What to do with bratty pullets?

[mrsgibber]

I have five laying pullets and they are terrific reliable layers. The problem is that they ALL want to use the same nest box (even though they have three to choose from). Sometimes they pig pile two at a time with a third one yelling at the others cause she wants to get in too.

Also if they do get in there after another is done (and left their egg behind) they sometimes kick that egg out of the box breaking it in the process.

I blocked this one box off for a week and they started using the other two but this morning I opened the favorite one and they went nuts again. It's like they forgot they had the other two still.

Any suggestions?

 

[SproutGirl]

That sounds like pretty normal behavior to me. Can you post a photo of your nesting boxes? Maybe there is something that can be done to prevent them from kicking out the eggs.

 

[mrsgibber]

Ya I was thinking about that...maybe adding a lip so they can't as easily kick them out. I have one hen (my easter egger) who refuses to have any shavings or hay in her box. She kicks it all out until she is down to the wood. She is adament about this and everytime I add fresh shavings or hay she goes in and kicks it out of EVERY box...even is she isn't looking to lay at that time. I have total Diva hens!!!

 

[CHIC]

That is so funny.. I love chickens.. They humor me!

 

[granmahen]

Quote:
One of mine was doing the same thing and cracking her eggs in the process, so I put down a piece of hard foam, you know the kind that makes mulitcolored rugs for kids to play on, and that helped quite a bit with the breakage, but now I just set a place on the floor of coop under a slanted board and plenty of fresh pine and straw and all five girls love it, they can lay together two at a time and have a nice conversation while making their deposits. I say, what ever works.

 

[BarkerChickens]

One of my hens has a piece missing from her comb because another hen got mad 'cause she wanted the nest, so she bit the comb of the laying hen.

We've even had one sit on the other hen since there was no room in the nest. When we built our new coop, we built 2 community nests. It works MUCH better! Haven't had a bloody comb or fighting hens in months!!

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Did you try putting fake eggs in the other boxes? it might encourage them to use the others equally...

 

[mrsgibber]

Oh yes, fake eggs from the beginning but they just all favor this one box. They've used the other boxes when I've forced them to by blocking off their favorite. They are just really picky I guess.

 

[Nostalchic]

You could try switching to a communal nest or a "tunnel" nest which is just a long box with a few entry openings (like one at each end) but is mostly dark, closed and quiet. Several or lots of hens can fit in, depending on the length of the box, and arrange themselves comfortably - the bedding stays in, the eggs can't get kicked out as easily, and if you have a door on the back to take the eggs out, it's very convenient. I've been reading about these, getting ready to build one now.

 

[mrsgibber]

That's a great idea. I wonder if I can remove the panels that separate the three nest boxes without ruining them. I think the girls would love that cause they don't seem to mind laying on top of each other anyway.

Just one more of many modifications I've made to my coop.