Nest Box Preference?

[jennyf]

Have six pullets close to POL, two nest boxes. The one pullet that's started laying has laid about ten daily eggs in the same nest box. Today for the first time there was an egg in the other nest box. Do chickens often switch around nest boxes or do I perhaps have another layer? Thanks!

 

[ChkenKeeper]

Actually it is quite normal for a chicken to lay in a different nest box, in fact they will often switch nest boxes.
Don't worry about it, only mother nature knows why! The egg is the same....enjoy.

 

[Shezadandy]

Agree, they absolutely will change boxes on a lark. I've got one that likes to go in and out of 3 different boxes before she finally decides which one it is for the day. When there's a broody hen, it seems like more lay in the ground-level boxes, and pullets laying for the first time tend to lay on the lower level for the first few. Some will hog the box and laugh to themselves while their flockmates get more and more desperate. It's like high school for chickens.

 

[aart]

Have six pullets close to POL, two nest boxes. The one pullet that's started laying has laid about ten daily eggs in the same nest box. Today for the first time there was an egg in the other nest box. Do chickens often switch around nest boxes or do I perhaps have another layer? Thanks!

Could be either.
Some will pick a nest and stick to it like clockwork, others mix it up and move around on a whim.
There's no figuring it out....fickle chickens...SMH.

...... Some will hog the box and laugh to themselves while their flockmates get more and more desperate. It's like high school for chickens.