How many nestboxes?

[only one lay]

I had 7 laying birds and 6 nest boxes and the same 3 boxes got used all the time. The boxes were 3 on top of 3.
Only the bottom ones got laid in.
now with the new birds who are not laying yet in the converted coop it will be interesting as their is a much
broader group by breed and sex.

 

[CityChook]

I have 4 girls and they all share a larger "community" box. I've seen 3 of them all in there at the same time. Works great.

 

[r-l-newell]

Quote:
Actually you should be ok if you did four standard sized nesting boxes. If you did five you would be ok too but the problem with having too many nesting boxes is that they have a tendancy to want to climb up into the nesting boxes and sleep instead of just going in there for laying an egg.

You don't want them to sleep in the nesting boxes under any circumstances because they will do it all of the time instread of laying eggs in there.

That is one of the reason's that you have your nesting box lower in the coop than the roosts so that they got to the roosts at night and not into the nesting boxes to sleep.

 

[Judy]

The rule of thumb is one box to four hens. But everyone says they won't use them all, and that has been my experience.