nesting box question

[bella253]

I have 11 pullets, my coop is 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 how many nesting boxes should we have?

Thanks
Lori

 

[BoomChickaPop]

You will need about 5 nest boxes maybe less.
Chickens don't use all the nest boxes they typically fight over one.

BCP

 

[bella253]

Thanks..

 

[chicklover56]

Yep. I have nine chickens and 4 nesting boxes, and they all lay in the same one.

 

[BoomChickaPop]

Yep. I have nine chickens and 4 nesting boxes, and they all lay in the same one.

I have 46 hens and only 10 NEST BOXES
They only lay in 8 of them
Chickens are SOOOOOOOOOOOO picky

BCP

 

[BoomChickaPop]

Chickens just love to see an egg then when they feel one coming they lay in the box that already has an egg.

BCP

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

they the chicken experts say 3 to 5 hens per nest box. I cheated with mine and put hard boiled eggs in the nests (make sure to make them) so that my "girls" could get the hint. Best of luck and welcome to BYC

 

[chicklover56]

I have 46 hens and only 10 NEST BOXES
They only lay in 8 of them
Chickens are SOOOOOOOOOOOO picky

BCP

Exactly! It makes me laugh at how they wait for the other chicken to get done laying before they lay. once, I went to go check on them and two were in the same box!

 

[flyin-lowe]

You have a coop of 24 square foot. Most people will tell you that 6 is the max number of chickens you will want in a coop that size. If they will be able to free range a lot then they could be OK. If they are going to be confined you could have some issues with 11 birds in a coop that size.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

You have a coop of 24 square foot.  Most people will tell you that 6 is the max number of chickens you will want in a coop that size. If they will be able to free range a lot then they could be OK.  If they are going to be confined you could have some issues with 11 birds in a coop that size.

Ditto that ^^^^

Where will they go in bad weather even if you free range? FWIW, I have 6 chickens in a coop twice that size, at the most I'd add 2 or 3.

We have 3 nesting boxes, they use 2 of them.