Using only one laying box

[tjb]

I have 2 laying boxes for 5 hens {which I read is a good ratio--one box to every 4 hens}.
It seems that they have all decided to use one box.
this morning, I had a very inpatient lady that could not wait her turn and laid just outside the box.
Are there any suggestions to making the second box more "inviting"?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Fake(real looking) egg/s in the other box should work!

 

[tjb]

Fake(real looking) egg/s in the other box should work!

I have golf balls, but will get a couple of fake eggs to see if that will help. Thanks!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have golf balls, but will get a couple of fake eggs to see if that will help. Thanks!!

Might not work, you can block off the nest they are using to get them using the other nest, But here is the usual deal----I got 9 nesting boxes in one coop, only about 10 hens---they mainly lay in one box!!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I also use golf balls and have had good luck with them. Sometimes I think it doesn't matter how many nests one has...the hens all want the same one.

I have 7 nests for 60+ hens. There can be 5 nests open and there'll be 3 hens in one nest...lol.

 

[tjb]

I also use golf balls and have had good luck with them. Sometimes I think it doesn't matter how many nests one has...the hens all want the same one.

I have 7 nests for 60+ hens. There can be 5 nests open and there'll be 3 hens in one nest...lol.

So basically, they are gonna lay where they gonna lay. I'm just glad I'm getting eggs. Just thought there might be a trick I wasn't aware of...

 

[Wickedchicken6]

So basically, they are gonna lay where they gonna lay. I'm just glad I'm getting eggs. Just thought there might be a trick I wasn't aware of...

Lol...that's fairly accurate. One thing I've found...they do seem to like different types of nest boxes...lol. I started with using pig troughs as nest boxes...but I can't find anymore like these so I've had to improvise. I'm using an enclosed cat litter box, a hanging horse feeder type bucket and a gracious living orgainer.

I also have the black tub for laying. ..but they don't like where it right now... They won't lay in it. The chickens...and even the guineas were laying in it when it was against the back wall...lol

 

[Yardpimp]

All my girls lay in the same nest despite PLENTY of room for everybody, it's like they see one egg and say oh I guess this is where they go lol.

 

[Chickassan]

I've seen them lay on top of each other, dosent make sense but chickens rarely do.