Crowding around the laying hen

[ITF]

Why do all the hens (sometimes the roo) crowd around the hen that is laying some of them literally try to sit on and peck at whoever is laying . They haven’t fully figured out the nesting box thing and lay in the same places on the coop floor under the boxes , they have been laying for 2-3 weeks .

 

[SamLockwood]

Mine have similar behaviors in my mixed flock. I've got a total of 7 nesting boxes but any any given time they all want to use only one or two of them.

For instance, there's 4 hens crammed into this nesting box in the larger of my two coops. There's three other boxes just as big as this one, but guess what they decide to do?

 

[ITF]

Mine have similar behaviors in my mixed flock. I've got a total of 7 nesting boxes but any any given time they all want to use only one or two of them.

For instance, there's 4 hens crammed into this nesting box in the larger of my two coops. There's three other boxes just as big as this one, but guess what they decide to do?
View attachment 3863603

My BCM will not let anyone near any of the nesting boxes if she’s going to lay in the next 3-6 hours and she doesn’t even lay in the boxes I’m like whattt is going on these chickens are so weird

 

[alinas2010]

Well, just don’t walk in on my flock when they all want to use the same box that someone is already occupying, you’ll become the target of their frustration! I’ve gotten berated in chicken, screeched at, pecked at, scraped, scratched, clothing pulled every which way by hens waiting in line for the nesting box. It’s almost as if they’re wanting me to tell the occupant to hurry it up! As entertaining as the show is, I just let them figure it out and save myself the abuse

 

[tlcmurphy]

Well, just don’t walk in on my flock when they all want to use the same box that someone is already occupying, you’ll become the target of their frustration! I’ve gotten berated in chicken, screeched at, pecked at, scraped, scratched, clothing pulled every which way by hens waiting in line for the nesting box. It’s almost as if they’re wanting me to tell the occupant to hurry it up! As entertaining as the show is, I just let them figure it out and save myself the abuse

Maybe they think you’re trying to cut in line?

 

[alinas2010]

Maybe they think you’re trying to cut in line?

Sometimes I think they’re so intelligent. Then when they’re all fighting for the same box when there are 3 others the exact same open, I think they must have rocks for brains

 

[aart]

Why do all the hens (sometimes the roo) crowd around the hen that is laying some of them literally try to sit on and peck at whoever is laying . They haven’t fully figured out the nesting box thing and lay in the same places on the coop floor under the boxes , they have been laying for 2-3 weeks .

What do you nests look like, pic please?
Putting a fake egg in each nest can often alleviate competition as well as show them where to lay.