ENOUGH NEST BOXES??

[Pine Roost]

I have six 8 week old RIR's and three 1.5 yr old Bantams....just got Bantams last week and they aren't laying yet, getting used to the new environment I reckon. Right now I have 4 nest boxes (12"x15") because I initially thought I would only have 6 total...but now I have 9. Would yall recommend more boxes to accommodate the three new comers?

 

[Kevin565]

I personally would add some more nest boxes.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Really, Kevin? Gosh, maybe I need more too

I had heard (read on the site here) that 1 box per 4 birds was enough.

I have 18 hens and 6 boxes. How many more should I put in?

Should I put a community box in instead of more single boxes? My girls are right their POL (all the fancy new abbrev's I'm learning.

3 of 4 that are laying really do take their time in there. (Like some people's length of time in the room down the hall I've seen two leghorns in one nest at the same time but I only have 3 of those and the other 15 are Buff Orpies.

Thanks in advance (don't mean to hijack here, but I guess we are all learning from each other's posts and replies)

Missa

 

[mickey328]

Generally 1 box for about every 3 birds is good. We have two for our 6 chickens but they all use the same one anyway, LOL

 

[Kevin565]

Really, Kevin? Gosh, maybe I need more too

I had heard (read on the site here) that 1 box per 4 birds was enough.

I have 18 hens and 6 boxes. How many more should I put in?

Should I put a community box in instead of more single boxes? My girls are right their POL (all the fancy new abbrev's I'm learning.

3 of 4 that are laying really do take their time in there. (Like some people's length of time in the room down the hall I've seen two leghorns in one nest at the same time but I only have 3 of those and the other 15 are Buff Orpies.

Thanks in advance (don't mean to hijack here, but I guess we are all learning from each other's posts and replies)

Missa

It really varies on each individual flock. Some people's flock work fine with lower ratio while others require more nesting positions. I only raise waterfowl so I'm sure it will vary for chickens.

 

[Y N dottes]

I thinks it depends on the situation. I have two nesting boxes for 5 chickens, but they all use the same one. If they are leaving half of them alone anyway more probably wont help.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Gotcha. Thanks Kevin. I will keep an eye on them and provide more if it looks necessary. Doesn't take long to put something together.

 

[Pine Roost]

Thanks everyone. I may see how the four boxes work before I add more...because I would rather not build and install more if they would not be used.

 

[ailurophile23]

For what it is worth - my first flock had 15 hens and four nest boxes. They typically all laid in one box or maybe a few eggs in a second box (when the line was too long, perhaps). There were often two hens in a box and sometimes three at one time - pretty impressive given that they are brahmas and are rather large. My second flock has seven hens and my father-in-law made a wonderful double-decker stack of nest boxes (8 in all). The hens only use two of the nest boxes. I think waiting to see if all the existing nest boxes are used is a good idea.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

For what it is worth - my first flock had 15 hens and four nest boxes. They typically all laid in one box or maybe a few eggs in a second box (when the line was too long, perhaps). There were often two hens in a box and sometimes three at one time - pretty impressive given that they are brahmas and are rather large. My second flock has seven hens and my father-in-law made a wonderful double-decker stack of nest boxes (8 in all). The hens only use two of the nest boxes. I think waiting to see if all the existing nest boxes are used is a good idea.

Just wondering #23 (I still just love your cat) do the hens use the upper or the lower boxes more?