Nest Sharing

Did you know you don't have to have an individual nest area 

for each chicken?  

The hens will climb in one after another and lay their eggs in the 

same nest. 

This can be confusing if you want to let a broody hen sit on her eggs to hatch them. Because the other hens continue to climb in with her to lay more eggs.  

When I decide I'm going to let a broody hen set, I mark the incubating eggs with an 'x' so I know not to collect them.

The broody hen can be very upset with you reaching under her to pull out the non-incubating eggs and will sometimes peck at you while you're doing it.  Heavy gloves can help!