Community nesting box size for five chickens

[zinnia5117]

Hi! I am planning my coop and saw the community nesting box idea. I like it because I only have five chickens and will only ever have five unless the law changes. Do you think 24” wide is wide enough for a community nesting box for just five chickens (standard size)? One is a dark Brahma but I don’t plan on ever getting anything bigger than that... Thanks!

 

[jthornton]

Mine is 36" wide about 14" tall and 14" deep for 9 RIR hens. Down to 8 now but when they were pullets I saw as many as 5 in there. Now the most I see is 3 at a time. So I'd say based on my experience that 24" is enough for 5.

JT

 

[zinnia5117]

Mine is 36" wide about 14" tall and 14" deep for 9 RIR hens. Down to 8 now but when they were pullets I saw as many as 5 in there. Now the most I see is 3 at a time. So I'd say based on my experience that 24" is enough for 5.

JT

Thanks @jthornton! It is your design I was looking at so I really appreciate that feedback.

 

[paneubert]

I am with @jthornton . I made mine wide, but they all like to cram into the left corner. I think I have found one egg on the far right, but all the rest have been on the left. They pick a spot they like and tend to stick with it. This is a security camera screenshot from about a minute ago. 90% of that nest box is wasted space.

 

[jthornton]

I made mine wide, but they all like to cram into the left corner.

I think their behavior is different if they can't see any eggs. Mine is a roll out nest box and some want the right side and some want the left and others will lay in the middle.

Watching my neighbors free ranging hens they all laid in the same place when one laid an egg in my yard (jungle).

JT

 

[jthornton]

Thanks @jthornton! It is your design I was looking at so I really appreciate that feedback.

Were you looking at the front roll out or the back roll out nest box?

JT

 

[zinnia5117]

Were you looking at the front roll out or the back roll out nest box?

JT

@jthornton it is the one you wrote an article about. I was assuming it is a back roll out box but maybe I didn’t understand it?

 

[zinnia5117]

I am with @jthornton . I made mine wide, but they all like to cram into the left corner. View attachment 1852736

Wow, that is a pretty serious preference and illustrative photo. Mine all like to snuggle together in the brooder so I can imagine they might also do that in their nesting box.

 

[jthornton]

@jthornton it is the one you wrote an article about. I was assuming it is a back roll out box but maybe I didn’t understand it?

Yes the article is for my back roll out nest box, I just finished a front roll out nest box for my shed to coop conversion.

JT