Do hens always lay in the same nesting box?

[mzrea]

I have 13 hens, 7 RIR and 6 BR all are 20 weeks old this week. One hen has been laying for about 11 days, 9 eggs in total always in the same nesting box. Today, again one egg but in a different box! Has someone else started laying or has Ms. Henny found new digs?

 

[redoak]

Mine generally lay in the same nest boxes. Most of the time they use the first and third nest boxes, but sometimes I find an egg in the middle nest box. One time a ping-pong ball got kicked out of a nest box and out of the coop. Later that day I found an egg right next to the ping-pong ball. So I'm not sure if they lay in a specific nest box or next to a specific ping-pong or golf ball.

 

[jessica117]

Mine usually use the same nest box.... all of them use the same single box. The other 3 identical boxes just aren't good enough I guess

That's why I haven't added any more. It would be a waste of materials and time. As for your new box with a new egg, you won't truly know till you end up with 2 eggs in one day.

Jess

 

[gritsar]

Mine generally lay in the same box. If their favorite box is occupied and they just can't hold on any longer they'll go to a different box. The funny part is when two hens get in the same box at the same time. They'll lay beak to tail from each other and lay their eggs.

 

[debilorrah]

I have 6 hens. I have 6 nesting boxes. They all use the same one. ALL THE TIME. Rarely we find an egg in one of the other nests.

 

[DottieMarie]

Okay, mine must be the oddballs. I only have 2 girls laying so far and sometimes there is an egg in the top nests, sometimes in the bottom nests and sometimes they share a nest; hmmm

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

Mine are all new layers, granted, but they really seem to be trying out all their options. I even once found an egg in the pen outside! They've laid in the litter on the floor of the coop, from the roost, and seem to be trying out all of the boxes to find the ones that are "just right".

-Christian

 

[wegotchickens2]

LOL>. Gritsar, ours do the same thing.. head to tail, two in the same box, if they are both the same breed. Our Blk sex links kick out the Blk austros, every time, unless when laying at that very moment. Our Blk sex links are thuggettes when it comes to the boxes!

 

[ibpboo]

Mine will lay in one nesting box for a long period, and then just change one day and start laying in another. Most of the time they all lay in the same box but occasionally I will find eggs in more than one box.
I have 4 different breeds.

 

[mzrea]

Well, only one egg again yesterday so who knows!