Explain Nest Boxes to me like I'm a Space Alien Farmer.

I have 4 24 week old EE hens. I let them out during the day, so maybe they've laid their 1st egg and I just haven't stumbled across it. so, I'm working on the premise that my chickens haven't laid any eggs.

I suspect I should make a nest box, but I don't know the 1st thing about what one should be

How big should it be?

Can it sit on the ground or should it be above the ground?

Since I free range, should it be in their pen or out under a near by tree stand where they like to sleep in the afternoon?

Could I use a 5 gallon bucket like I've seen on Youtube or is that a bad Idea?

Should the nest box be out in the sun or inside in the dark?

Should the nest box be in the Coop or no?

What did you learn about a nest box that you didn't expect when you got your first chickens?

Any advice is welcome.

I think your chickens are a bit young to lay yet, a few more weeks, most nest box dimensions are one foot square, they should be inside the coop, as dark as possible, can be on the ground though you have to bend down a lot and the eggs can be tastier on the ground for curious chickens. So mine are about 3-4 feet off the ground with a roost in front for getting in and out. They should have a lip so your eggs don't roll out, you can make them out of anything, buckets, wood, crates, Apple crates, baskets, and you should put hay or shavings or both in them and add some fake eggs or golf balls to say it's a good and safe place to lay.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

I think your chickens are a bit young to lay yet, a few more weeks, most nest box dimensions are one foot square, they should be inside the coop, as dark as possible, can be on the ground though you have to bend down a lot and the eggs can be tastier on the ground for curious chickens. So mine are about 3-4 feet off the ground with a roost in front for getting in and out. They should have a lip so your eggs don't roll out, you can make them out of anything, buckets, wood, crates, Apple crates, baskets, and you should put hay or shavings or both in them and add some fake eggs or golf balls to say it's a good and safe place to lay.

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All the girls really care about is that it's a safe, comfy place to lay their eggs. It doesn't really matter if they are off the ground or elevated a bit. They do need to be big enough for them to get in and out of though. And you can use anything you have on hand for nesting materials, they really aren't that picky. Since you free range and you don't have any older hens to show them where they should be laying eggs, you may need to confine them to a run for a few weeks until they get the hang of using the boxes.

I think you need 2 nest boxes in or attached to your coop with access for you from the outside (a top hinged door). No exact size, about 18in x 18 in (mine are smaller) with nesting straw. Mine don't even have a top and are against the wall in the coop away from roosting poles. Recommend you put fake eggs (or golf balls) in them to show your girls where they should lay. If they lay somewhere else, move eggs to your nest boxes til they get the idea that's where to lay. Usually doesn't take long. PS:Eggs will be OK to eat after a couple of days in box.

I don't know anything about farming space aliens(do they lay eggs?!?)...lol, sorry
.....but I do know a bit about chickens.


I think 5 gallon buckets are too small to turn around and get comfy, tho some folks use them very successfully.
Between 12 x 12 x 12 to 16 x 16 x 16 is good size. There should be a 3-4" lip on front of nests to keep eggs and bedding in nest.

Nest in the coop, bottom of nests at least 18" up off the floor to maximize floor space(and ease of gathering if you're old and creaky like me),
with a perch 8" in front of nest opening.

Nest should be about a foot lower than roosts, so they won't sleep (and poop) in nests.

I'd 'train' them to lay in the coop nests by confining them to the coop when they start to lay, put some fake eggs and/or golf balls in all but one nest as 'safe pace to lay bait'.

What is your climate?
That can make a difference in many aspects of chicken keeping so putting your location in your profile will helps folks give better answers/suggestions in the future.


New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying, spreading the bedding everywhere.They will scratch around a bit less in nest as they get used to the routine. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

So, yesterday, the 5th, I got my first egg. It was just laying on the ground outside their pen about 6 inches away from their fence.

I've had a crate with straw and fake eggs in it, in their pen, sitting on a bench about a foot off the ground. After I found the egg I put the whole thing inside the coop, and placed the freshly laid egg into it.

Today, late morning, I found another egg. This time it was inside the pen, laying on the ground in an area where they like to take an afternoon nap.

2 eggs in 2 days. I'm not sure if it's the same chicken or not. The eggs are smaller than I thought they would be. I'm not sure how else to encourage them to use the nest box.

It can take time for first time layers to get the hang of everything. Give them some time, they will eventually figure out where to lay their eggs.

Just keep doing what your doing....they will learn.

OMG! Late this morning my hen climbed into the nest box and laid her egg! Let's hope she keeps it up. 1 down 3 hens to go.