Hens and the nesting box

[Lady Watcher]

Okay, so yesterday I went outside and my black Australorp and 2 Rhode Island reds were all 3 in one nesting box. The black lady made her egg on the floor, as well as one of the RIR, and one egg was in the nesting box. Today I found one of my RIR eggs on the floor, cracked at the tip, and my Australorp was laying in the nesting box. So does anyone know what the problem is or what to do? I think they're all fighting over one box (those 3 hens).

 

[azygous]

Join the club! All of us have hens who love to fight over one favorite nest box, no matter how many other boxes they have.

Why is this? Part of it is because hens take their cue where to lay from an egg previously laid in a particular box. They are also nosy, and love to badger a hen who is already in the box, especially if she is lower ranking.

Other than that, they do it because they're chickens and it seems like a good idea for everyone to want the same box, sometimes at the same time. Chicken rules. Don't ask.

 

[Isaac 0]

Agree with the above.I put golf balls in each nesting box and it evens it out for them.

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...it helps to place wooden eggs in each nest box so that they all want to nest where another "hen" has laid. Evens things out.

 

[Oneofthempeople]

I have 4 boxes, 1 for each hen and they all fight over 1 box every now and then they use a 2nd, but even watching them they all push to just get into that one box. I have put golf balls in all the boxes and they still all go for the one main box. As long as the eggs end up in they box I would call it good.

 

[aart]

I use fake eggs/golf balls in all the nests, sometimes it 'spreads the love'...sometimes it doesn't.
Have played around with golf balls and realistic looking fake eggs, more in one nest than others, none in some nests, again no finite results.
Fickle chickens...I do believe that having the fake eggs is better than empty nests, much more bickering when no fake eggs are present.

 

[Lady Watcher]

Thank you, everyone!