[Bionic]

I have had my chickens a year now. They moved into a brand new coop where they sleep and lay their eggs and then free range all day.
There are 2 nest boxes in the coop but they only ever use one of them. They will sit on top of each other to use that one and sometimes there is another chicken queuing as well whilst the other box is always empty. Why do they do that?

[jaykay]

Mine seem to prefer the darkest nest boxes.

Then again, if you can fathom what's going on in a hen's head.........!

[taz08]

i find they have a favorite nest box,, sometimes 6 try to lay at the same time ... and i have about 20 nestboxees to choose from lol

[goosepimple]

My girls usually like the corners furthest from the doors.  Have you tried leaving a couple of eggs in the other box, padding it with a nice nest of lovely soft hay rather than straw so it looks like someone is laying there.

[Bionic]

My girls usually like the corners furthest from the doors.  Have you tried leaving a couple of eggs in the other box, padding it with a nice nest of lovely soft hay rather than straw so it looks like someone is laying there.

When I clean them out both boxes are left exactly the same. They have sawdust on the bottom with straw on top which they like to arrange themselves. They are very funny because no matter how much straw I put in they take it from the nest box they don't use and put it in the other one.
 

[goosepimple]

aye they've got wee brain right enough    maybe fill the box they like to the brim with eggs so they can't get on it and see what happens 

[MikeM]

we have 3 boxes and they will only ever use the left or right one, never the centre one.

[sokel]

Our shed has 5 nest boxes built in in and untill this year they have used them all , this year they are refusing to use any of them even though nothing has changed . they where all laying in the corner of the shed floor but I have put a box in that corner and they all lay in that

[zoe_emma]

We have raised nest boxes which they refuse to go anywhere near. We too have given in and put boxes on the floor and they lay in those. Even then there is a favourite one which they will all try and pile in.

[little blue]

Why do they do that?

...because they can!!
I find that's reason enough for poultry

[goosepimple]

I had a Welsummer hen trying to lay her egg on top of a Muscovy duck yesterday 

[chrismahon]

Try picking up the one waiting and putting her in the other nest box Bionic. We have the same problem in all the coops. They seem to chose a favourite and stick with it, but can be persuaded to change.

[Bionic]

Thanks Chris, its not really a problem but I may try your suggestion so that they don't have to queue up.

[feldar]

mine do this too i had to physically lift one hen of the others head yesterday, the hen underneath was making a right old racket suffocating itself they are pea brained things

[Bionic]

they are pea brained things

but we love them