How many chickens per each nesting box?

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I was hoping, someone would tell me how many chickens per nesting box,and how many I should have in my coop. I let them out during the day but at night I don't want my coop to get over crowded if I have five nesting boxes how many chickens should I have (max).

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I have 4 boxes for 12 birds... and they don't use two of them yet. I think I've read on here something like 3-4 boxes for every 6-8 birds.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks so much

 

[Playford Flats Farm]

I have 4 boxes to to 16 hens and they don’t ever use the one box

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Thanks so much I have ten chickens right now with five nesting boxes so you think I can get more​

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Chickens

 

[Frazzemrat1]

if you have the recommended square footage for them in roost space and run space (disregard run space if you free range) then there isn't a problem from the nest box stand point.

 

[imnukensc]

How big is your coop? That, not the number of nesting boxes, is the determining factor in how many birds you keep, but it seems the general recommendation is 1 nest box for 3-4 birds.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

It's 5 and 1/2 by 9 and 1/2 feet long

 

[bruceha2000]

@imnukensc is right. Question 1 is how much coop space, then you can think about # of nests. THEORY says coop should be 2 sq ft/large fowl. I personally think that is WAY too little. Imagine an animal that is roughly a foot long with only 2 sq ft to stand in. In THEORY you could have 26 birds but subtract out space for feeder and waterer. If the bottom of the nest boxes is 18" they can use the floor space under it. I would have 4 sq' minimum per bird so in your space max 13 birds. I currently have 17 in a 10'x12' stall and when they are milling about in the coop, they easily use all the space. They have an auto door on a photo sensor and have the barn run to "play" in if they don't want to go outside.

You also need 1 foot of roost per bird. That can be a limiting factor for # of birds.

As for your actual question, I have 3 open nest boxes, a 4' community box in the coop and a tall cat litter box out in the feed room. Max birds that are active layers has been 15. The girls have favorite nests though the ones that use the closed community box ALWAYS lay at one end, there is plenty of space for 2 more to lay. Chickens often prefer to lay where another has already laid and they won't all lay at the same time.