Sitting on top of each other in the nest

[lori925]

Is this normal? We have 3 hens right now and sometimes they are in the nest together, sitting on top of each other - usually two of them like this, but a few times I have found all 3 of them all sitting in a pile, on top of each other.

If they are not doing this, then one is in the chosen nest (they won't use the nesting box - they built a nest) and the others are standing around screaming until the nest becomes available.

We have 6 chicks too - hopefully they figure something out before the new girls start laying; I don't want to see 9 of them piled on top of each other....

Also, if the girls are taking turns sitting on top of the eggs and keeping them warm, how long will they be good at this temperature?

Thanks,
Lori

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Sometimes hens do this because they feel safer or because they both love that nest. Usually it's unavoidable but sometimes it can be caused by too few nests. Provide one nest for every two hens.

Here's a link too.
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2014/03/nesting-box-wars.html

 

[lori925]

Sorry, I should have said that there are actually 4 nesting boxes sitting empty, with the exception of a golf ball in each.

Ok - well, we were just wondering if this was normal or if our girls were weird.

Thanks,
Lori