Is this usual

[rancher hicks]

I have some hens who it seems don't want to lay in an empy nest. I have six boxes but will find 4 in one nest and none in the others. I was thinking maybe I should put wooden eggs in all the nests as they seem more inclined to lay in the nest w/ the wooden egg as opposed to an empy nest. What gives with these girls?
I figure the first to lay in an empy nest must be going, "ooooooooooo I really gotta lay this thing or I'll drop it right here on the floor". Much like someone racing for the privy. lol.

 

[speckledhen]

Yup, it's normal. I almost always find all five of my Delaware eggs in one nest, even though there are three of them.

 

[Zahboo]

All mine lay in the same one, I just have extras incase someone goes broody.

 

[rancher hicks]

Do you think if I put a wooden egg in each box that would break things up a bit? Maybe break is the wrong word cause I found a broken egg yesterday. I recently built a community type box 48" long and they lay right where there is a wooden goose size egg. I'm trying to get my two CM hens to group with my younger roo and his 3 hens. I found a Austra in the box today laying right on that goose egg.

Since you mentioned Delawares which you know I'm fond of , I hatched some chicks and noticed some have green legs and feet. Some of the hens I bought have white. The roo has yellow and a couple of the hens have yellow. One lays eggs that are huge and have funny shells and when I cook them they have two yolks half dollar size and the white just doesn't look right or cook the same as an egg usually does. Any comments?
Of course I won't be breeding the green feet, but how do I know which hens are producing them. I can't afford to get rid of them cause I need the eggs for unemployed friends and it's to late to start replacements. NY weather ya know.