One of my hens won't use her nesting space

[jsjacobs23]

I have two hens I've had about two weeks. One lays almost everyday. The other won't even lay (sit down) in her nesting space. She perches above the other on the top of the box, all night I suppose. What is this? How can I make her feel more comfortable that she'll find a soft spot to lay, or is there some sort of territorial thin going on?

 

[happyhens1972]

The only time your hen should be in the nest box is when she is laying an egg. If your other hen is laying in the nest box when she is not laying an egg, THAT is what you need to discourage, not encourage the other to join her.

If your hens use the nest boxes to sleep in, they will poop in them......as hens poop a lot at night! This means your eggs will get messed up in the dirty nest box. It is natural for hens to roost (perch) at night just as they would retreat to the trees in the wild so it is actually your first hen that has an issue, not your second! Once the second hen starts to lay eggs, she will use the box to do it, but sleep on the perch at night....just as she should!

 

[jsjacobs23]

Thanks. Just put up a perch rod for them. Hopefully this will help.

 

[happyhens1972]

Fab! Your girls with be grateful