How Many Nests are Necessary?

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mommacb

mommacb

Chirping
10 Years
Apr 16, 2012
76
1
94
Texas, USA
We have 20 chickens and my husband and I are debating how many nesting boxes we need because we read in a publication that they like to share, and will often choose to lay in one that already has eggs in it. Is this true? What should be our chicken to nest ratio? Also- do they really need privacy? Like a curtain?
 
Some people say 1 nest box to four or five hens, but our neighbours have ten chickens that all lay in the same box. I'd say go for three or four, that way they have a choice.

And no, a curtain isn't so necessary. They do like their privacy (our chickens made a nestbehind the coop under low-lying bushes. very annoying to collect the eggs!) but normal nest box with walls should be enough for that. Maybe don't have the boxes facing directly into the open.
 
I'd get two, that way if one goes broody the others have a box. they al like the same box, some even climb into the nest and try to lay on the broody hen. If theres another attractive spot to lay, they will go there. they tend to layat the same time and three in one box leads to some scuffles.put an egg in the extraa box and theyll ue both
 
Everybody told me that one nest box would service my 4 hens. But it seemed like they all wanted to lay at the same time everyday!! So there was a waiting line up the ramp on a daily basis. LOL So we put in another box for them and that solved the problem. 2 hens prefer the original box, the other 2 prefer the add on. And sometimes they swap boxes if somebody is in "their" box.
 

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