I have 16 hens and I was told one nest for every four hens, thus I have four nestboxes. Not sure how many are actually laying at this point, but I'm getting two dozen eggs a week. So far they are all using one box (of course!).
I have one hen that when any of the others try to use any of the boxes she jumps up there and chases them out. I can almost hear her saying "MINE! MINE! MINE!"
So far I've left them to work it out amongst themselves. They free-range most of the day so that hen can't be there to guard the boxes all day. A few have learned to sneak back in when miss selfish is out and lay their eggs. Would adding more boxes help or will it only enable her selfishness?
I have one hen that when any of the others try to use any of the boxes she jumps up there and chases them out. I can almost hear her saying "MINE! MINE! MINE!"
So far I've left them to work it out amongst themselves. They free-range most of the day so that hen can't be there to guard the boxes all day. A few have learned to sneak back in when miss selfish is out and lay their eggs. Would adding more boxes help or will it only enable her selfishness?