Splitting up the chickens

[trav123]

We have 4 chickens, about 4 months old. i built 2 nesting boxes. all 4 of them crowd into one nesting box. i've been going out every night and putting the same 2 hens in the other nesting box, but they never go to it on their own. my worry is that all 4 will want to lay in the same nesting box which can't be productive, right? any suggestions.

 

[Musicchic98]

Do they have a roost? If this is happening at night and all four are in one box and they are only four months old they are prob just trying to roost. They may be huddled for warmth. You want the roost to be opposite side of the nesting boxes and well above the level of the nesting boxes but something they can still easily get to. The reason being they want to roost up as high as possible. If the nest boxes are higher than roost then in my experience they will roost on top of nesting boxes. They shouldn't be laying eggs at night, and may be to young to lay. Most all my hens lay around 5-7 months of age. Ive never had a chicken lay an egg after dark. If they are all four trying to lay in one box, yes it can work. I have had two hens hatching eggs in the same nest before. And many many hens share nest boxes to just lay eggs in. So if you don't have a roost taller than the nesting boxes that's where I would start. Good Luck!