Egg boxes

[rjrinehart]

If I have 6 chicks, concidering none are roosters, how many boxes do I need when making my coop?

 

[Poultry parent]

It's one box per 5 hens. It's always best to add an extra though

 

[Hokum Coco]

If I have 6 chicks, concidering none are roosters, how many boxes do I need 2 will be more than adequate when making my coop? Rule of thumb is approximately 1 nest box to 4 hens (which as many would agree is over kill). Personally I have 14 hens & 4 nest boxes they actually only use 2 boxes. One they use continually the second box can vary. I am not sure why??

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new. Feed bags are a nylon mesh bag.
Frozen poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off in summer when left out in the sun to bake and dry.

I have 65 trips around the sun it is the best method I have stumbled upon.

Make sure the twine is removed from the open end of the bag it can get tangled around your birds.



I hold the bag in place with these paper binders.

Easy Peasy Japaneasy

 

[Ridgerunner]

You get various rules of thumb on here as to ratios about things like this. Two of the common ones for nests is one nest for every four hens and one for every five hens. In my opinion the size and type of nests makes a difference. A 2’ x 4’ “community” nest box is supposed to be good for 25 hens.

It’s generally recommended that you use a minimum size of 12” x 12” though I’ve seen hens use smaller nests. I made mine 16” x 16”, partly because with my stud spacing that made framing it in easier and it matched my left over materials.

You have some flexibility on nest size and such, but for six hens I’d strongly suggest two nests. That’s plenty without being a waste. They might all use just one, especially if it is a bit bigger, but they might not. Two is a good number.

 

[rbreininger]

I have five hens and two nesting boxes.

They seem to be very happy with that. I consistently get 4-5 eggs day.