How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] hens fighting for one nest

Friday, April 1, 2011

Re: [CHICKENS-101] hens fighting for one nest

i have 2 seramas sharing a nest in one pen and i did notice that they each take turns laying on the eggs. i was able to candle the ones the snake didnt eat last weekend and they are all viable and i have a few that look like they are ready to hatch. i just left them alone and let them share. i also had a pekin duck who wants to hatch out eggs but her eggs arent fertile so i let her and the rir share the nest they have had.

heather

--- On Fri, 4/1/11, ridnmyhd@sbcglobal.net <ridnmyhd@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

From: ridnmyhd@sbcglobal.net <ridnmyhd@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] hens fighting for one nest
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, April 1, 2011, 2:38 PM

I 20 hens, and they all want to lay in one nest.

I had a buff go broody in the nest for the past few days, but I keep finding another hen in there with her.

I marked all the eggs (6) yesterday, and today she was off the nest with 2 other hens laying in the box.

Now there are 12 eggs and she doesn't want to get back on the nest.

How do I keep them from fighting over one nest? I have 8 nesting boxes all in a row, so they have others to choose from.

Thanks