Hens Compete For One Nest

[cjsands61]

Hello everyone,
I have four hens and multiple nesting areas but they ALL want to use the same nest. They will pick and climb on top of whoever is on the nest until she moves off. I do get a few crushed eggs because of this and I'm afraid the situation will create an egg eater. Since I work I'm not home to physically intervene when this is happening. I have a camera in the nest area and can only watch in frustration as these drama queens vie for this one nest.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Do you have fake eggs in your nestboxes? Hens always want to lay where other hens are laying. It shows it's safe, and potentially you get someone else to brood and raise your offspring.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Do you have fake eggs in your nestboxes? Hens always want to lay where other hens are laying. It shows it's safe, and potentially you get someone else to brood and raise your offspring.

X2
Also, the phrasing in your post has me wondering a little about your setup. You mentioned that you have multiple nesting areas available, but not the more common term of nest boxes so I am wondering if you have set up Nest spots that aren't the traditional box units and if so, if there are differences between them that are making one more attractive to the chickens based on their instincts. Sometimes we look at things from the human perspective and end up creating spaces that aren't inviting from the chicken perspective. Can you show us what you have? It may help us make suggestions on ways that you can make other Nest spots more attractive to your chickens

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is helpful to know what you are working with, that way we are more likely to offer suggestions that actually apply to your situation. I like photos. Physical dimensions (either inches of centimeters) can help too.

I have four pretty similar nests. Most of the eggs are often in just one nest. Which nest that is can change over time. Sometimes I see three hens crowded into one nest while the other three nests are empty. No drama, they are happy to share. That doesn't mean they are all willing to share a nest, sometimes a hen will not share at all. I've seen some get pretty vicious about that. There are no standards that they will all follow. Each one is an individual and each flock has its own dynamics.

The only thing that concerns me from what you said is that you occasionally get a crushed egg. That could come from the hens fighting over the nest but how thick are the shells of the ones breaking? I've had broody hens fight over a nest of hatching chicks, they destroyed half of the eggs so that can certainly be a problem. But if one hen is laying thin-shelled eggs they could be easier to break. Just wondering if that might be your real issue.

Still, it could be them all in the same nest. So what do you have to work with?

 

[cjsands61]

Do you have fake eggs in your nestboxes? Hens always want to lay where other hens are laying. It shows it's safe, and potentially you get someone else to brood and raise your offspring.

Do you have fake eggs in your nestboxes? Hens always want to lay where other hens are laying. It shows it's safe, and potentially you get someone else to brood and raise your offspring.

Yes I have fake eggs in each of the nesting areas.

X2
Also, the phrasing in your post has me wondering a little about your setup. You mentioned that you have multiple nesting areas available, but not the more common term of nest boxes so I am wondering if you have set up Nest spots that aren't the traditional box units and if so, if there are differences between them that are making one more attractive to the chickens based on their instincts. Sometimes we look at things from the human perspective and end up creating spaces that aren't inviting from the chicken perspective. Can you show us what you have? It may help us make suggestions on ways that you can make other Nest spots more attractive to your chickens

I can get some pictures later and post them. The nests I have aren't your traditional nest boxes and the one area they all want is a little more secluded than the others but I had seen a lot of variety when I was researching nest types and hoping they would be a little more open minded about using them.

 

[fldiver97]

That’s your clue…. Hens like privacy…. Well most do. Some put little curtains on the nesting boxes. Keep your nest/nest boxes ( chickens seem to prefer the enclosed space for safety and privacy) in the darker areas of your coop and away from ‘traffic’ I.e away from doors, pop doors, feeding stations etc