13 chickens, 3 nesting boxes, Is it doable?

[There A Chick]

I guess the rule of thumb is 3 chickens per nesting box, is that right? So, if I go by that, technically I'm short 1 nesting box but my coop is all feng shui with 3 nesting boxes. What's gonna happen if I stick with only 3 boxes and 13 chickens?

thanks.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Look at a different reference book and it will say 5 hens per nest box, so technically you may be short by 2 hens.

3 will work fine, and most will use the same one no matter how many boxes are available.

 

[cthrash1]

I've read that it's 5 per nest box and that is what the old farmer told me as well that gave me the ten hole nest box(they had a chicken business at one time) so you need not worry I'm sure.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Thats plenty...they don't all lay at the same time usually and they always have a certain nestbox that is their favorite. They just wait their turns!! lol

 

[silkiechicken]

Mine have plenty of laying spots... but it wasn't till I had over 16 or so active layers that they'd use more than just ONE spot.

Sometimes you'd peek in and 3 birds sitting on each other would scream at you.

 

[al6517]

Three is fine, they will make do, but i have always been told 4 per box was the average. they will be just peachey.

 

[There A Chick]

Wow! Well that is EXCELLENT news for me!! I was very worried about it and now I'll be able to sleep easy tonight. Thanks a ton you guys!

 

[ChickenCop]

I have 8 boxes for my 50 hens, and only about 5 lay in the boxes....The rest found a corner of the barn with some straw and lay there. CRAZY CHICKENS!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bills]

Quote:

I can just picture that! All crammed into one nest box, it would look like a three headed hen.

That three hens per box rule of thumb might be for "very large" flocks of layers, because it doesn't seem to hold true to the owners of smaller flocks, from all I've seen.