Nest box violence

[Nerdc0reRizing]

Hi,

We have 12 chickens and 2 large nesting boxes with a third on the way.
They do use both but of course have a favorite.
I have one chicken that does not care about pecking order and will barge in on a higher pecking order bird while in the nest box and is relentless. It won't stop barging in even though the other chicken keeps pecking and attacking it until it leaves but it will only hop out for a minute and try again.

This chicken is already missing parts of its comb and gets bleeding injuries often - not sure what to do with this one, everyone else waits their turn. I've heard thrashing back and forth in the box and it's sounded pretty rough. I don't know if I should interfere, if the pushy chicken should be culled or what to do. I'm hoping the third box helps a lot but they still favor the one even with golf balls in the other. These nesting boxes were supposed to be communal and shared by many but it didn't work out that way.

 

[Patinas]

I think adding more boxes is the answer. Rule of thumb is a minimum of 1 box for every four hens. I have 19 hens and 6 nest boxes and the only squabbles I've seen is I have a couple hens that don't want to share while the others don't seem to mind if another climbs in with them. I've never seen any serious fights with injuries.

You might want to add at least 2 more boxes if space allows, just for good measure.

 

[Labradors]

I have four chickens and one box. We seem to have a nest-hog, so we often find three in the box at the same time, but they don't "seem" to be fighting. I sometimes help them all out (after removing the eggs) and hope that the one who really wants to lay an egg is the one to go back in there.

I'll be paying close attention to the answers that you get on this one. I tried adding another box, but they won't use it

Linda

 

[Nerdc0reRizing]

Hey,
Seems to be less fighting now that we've added the third box. I just put a golf ball in each of the two newer boxes. They get used, not as much as the favorite box - they're just finicky like that. I haven't seen any new comb injuries on the one chicken though just scabs. Thanks all!