Just how many nest boxes do they want??

[Manningjw]

We have 4 boxes for 9 hens, which is probably more than we would need even when they are in peek production. They started out using only 1 nest, then we put porcelain eggs in the other 3 nest and now they use every nest in their coop. Seeing another hens egg in there seemed to do the trick to get them to use different nests. Now they usually lay in whichever nest has the most eggs at the time.

 

[reksat]

2 boxes for 8 hens,sometime they all lay in one ,sometimes their scattered between the 2 . 1 box per 4 birds ?

 

[galanie]

I think I could have 400 boxes, all with an egg in them, and they'll still all want the same one. I've given it up and now only have one. But then again, I only have 2 of my 8 hens and pullets even laying right now. This should get entertaining when they all either start laying, or start laying again.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
This actually makes a great deal of sense if you stop to think about the natural instinct. Hens lay communally. In the natural order of things, as soon as one nest has enough eggs in it to form a clutch, one hen would settle in to incubate them. Hatch rate is highest when the eggs are fresher, so if the whole flock works on building up a clutch it will go faster and the eggs will have a higher hatch rate than if each hen laid only in her own nest.

 

[franklinchickens]

Just had to post this now - so my original post was on everyone using the right hand box. Today - guess where every single egg was? The left hand box. The box no one would use! what? Seriously??
We haven't put the lower boxes in yet - hopefully tomorrow but with this about face - I think they are really trying to mess with my mind. I can just picture them in a huddle all saying 'ok, today EVERYONE go in the bad box just to mess her up'.

 

[franklinchickens]

Quote:
We are kind of in the same position - I only have 4 laying and one just started back up after a molt. I've got 2 more finishing a molt and a Polish who hasn't started yet. When all 7 are laying is when I'm mostly concerned. One of our new layers (a Dominique) is really aggressive in the (best) nest box and not only hogs it for a long time but pecks at me and the other hens when you go near her. Only when she's laying - otherwise, she's very sweet.

 

[ChicKat]

Quote:
LOL--- they KNEW that you were posting here, and they wanted to stir things up! ;O)

 

[poseygrace]

Quote:

Thanks, now I have a new example to use for my kids too!