I'm reading that some chickens all like to use the same nesting box, when i build mine is it better to have two individual boxes or just one really big one?
nesting box one big one or with divider
- Thread starter hlhutchinson
- Start date
Two. If one decides to go broody, that would be a problem in a community nest.
Absolutely true, as I've just learned!
I've kept RIR's for years, and never had one go broody.When I built a new coop I didn't have space for the big bank of nest boxes I'd always used in the chicken house,so I hung a double nest box on the outside wall, but didn't see the need to divide it. Wouldn't you know it!...my 3 yr old hen went broody in mid-June. We took her eggs away til August 1st because we were going to be out of state. When we came home, she was still broody, so I started leaving her eggs under her. I never know from day to day how many eggs she's setting; she keeps dragging in eggs from the other hens. Since I wasn't bright enough to mark the original half dozen or so eggs, I couldn't tell fresh ones from older ones. Neither could my wife; she found chicks in at least two eggs (one after she'd hard boiled it).
Needless to say, the double nest box now has a divider in it, as of yesterday.
- Thread starter
- #4
What If one decides to go broody, um not sure what that is/ how they behave
Broody means that the hen wants to lay on her eggs to hatch them. If they are broody they will stay in the nest box.
I would suggest two boxes also. They do sometimes share, but with two they would have a choice.
I would suggest two boxes also. They do sometimes share, but with two they would have a choice.
If you have a setting hen and allow it to incubate, you definitely need to mark the first eggs under her. You don't want a staggered hatch or there will be dead embryos when she leaves with the first hatchlings.
Also, they will steal eggs from other nests even with a divider. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it. They tuck the egg under their wing and carry it to the other nest.
Also, they will steal eggs from other nests even with a divider. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it. They tuck the egg under their wing and carry it to the other nest.
I have a 4 ft. long communal box for my girls. Three can lay in there at the same time should they want. Normally they all want the very same spot and stand in line to wait for it. Silly girls!
When I have a broody hen, I remove her from the nesting box and put her into a larger brooder box that's more private and away from the flock. She has more room to accommodate her eggs and chicks after hatch and has access to private water and food and the other girls aren't picking on her, trying to make her move. We've found that separating the broody hen works best for our particular flock and set-up.
When I have a broody hen, I remove her from the nesting box and put her into a larger brooder box that's more private and away from the flock. She has more room to accommodate her eggs and chicks after hatch and has access to private water and food and the other girls aren't picking on her, trying to make her move. We've found that separating the broody hen works best for our particular flock and set-up.
I built my nest box bank with removable partitions, so had 2 singles and a double at first.
The double was great for the rooster to get in and tell the girls here's the spot (I bought an adult flock).
But they ended up preferring the single nests so I put the divider back in place to make 4 singles.
I've never seen my girls try to share a nest to lay, but my nests are kind of tight at the entrance and I have fake eggs in all of them.
My advice is..... built with adaptability in mind.
The double was great for the rooster to get in and tell the girls here's the spot (I bought an adult flock).
But they ended up preferring the single nests so I put the divider back in place to make 4 singles.
I've never seen my girls try to share a nest to lay, but my nests are kind of tight at the entrance and I have fake eggs in all of them.
My advice is..... built with adaptability in mind.
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