Group laying ?

[Ponte]

My hens, (3 BO, 1 EE, 1 SS)are behaving odd and I do not understand it. Three are 14 month old, the others under a year.
Up to about 8 weeks ago they would wait their turn and lay in only one of the two nesting boxes. They then started using both boxes. Few weeks ago I started seeing two using the same box at the same time.
Yesterday and today I found three cramped into one box, don’t think it’s box related as yesterday they used the box on the left, today the box on the right.
My boxes are not large, maybe 14x12.
So far no eggs have been crushed but it’s going to happen.
What explains the behavior.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

This behavior is not unusual. I have 8 nesting boxes and the my flock of 22 hens prefer 3 of them. I have witnessed exactly what you are seeing.... hahaha! To help, put some fake eggs or golf balls in the other Nesting boxes to let the ladies know there are other nests available.
Best wishes and be well!!

 

[Ponte]

Thanks.
I do have fake eggs in the box least used.
It’s not as if they prefer one of the boxes, they are doing it in both boxes.
Could it be a defensive mechanism against a predator ? My wife has pointed out that the hens have been rather loud the past two days. I noticed the same yesterday but it was not a distress - danger call, it was almost like normal cackling but loud.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

It could definitely mean that they are frighted and want to huddle together for comfort. It may take a bit for them to relax, but this won’t last long.

 

[Ponte]

We had a nasty storm come by yesterday, could that explain it ?