too many nest boxes

[Wolfie2]

I have 12 hens and 2 nest boxes. 1 box has 2 nests, the other has 3. They use only 2 boxes. May be different boxes on different days but still only 2 nests heve eggs @ the end of the day. I have seen as many as 3 hens on a nest @ one time. Whether they lay one by one or together they only use 2 nests. Why? Concerned because to this causing @ least a couple broken eggs daily and sometimes more.

 

[cherrynberry]

I have 12 hens and 2 nest boxes. 1 box has 2 nests, the other has 3. They use only 2 boxes. May be different boxes on different days but still only 2 nests heve eggs @ the end of the day. I have seen as many as 3 hens on a nest @ one time. Whether they lay one by one or together they only use 2 nests. Why? Concerned because to this causing @ least a couple broken eggs daily and sometimes more.

Hens love to use the same nest. You can try putting default eggs in the nests they don’t use to try to get them to laying more evenly

 

[3KillerBs]

This is normal chicken behavior. It's natural for them to want to lay in the same safe place that their flockmates have laid in.

Adding fake eggs to the extra nests *might* help spread the laying around or it might not.

 

[Wolfie2]

Fake eggs on most nests. Guess I'll just have to get used to it. Lotta broke eggs & wasted nesting material though. Thanks.

 

[3KillerBs]

Fake eggs on most nests. Guess I'll just have to get used to it. Lotta broke eggs & wasted nesting material though. Thanks.

Can you collect eggs more frequently?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Rollaway nests are another option to look into.

 

[cherrynberry]

Rollaway nests are another option to look into.

I’d did not even think of that!!!! They are AMAZING!!!

 

[aart]

2 nest boxes. 1 box has 2 nests, the other has 3.

Pics, please?

 

[Mellowmalt]

I think there is a typo in the original post.
If they only have two boxes then they can only use two boxes but then it gets hinted that other boxes get used so there must be more than just 2 boxes. Considering it's a typo do the 12 hens have 12 boxes?
Because that would be excessive and as I have discovered if you build your coop too big and elaborate then they might not bother using half of it.
For 12 hens I would have 4 boxes and then they might be more inclined to use all 4 but with 12 it won't encourage them to spread out more, like said as I have also discovered.

They won't all be laying at the same time so you reall do not need a box for each hen if that is what I think you might have.

 

[aart]

I think there is a typo in the original post.

Who knows what they meant, several things could be possible, why I asked for pics.