How many nesting boxes are recommended?

[PokeyMomma]

We have 23 chicks 19 for sure females 4 straight runs so potentially 23 hens...we have the space to build 23 boxes but is that necessary or even good? A neighbor has 43 chickens (2 roosters) and only 5 nesting boxes bc she said many of her hens have slowed on laying (old age) and they will sleep in boxes with is "gross" (I'm guessing bc they poop in the nesting box?) our other neighbor has only 1 nest box for her 8 hens (but only 3 lay regularly) but I've read different things from 1 box per 2 hens to 1 box per 5 hens. Maybe if you only have 5 hens 1-2 boxes is okay but i don't want my laying hens holding in eggs waiting all day for a turn to sit. What is recommended for a flock our size?

 

[dutchbunny83]

Rule of thumb is 1 box for every 4 chickens.
Though I had 12 hens, 6 boxes, and they all laid in the same 2!

Also for some reason a lot of hens like to lay on top of other hens' eggs. Some people even buy fake eggs to put in nesting boxes to encourage laying, though I've never done that.

 

[PokeyMomma]

Interesting! They only used two?!? Has anyone had the problem if hens sleeping in the nest boxes?

 

[wayne hulgan]

Interesting! They only used two?!? Has anyone had the problem if hens sleeping in the nest boxes?

we have 6 hens and they all lay in the same nest. it may not be the same nest every day, but all the eggs will be together. Where the first egg is, that's where they all lay. We have had 2 in the nest at the same time. both laying. Never had a problem with sleeping in the nest, but we have one that likes to sleep on the poop board. still can't figure this one out. Y'all have a happy chicky day.