Hens are all using one nest box

[NamawH]

We have 7 hens and 3 nest boxes. For some reason they all choose to use the same nest. This morning there was one hen sitting in the nest and two others were trying to get in. The other two nest boxes were completely vacant. When I went out later to collect eggs, one had gotten broken, one was in the coop and one was teetering on the edge of the ramp outside the coop. I would like to try to get them to use all of the nest boxes so we can possibly avoid breaking eggs. Does anyone have any suggestions for enticing them into the other two nest boxes?

 

[Lucy Brown]

place fake eggs or golf ball in the vacant ones so they know where to lay their eggs. It might intimidate them to see other chickens lay eggs inonly one of the nest boxes

 

[chrissynemetz]

Placing fake eggs in the other nest boxes does help, but chickens can be stubborn... they all want to use the favorite box. In the case of my flock, the favorite nest box is which ever one somebody else is already using

 

[aart]

Does anyone have any suggestions for enticing them into the other two nest boxes?

I keep one fake egg in each nest, it does help to 'spread the love'.
Not that there isn't a nest du jour, or some squabbling, or some grousing.
But overall I've found it to work very well.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

agree with the posters above. Fake eggs help, but are no guarantee. I built seven boxes. Three are "large", about 15"x15", four are somewhat smaller, about 12"x15", plus two 3? gallon black plastic plant pots (for the ducks), and two black plastic milk crates.

This morning I had 1 egg in the middle of the run by the gate (stupid duck), three eggs in one of the plant pots (1 duck, two chicken), 1 chicken egg in each of two of the smaller boxes, 1 egg in one of the larger boxes, and 4 in another of the large boxes. None (so far) in the milk crates, where I found three eggs yesterday. Will check again in an hour.

There's just no predicting.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Placing fake eggs in the other nest boxes does help, but chickens can be stubborn... they all want to use the favorite box. In the case of my flock, the favorite nest box is which ever one somebody else is already using View attachment 2601448

This is why I’m doing communal nest boxes next time

 

[chrissynemetz]

This is why I’m doing communal nest boxes next time

I'm thinking maybe I should try it too.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I'm thinking maybe I should try it too.

It looks to me like They’ve already set one up

 

[Rebbiereb]

We have 7 hens and 3 nest boxes. For some reason they all choose to use the same nest. This morning there was one hen sitting in the nest and two others were trying to get in. The other two nest boxes were completely vacant. When I went out later to collect eggs, one had gotten broken, one was in the coop and one was teetering on the edge of the ramp outside the coop. I would like to try to get them to use all of the nest boxes so we can possibly avoid breaking eggs. Does anyone have any suggestions for enticing them into the other two nest boxes?

I've got this going on too. They are fighting over one box. Just found 2 girls in the box together. They have no interest in the other box. I am finding broken eggs and now I know why. Any advise? Thanks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've got this going on too. They are fighting over one box. Just found 2 girls in the box together. They have no interest in the other box. I am finding broken eggs and now I know why. Any advise? Thanks.

Do you have fakes in all the nests to make them more appealing? How well padded/bedded are the nests? More padding could help a bit if they're jostling around in there.