down after a bit as it all becomes routine.

 

[FutureFarmGal]

Oh okay! Thank you so much oldhenlikesdog!

 

[aart]

If she's interfering with the other pullets laying, I would be tempted to put her in a wire crate right in the coop for a little time out so the other girls can get on with their business.

 

[chickens really]

I had a hen that did the same things...She would wait till my other hens would lay in a certain box and then she would sit for two hours or more after she laid her egg...She never was a broody hen at all, but loved to lay on eggs....