Hen wont set.

[Stewartws41]

I have 5 hens and have 4 nesting boxes the hens come outside in day and back into coop at night it seems they just started to lay eggs,but they all want to lay in the same box and then they dont want to sit on the eggs I have noticed they are on the perch more than they set so how do I fix this problem.

 

[PirateGirl]

It's not uncommon for hens to have a favorite nest box. I find most of my eggs in the same box daily, and there will be just one lone egg in a different nest box. Certain hens will only lay in certain nest boxes. That's just the way it goes. It's better than them laying out on the ground in the run, so I let them be picky.

Hens will only sit on the eggs when their hormones tell them they want to hatch some eggs. Some breeds more commonly go broody than others. Some birds go broody repeatedly while others never go broody at all. Unfortunately I don't know that there's a way to make a chicken sit on and hatch eggs, either the mood strikes her or it doesn't.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also you mentioned they just started to lay eggs. I'm assuming this is because they are younger birds, which also will make them less likely to be broody if this is their first season laying.

 

[woodenfarm]

It sounds like your hens are not broody.

Broody hen just set on eggs.

You can not force or make a hen go broody. Some just do it, some off and on and some never go broody.

I have several nesting boxes and mine have two favorite nesting boxes all the eggs will be in

 

[mixedbreeds]

Sounds like they are young so as said they may not go broody yet or never. You can get some fake eggs and leave them in the nest boxes that might get them to go broody it’s worth a shot if you want chicks.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed with all of above. There is really not a problem. Just a mis-understanding between you and your pullets. (they are pullets until they are a year old.)