Does nest area have to be divided, or can it just be one open space?

[pcvbarry]

As we endeavour with our first coop, my husband and I debate about the nest area. I've only read about individual nest boxes (for example, the nest area is 1x4, so we put in divider walls to make 3 or 4 nests), but he says we can just leave the whole 1x4 space open (with a short wall in front to keep material/eggs in) and the hens will nestle right in.

Does anyone know the "right" answer? Or at least have a preference?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Most people like the individual nesting boxes, but what your husband is talking about is called a community nesting box. The hens will probably lay in it without a problem.

 

[Chicken03]

I think that the unseperated nest boxes would work fine. Both will work but you could save some time and materials by leaving them unseperated.

 

[Chauntecleer's Keeper]

The community box would probably work great. You can always add dividers later if you need to.

 

[4biddies]

I use a communal nest box, and my hens seem quite content w/ that setup, fyi.

 

[GaDawg]

I have both and my hens prefer the ones that are divided and will only use the community one if the others are full. I will be putting in a divider soon.

 

[raneydayfarm]

My husband over does everything and made about fifteen nest boxes for our hens, and they only use three of them, go figure. I would think that the communal nest box would work okay, I guess it's just a matter of preference.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

My 3 girls share 1 small dog house as a nest box.

 

[Mahonri]

I have 7 nest boxes and my hens only use two of them. Go figure.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We changed to a community nesting area and it's worked better for us.