how many nest boxes?

[Rooneytune]

I am designing and building our coop this week, hopefully the weather will cut me some slack (the joys of Spring in WA). My question is... how many nest boxes should I make for 8 birdies? I was think a quad (2 up and 2 down) would be enough....any thoughts?

 

[obaan1]

Your quad would be more than enough. Two would be good if you want less.

 

[Freebird Poultry]

One nest minimum per five hens

 

[krcote]

That would be more than plenty. I built 2 communal nest boxes that would translate into 4 regular boxes for my 20 hens. I have no issues with stray eggs.

 

[Judy]

I'd build two, ore one communal if you want, but make it big enough that you can ad a divider later if you wish. They'll probably only use one anyway. I have 6 and all my eggs are laid in two of them -- and if there is a fresh, fluffy bunch of straw around, someone will use that instead.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Agreed that 2 is plenty. Am writing to suggest you not make them too big. If more than 12 to 14" tall than chickens that roost in them can stand and poop in them. 12" SQ never seemed enough until I had chickens, I put more hay in them now to lower hieght. So to aid in keeping eggs clean keep the nest small and oriented lower than the roosting poles.

 

[7L Farm]

I have 11 girls & 6 nest boxes. I collect the eggs everyday & they use at-least 5 of the 6 boxes. I walk in there coop & the girls are dang near in every boxes. I'd personally provide more boxes than suggested. There's no reason to have them waiting to lay. One thing I've learned while raising chickens. Bigger is better. Chickens don't like to be crowded. Here's my set up.

 

[duluthmom]

My six girls have 4 boxes and they all seem to want to lay in the same one. My suggestion is to "bait" with fake eggs the boxes that are within easy reach for egg collection - wooden eggs, golf balls, ceramic. The plastic Easter eggs we baited with at first don't weigh anything so they get tossed out. We hate having to get poop on our shoes stepping into the coop to retrieve eggs from the furthest box from the door. We bait 3 boxes and they always have eggs!