How many nesting boxes are needed for 8 hens?

[moonflowers]

Hmmm... so it sounds like in my 4' of space I have I would do better to make two boxes 2' wide each than three boxes?

 

[bluey]

I have 7 hens who lay in ONE nest. They all patiently wait their turn and then do the "egg song" with our rooster one by one after they're done.

 

[chickens4me]

My 9 laying hens all use the same box most of the time. They have interesting little "clucking fights" for that box! They have others, but they all like the one farthest away from the door.

 

[Ken H]

Thanks! I had the same question and now have the answer I was looking for.

 

[MrsJohn]

Just a quick comment on my observations about laying nests/boxes:
( and my hens may not be 'normal' )

1) I have a double decker 8 hole metal laying nest unit... the upper row is just above the roost level... and my hens very much prefer the upper row!
2) If I have a rooster or troublesome hen that wants to eat eggs, I have found they will search the lower nests, but often 'forget' about the upper level.... Even if there were no eggs in the bottom row, they most often won't go up to the upper row!!!
3) I have 8 nests for approx 50-60 hens... okay, it seems.
4) I wonder if some breeds prefer 'communal' laying... encouraging and bragging!!! But I also think some breeds prefer 'private' and isolated laying... a percentage of my hens seem to prefer to lay in a nest with one or two empty nests between her and any other hen..????

Oh, building laying nests is exciting..... after all, eggs are what we want... and everyone who has heard a hen before and after laying an egg... knows that is when she is happiest too!

 

[chickens3]

2 is all you need.