Community Nesting Box

[MarkRainbolt]

I am getting ready this spring to build another coop. Just got done with one last year and now I need another one. I was thinking of doing a community nesting box instead of individual 12x12 boxes. It seems they will all try to fit in the same box, the other day I went out and there were 3 chickens in one box pretty much on top of each other. Was just wondering what people think of the community box if you have one pros and cons.
Sincerely,
Mark

 

[Cdbosse]

I am impressed with anyone who builds their own! Very cool
I have 4 built-ins and recently added another 3 boxes but loving it and so are my hens! I can move it anywhere which to me is an added bonus especially when cleaning. Here is what I purchased (easy to build/put together & affordable)!

Amazon:
Precision Pet 7029288 Triple Nesting Box, Brown

I bet you could build this easily as well just by looking at it. Good luck! Let us know what you decide on and how you and your flock like the end result. Cheers!

 

[saysfaa]

I liked the idea and tried it. Spice did not like the idea and therefore neither did any of the other hens. The more so because Spice was top hen but not particularly good at it. Or maybe just not particularly secure about it - Coco never conceded it was settled.

I have read accounts of it working very well.

The pros I saw were:

• easier to build the nest box(es), maybe
• Feels more natural (at least it seemed so to me)
• Some people have reported their hens like it better

The cons I see are :

• When Spice didn't want to share nest space (which was all the time) she couldn't keep Coco out so they fought in the nest. Vs smaller nests where they sometimes fought on the ledge outside the nest they both wanted but whoever was in a smaller nest could easily keep the other out. Fighting in the nest increases the chances of broken eggs.

These pros and cons may not be applicable in much larger flocks where there would be more than one communal nest.

 

[aart]

I tried community nests, built it with the ability to remove or install dividers. Started with a bank of 4, 2 divided nests and 1 'double'.
The double was good for the cockbird to fit into to show his girls a good place to lay(I started with an adult flock). I ended up putting the divider back in for 4 single nests. It's worked out fine. I have a fake egg or two in each nest, which helps 'spread the love'. They still have favorites and bicker some, but it works fine.
One con I can think of to a large community nest is if/when you get a broken egg it might be hard to clean out.

 

[MarkRainbolt]

I forgot to mention that this nesting box will be a roll away egg box.
Mark