Get in line girls....pile up at the egg nesting box ( es).

[littleandlewis]

We have a lovely chicken coop that has 3 nest boxes one on top of the other. Our six hens only use the bottom nest box and seem to be happy...laying an egg and getting out for the next hen.

Yesterday they all wanted to lay at the same time creating not only a waiting line but 2 or 3 of them cramming into the lower nesting box to try and lay. Is this a problem? Or will they sort it out among themselves?

By the end of the day we had 6 beautiful eggs nestled in the box. For some reason they have no interest in the upper next boxes.

 

[Ethridgechixs]

I would put the nest boxes next to each other instead of on top of eachother. this may help too but I know alot of them will choose to use the same box. you may want to look into setting up a larger community nest box for them as well.

 

[Chicken Lover 1]

Are all the nest boxes well stuffed????? Put all the nest boxes at the same height. Go to www.mypetchicken.com and read from their free e book about raising chickens chapter 5.

 

[littleandlewis]

The nest boxes are built in.... so I can't move them. I can put others in...

My partner wondered if putting a ramp up to the second level would help...built it is an easy leap for them up and I'm not sure the ramp would encourage their use of that upper box.

 

[OldGuy43]

I have three boxes side-by-side and all 12 hens use the same one. Don't stress over it.

 

[ceeceeholt]

I have 10 boxes and my ladies use about 5 of them, but 1 is there favorite. They'll line up to lay in that box and if one is not fast enough, another will will just get inside with her No worries, they are fine!

 

[florida lee]

I have 5 nest boxes, all in a row. They (pullets) only use one. Waiting in line for their turn. Same set up in all my coops (4), same waiting in line for one box from them also. However, its not always the same box, sometimes they pick a different box???.

 

[gdplum]

...Get used to it.

 

[featherz]

Yep, get used to it. They will all want the same box no matter what or where your boxes are.

 

[Tikkijane]

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/a-family-affair/

Today we had a line and ended up moving out one of our other portable nesting boxes (which is inside and being used by the current house chicken). In the end, they used their favorite boxes, and things are again quiet outside....