Nest Boxes; why do we make a sitting hens job so difficult?

Thanks for a great article! As a newbie, I was wondering what the best nesting materials were. Your observations and conclusions make very good sense. I really appreciate you taking the time and sharing this information. I just put together a nestbox condo - 3 in a row - built with plywood. I think I’ll find some shallow containers (maybe dish pans) to fill with a piece of sod a few inches thick, and put one of these in each box. Mahalo for all your help!

It makes so much sense to try and replicate what hens would do naturally! Thank you so much for this informative article. Please let us know when you publish your book!

Thanks for putting your observations down. It has caused me to re-evaluate how I let the hens sit on eggs, and your points are well made. I see know I never thought to put all my observations into one thoughts process about what would work better. Thank you for doing that!

This has been a very interesting read. I have been trying to figure out a good isolation coop for my broodies coming next spring and I own a bottomless, hinged top 'coop' that is ideally sized for a hen to be able to walk about and do her thing while sitting so I think I will use this on bare ground in the enclosure (has mesh buried 6 inches below the decomposed granite base) so she can build to suit, her own nest! Thank you for taking the time to write this article!

Thanks for this article and your insight. I really like that you experimented with different things and shared your experience and observations. I've been looking for a reason to ditch the nest boxes and I'm more convinced it's the right thing to do.

Thanks! This all makes good sense!

Thanks so much for taking the time to observe and share with me! I'm a newbie and don't have the time I'd like to have to watch my brood.

Helpful for those wanting to use a broody for hatching chicks. I do not know if it would be good for the 95is% of those that will not hatch chicks with a broody

I love the comments about the shape of the nest, and the photo of the poor hen with her leg out to the side. I am thinking that perhaps even for a laying hen, a flat bottom may be uncomfortable. I will make changes in my coop.

Useful first-hand observations.

Really fabulous observations on nesting behavior and improving hatching outcomes !

Great info. Thanks for sharing.

I've had problems with broodys keeping eggs under them in flat bottom nest boxes but I put extra straw in so they could form a natural dirt bath shaped hole in the nesting material. I even once put a couple inches of sand under the straw and the girls seemed to like it. It could have even helped with holding humidity. It's my opinion this guy is on to something. One can never do enough research into poultry husbandry improvement. We all learn everyday.

I have only been keeping chickens for 10 months and may try hatching next season. This gives me some good ideas for building my isolation coop. Thank you.

Excellent and informative article.
I've had several birds go broody, and, now that I think of it, not one has done so in a traditional nesting box. Always in a nice little rounded pit dug into the ground. This article helps me understand why.

Totally agree with the article. Great reminder of what we should do for our hens.

Lots of interesting information,
You are a wealth of knowledge ... who knew??

Good luck with your book , if it reads like this article you will sell lots!

I'm planning to let my (constant) broody hatch again this coming year. Last spring "we" only hatched 2 out of 10 eggs. I believe that was due to my interference, as I'm pretty certain she instinctively knew what she was doing. This coming spring I will use this information to set up an area for her nest and then I'll just leave it to Lucy.