how many nesting boxes do I need?

[Hencraze24]

I currently have 3 nesting boxes in my coop, and 7 hens, 5 pullets, and 3 cockerels. do I need more nesting boxes?

 

[BGcoop]

I think it depends on Your chickens. I have 9 laying hens right now and every. Single. One. Lays in the same box despite 4 boxes being available.

 

[Kessel23]

I have 50 something adult birds and 4 nesting boxes. The majority of the eggs end up in just 2. The 4th one is not ever even used

 

[Henry&Friends]

You’ll have to wait until all 12 are laying, and watch to see if they bicker over them. I’ve got 5 boxes for my 3 hens, and they only use one.

 

[Pork Pie]

No more nesting boxes needed.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

When I was building my coop I read a suggestion of I box per 5 chickens, but like mentioned above they might use the same box to lay in. I read they will pick a favorite box and stick with it.

 

[Hencraze24]

yeah, most of our hens like one over the other 2

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have 3 boxes for 7 hens and they actually do end up using all of them. But I think for 12 girls 3 boxes should still be fine, since I was building for a max of 12 layers as well.

 

[aart]

I currently have 3 nesting boxes in my coop, and 7 hens, 5 pullets, and 3 cockerels. do I need more nesting boxes?

3 nests should be fine.
A fake egg in each nest will help 'spread the love'.
Too many males tho.

I have 50 something adult birds and 4 nesting boxes. The majority of the eggs end up in just 2.

50 layers use 2 nests?! How often do you gather eggs....or are they roll out nests?

 

[Hencraze24]

3 nests should be fine.
A fake egg in each nest will help 'spread the love'.
Too many males tho.

50 layers use 2 nests?! How often do you gather eggs....or are they roll out nests?

well, we are trying to re-home 2 of them.