Why is my chicken panicking when her sister is laying an egg?

[chickenfrend]

Hi everyone, I just have two girls who are sisters and naturally best friends. Recently, I have had a problem early in the morning when the dominant hen is in the nest box. Usually, the smaller hen goes up and stands next to her and waits through the entire process! Lately however she has remained down in the run and goes off with very loud distress calls. It is usually the sound she calls when she is looking for the dominant hen, but can sometimes morph into alarm despite there being no danger nearby.

If I respond to the call she will settle for a few moments but then go off again if I leave. Obviously I cannot remain with her the entire time it takes Gretel to lay an egg! We can literally see poor Gretel's comb from where the smaller hen is freaking out. I am worried she is stressing Gretel out e.g. this morning Gretel tried to rush her egg and it came out a little deformed.

Has anyone experienced this before? I was worried about their attachment being so strong when I adopted both of them from a tiny pet shop cage. I am sceptical that adding a new hen will solve the problem as they are so closely bonded. If anyone has any ideas I (and my neighbours!!!!) would be very appreciative.

 

[DuckduckPalouse]

Can you just put a roosting bar face to face with the box. My sister chickens will almost stand on each other to lay eggs, waiting until the first is done to immediately take possession of the nest and lay theirs. We have a three box coop with seperator walls, we removed the separator and they still do it. Their third sister is less inclined and just finds somewhere else or goes at her own pace.

 

[chickenfrend]

Hi thank you for the suggestion! I will definitely give it a go. I guess it might also help if when she freaks out, I place her up next to the laying hen.

 

[centrarchid]

I see similar with roosters making the noise. I do not know why.

 

[aart]

I often see the other girls sounding off when another is laying.
They can get really loud....it's just how they do.
Just let them be chickens.