Check out part 1 if you haven’t yet!
The other chickens began to notice Pecky coming out of the house singing her egg song. Within a couple of months, the roosters caught on that this was the hot spot for nesting. Whenever a hen needed to lay an egg, the roosters would escort her to the back door and exhibit encouraging nest behavior. I would open the door for the hen to come inside and the rooster would walk off proudly, feeling he had accomplished his mission.
Hens can become quite territorial over their nest. While some are comfortable sharing and will pile into one nesting box, others will pitch an absolute fit if another hen comes into their nesting space. The pecking order also determines who gets priority over the best nesting spot. Other hens have to wait their turn or pick another spot.
Pecky Becky is one that will fuss if a hen jumps onto the couch with her. Even with plenty of room, she won’t have it. When hen #2 (Turtle) started coming inside, I had to expand the nesting spots. The recliner became the next nest, if the couch was occupied. As more continued to come in (sometimes up to 5 at once), I had to get creative. I now have a long utility box that the hens use as well. The Salmon Favorelle sisters will pile into this together.
I know what you’re thinking…don’t chickens poop EVERYWHERE? While chickens do poop a lot, it is super rare that a hen coming in to lay an egg poops in the house. If she is waiting in queue for a spot, it might happen; but otherwise, they come inside, lay their egg, and go back outside – without pooping at all…even for hours at a time. When a hen goes broody and sits on a nest of eggs, she only leaves it once or twice a day and holds her poop until she is off the nest.
I’m sure it’s obvious by now that my chickens are spoiled; but you also can’t beat fresh egg delivery!
