How many nest boxes will I need?

[babychicky]

If I have 6-8 laying hens how many nest boxes will I need in my henhouse?

 

[BlueEggs4Life]

I started with 6 hens last year and had 3 nest boxes for them to give them options... they only EVER used the one. All 6 would lay in the same nest box and still do to this day.

 

[eenie114]

About 5, but bewqre! There WILL be a faveorite nesting box, and they will sometimes be found on top of each other!

 

[chicmom]

Text books will say one box for every three hens. And of course, they always seem to favor one nest box inparticular, and they'll wait in line to use it! LOL

 

[Keri78]

If their anything like my girls...two big communal nests will do the trick!!!

I have a wall of nest boxes and the only one who uses it (once in a while) is my maran girl...the rest like the "shared nest" method!

Ps. I have 14 girls and counting...and they insist on laying one or two nests...fine by me I always know where the eggs are!

 

[babychicky]

should i put the boxes nest to each other or spread them out?

 

[gryeyes]

Next to each other. They really do like to group together. It's a communal thing, laying eggs.

 

[pony148]

funny chickens! I have 6 nest boxes for my 5 hens, but they would rather use the small pet carrier I placed in the chicken coup to lay ALL of their eggs in.

 

[babychicky]

awesome! thanks for the great advice everyone. im a chicken newbie. lol

 

[fastpat]

Good info, I'm about to begin coop construction and was curious about the number of nesting boxes. Out of 27 chicks, I have about 15-17 pullets, as near as I can get them counted. That's one of the more difficult tasks, get them settled and count heads before their heads are down and the combs aren't visible.

So, about 3-4 communal sized (3-4 hens at a time) nest boxes will do?