I've had chickens since I was 8 years old. That was so long ago I don't even want to think about it. But I'm still trying to find solutions to common chicken issues that are annoying. I noted this week that I found a new trick that works for one issue and failed to find a solution for another.

Problem no. 1. I don't like to disturb a hen in a nest box, even though I'm not concerned that they will peck me as I rob an egg.. I've tried to devise some simple way to tell if the box is occupied before I raise the lid . This works: mount a small mirror in front of the opening , angled so you can see inside.

Problem No. 2. How do you encourage the hens to use all the nest boxes instead of just one? Why do 5 hens want to crowd into one box and leave two others unused? There is an enticing egg in each one and all look the same. 60 years and still working on that one.

I have 10 hens and 5 nest boxes. We average 8 eggs/day year round. Seems as if at least 4 eggs are in one nest box, 2 in another and 2 in another with 2 boxes empty. Odd thing is the egg laying varies each day with 4 eggs in one of the boxes that was empty the day before! Hard to understand the feathered dinosaurs most days!!

Chris

There is a genetic advantage for chickens in laying their eggs in other chickens nests, for them to incubate and brood the chicks. It allows the hens that do this to produce more offspring.

Keith

80% of a chicken brain goes to sight functions good luck dealing with the other 20%~

I am making some chicken disappear right now, hows that for a trick?