Musical chairs....I mean nests

[Cryss]

I have 2 pullets that lay eggs quite regularly. I have 2 that are approaching the age to lay. I have 3 nests.Usually the eggs are in the same left hand nest day after day. Yesterday there was 1 egg but it wasn't in a nest, it was in front of the clean out door. Today 1 egg was in the nest all the way on the right, 1 egg was in the middle nest. Is this normal? I thought the favored nest was where they would always lay. Should I be concerned?
Kinda a dumb question.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Completely normal. Chickens are predictably unpredictable.

 

[Chickassan]

If you ever expect normal out of chickens Miss Cryss you're going to be dissapointed.

 

[aart]

Chickens are predictably unpredictable.

If you ever expect normal out of chickens Miss Cryss you're going to be dissapointed.

Both so true, but cracked me up!!

I have 4 nests and 13 layers, so you may not need this but...
keeping fake eggs in all nests can help 'spread the love'...but there will still be some squabbles and the 'favorite' nest seems to change, predictably unpredictable!

Nothing to worry about for sure....and I find it interesting to observe their foibles.

 

[Cryss]

Thanks, I figured it wasn't a problem but it crossed my mind it might mean someone, maybe the rooster, was blocking access to the favored nest.

 

[Peppercorngal]

It could be that your "approaching the age to lay hens" started laying. When hens start to lay they don't always know where (and when) to lay. They will lay on the floor, in the run, lots of odd places. They learn to use the boxes. Could it have been one of the "new" girls? In one coop right now I have 3 laying hens and 6 nest boxes. (most of my hens were killed by bears last fall). One gal lays in the same nest daily, she is a morning layer and usually in the box when I go out to let them free range. The other gal changes what nesting box she uses about every other week! I have to be sure to look in EVERY box, because she could have changed her mind. . . . .again! Chickens are fun!

 

[Cryss]

It could be that your "approaching the age to lay hens" started laying. When hens start to lay they don't always know where (and when) to lay. They will lay on the floor, in the run, lots of odd places. They learn to use the boxes. Could it have been one of the "new" girls? In one coop right now I have 3 laying hens and 6 nest boxes. (most of my hens were killed by bears last fall). One gal lays in the same nest daily, she is a morning layer and usually in the box when I go out to let them free range. The other gal changes what nesting box she uses about every other week! I have to be sure to look in EVERY box, because she could have changed her mind. . . . .again! Chickens are fun!

I suppose its possible but my 2 Buff Orpingtons lay pretty regularly and I suspect these are theirs. Today the Easter Eggers laid her first egg, easily identified. Waiting for the SLW to get in on the action.
How do you protect your flock from bears now? I'm terrified but can't afford electric fencing yet. Budget is going towards building bigger coop and run which is desperately needed.

 

[Izzychicky]

Yep, they will lay in different nesting boxes, but if another hen is in their favorite one they aren’t afraid to yell about it!

 

[Peppercorngal]

I suppose its possible but my 2 Buff Orpingtons lay pretty regularly and I suspect these are theirs. Today the Easter Eggers laid her first egg, easily identified. Waiting for the SLW to get in on the action.
How do you protect your flock from bears now? I'm terrified but can't afford electric fencing yet. Budget is going towards building bigger coop and run which is desperately needed.

The chicken coop was a resin shed. The bears (3 of em) just pulled the doors open! We built a new coop out of cement board and it has a steel door with a very long deadbolt. The bears only come at night so we aren't worried about the chicken run, mostly just upgraded the coop. We are installing electric fence as well, worked on that yesterday, as a matter of fact! It will also be around the coop, just in case. My new flock is 16 weeks old now and very happy in their coop and run. I let them free range as well in a 50'x50' fenced area (we have lost chickens to roaming dogs too!). I think we will be ok now.

 

[Cryss]

The chicken coop was a resin shed. The bears (3 of em) just pulled the doors open! We built a new coop out of cement board and it has a steel door with a very long deadbolt. The bears only come at night so we aren't worried about the chicken run, mostly just upgraded the coop. We are installing electric fence as well, worked on that yesterday, as a matter of fact! It will also be around the coop, just in case. My new flock is 16 weeks old now and very happy in their coop and run. I let them free range as well in a 50'x50' fenced area (we have lost chickens to roaming dogs too!). I think we will be ok now.

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Thank you, good info to absorb.