Nest boxes are 1 per 4 hens. You'll notice that multiple hens will often want to lay their eggs in the same box. Mine will even crawl on top of a broody hen and lay their eggs in her nest. If we do let them hatch eggs, we always mark them to keep track of any eggs that are being added. We have more boxes than we need, but it gives them options. We also use carpet in some of the boxes to see if the eggs will crack less often(they move the nest material around and sometimes move too much and lay on the solid wood). They didn't want to use the carpeted ones at first, but seem to prefer them, now. Your birds are beautiful! I think it sounds like you've been doing great work with it all! We added an inexpensive solar light for them in the winter-gives them longer hours with light. They need about 14 hours of light to produce eggs. It's not necessary, but nice. Our BOs laid without it all year and so did our Barreds the 1st laying season, but completely stopped laying this past winter, so we're going to try the light this year. Whenever more questions pop up just ask!