Group Nest box versus Individual

[DigitalEd]

Hey all,
Saw a heritage flock presentation by an expert in North Carolina recently. He was advocating for a group nest box (2'x3' if memory serves) so multiple chickens could lay in the same box. His large coops had two. I forget how many chickens per coop he had but it was over a couple of dozen.

I've seen my birds climb into a single box together at times with an open one right next to it. It's kind of funny to see them smush themselves in there. It got me thinking about that group box comment that guy mentioned.

Anybody got any pros and cons of the group nest box idea?

----- Ed

 

[nooniebubba]

Hey, I live in Camden and have recently gotten into the chicken world. Mine will be 19 weeks tomorrow and I am in the process of building a new coop so I found your group nest box topic interesting. I will probably add 6 nesting boxes to my new big coop and have perhaps two linked together at each segment. I plan to have 3 2box segments and I have three singles now and all of the birds get into two boxes! I have no eggs yet but any day now! Regards, Amanda from Camden!

 

[DigitalEd]

Welcome to BYC.

I wonder about the breakage factor of a group box. I've had broken eggs in the singles but it's pretty rare. Kind of a pain when the fire ants find the busted remains. No chicken will enter the box.



----- Ed

 

[moetrout]

I have a group box. I did it mainly because it was easier to build. I am thinking about dividing mine up. Either way will work I am sure of that. I find with my group box that the ends are the most desireable. If I divide it up I'll probably find out......the ends are most desireable!

 

[RiddleMe]

I started out with one group box and three individual boxes and just let them pick. They started out using both, about half liked the group box and the rest the individuals. I did find with the group box that they would all pile on top of each other at either end, and there would be some arguing as they tried to force each other to move, but never had any issues with egg breakage (though I collect a couple times a day). After a few months though, they gravitated to the individual nest boxes and only one hen kept using the group box. Now no one uses the group box.

 

[crchickens]

I have individual boxes, but two hens will cram into one box together. There can be three empty boxes on the side of them, but they insist on using the same box. Funny thing is, I have seen people talk about all of their hens using the same box, but all of my boxes get used. They each seem to have a preference.