Hens using only 1 nest!

[rebbetzin]

So... that must mean, if I only have 2 to 4 chickens, I only need one nest box....?

 

[Emzyyy]

I WANT to build a chicken coop. Even a small one w/ a couple of nesting boxes but Im 15 and my dad won't help me build one. I need materials, help, and permision from my dad to build it. Plus I have to make it look nice enough that he will WANT it in the yard and it won't just be a eye sore to us and the neighbor's. Im stuck. My neighbor's have well over 40 chickens, 2 ducks, and a goat named Lulu, I don't tell them this but their coop is a eye sore the neighbor's complain because it lowers how much their house is worth. One time a dog got one of their chickens and brought it in our yard they killed it, but we didn't know it was there because we have 5 acres the grass grew tall around it and my dad mowed and "PUFF!" feathers everywhere!! scared my dad half to death. He thought he ran over a live chicken.

 

[kellim]

I think that it is just preference. I have 4 hens and a roo in one coop and I made 6 nest boxes. Now those hens actually use the nest boxes, well 2 of them do and there is only enough room in each box for one BO hen. Haven't had a problem with those wanting to share nest boxes since I did that. My uncle on the other hand has like 4 nest boxes and 50 chickens. He just lets them share, but he is an old farmer too. If I was you I would probably put 2 boxes in there to start with unless u want them to go broody, then I would allow more and put golf balls or fake eggs in there to tempt them to use those.

 

[1WildHairL8tr]

You know, my flock seems to be the most competitive group of ladies. They fight to be "the first" to eat or drink or anything!
I have 8 nesting boxes for 14 laying hens. You can hear the rucous from the back porch -- there will be a line of hens, yelling and screaming at the hen in the ONE box they all use, waiting for their turn to lay. It's hilarious! And they will all yell at me when I come into the coop, like, "Would you tell her to hurry up?!!" "She's been there forever!"
Talk about performance anxiety!