How Many Nest Boxes?

[FyreFly]

I have been looking over coop plans and noticed that they have space for more hens than they do nest boxes. For example, the plan will say that it houses 5 hens but allows for 1 or 2 nest boxes. Do hens need one box per bird or will they share?

 

[Chemguy]

I've always heard that 4 hens/1 nest box is a good ratio.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Yes, they tend to pile into the same nest boxes or line up and wait their turn!! I have 4 nest boxes and 17 hens. There's usually one box unused at all times.

 

[bryan99705]

! to 2 boxes is right on for 5 birds. They will figure out which one they like and ignore the other one

 

[savingpurple]

may I ask a question? Are too many nest boxes a deterent to laying? We build before we knew chickens well.....hind sight is wonderful, but we over killed for sure. Will that matter?

 

[Chemguy]

Quote:
I doubt that too many boxes would be a big problem, but others with more experience can correct me. At the very least you'll have to look through a lot of boxes in order to find the occasional egg. Maybe you could cover a few of them up, or convert them into storage.

 

[animalpro24]

I think for 5 hens, 2 or 3 would be great.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Actually, I think they like having some choice, even though they seem to argue over their favorites. Mine definitely like having different types -- they change their favorites around periodically. Right now they are ignoring the open top one; 6 months ago I would find 3 or 4 eggs in it.

Sure would be easy to convert many styles of nest boxes into a cabinet or two for storage!

 

[savingpurple]

thanks....I may just see what happens when they start laying! Still waiting...tapping foot.

almost 16/17 weeks