HOW many nesting boxes will I need for soooo many pullets I ordered???

[mmtillman]

We have got the coop done !! .....all but the paint....and it is way too cold to do that !!

.....so today , I was installing the nesting boxes. We made 7 of them. They are 12x14x12
.....I went a little crazy the other day at the feed store, as I was looking at the Cackle Hatchery catalog to place my order.
They have actual big color photographs of all of the hens and roosters they offer. This makes it incredidibly hard to decide on a 'limited' number of birds!!

They all look soooo gorgeous!!!

Soooo , I sorta

kinda went a little over my limit of 12 hens and 2 roosters.....and wound up with 5 each of 5 different kinds .....mostly the large egg layers.
My question is , are 25 large birds gonna be too crowded with only 7 nesting boxes? I want them all to be good layers. Should I go out in the morning and build another row of them to stack on top???
If so , then I am gonna have to set my alarm clock alittle earlier in the morning!! I dont get my birds till April 2nd, but I have a free day tomorrow!!

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[brooster]

nope, that sounds like a good number, figure 3 birds to a box.

 

[brooster]

and remember each hen will not lay an egg EVERY day, they will take a break every few days.

 

[AHappychick]

sounds fine they will probably snub 2 on principle just to mess with you

 

[erin0415]

My chickens always have a favorite nesting box. Out of 6 boxes usually only 2 are used. Sometimes I come out to find 8 eggs in one nest.

 

[azelgin]

You will have more than enough nests for 25 hens. 12 x 14 x 12 is a good size. We have 6 nests for 22 hens in one coop and they seldom use more than 4 at a time. I found two hens in the same box this morning and all the other 5 were empty. They each have their favorite nests and will share before they give it up.

 

[mmtillman]

Thanks so much for the great advice!! I sorta remember when I had my first flock of 8 hens that they would all pile up in one nest and then ignore the other boxes... I wasnt sure about 25 !!!!!
( What was I thinkin?? )

NOw I wont have to get up early and start building another set of nestboxes!! I can get up early and maybe spend that time painting ....or priming instead ....if it is above 50* which the weather guy said it should be!! Thanks again for all the input!!!

 

[aberfitch]

I just ordered some from cackle also! I can't wait to get them 1 month wait.

 

[pnp4kidz]

You guys are scaring me!
I have a 10 x 15 ish coop, with most of that outside, and the rear 3 foot space covered, with roosts above 4 boxes, that have front doors and a hallway leading to a little door and a ramp so they can go down to the outside area, and from there, they can go in under the nesting boxes and scratch in the dirt but not be in the rain or sun...
and I have four hens, and right now three roos in there,
so, you are saying I have room for more!!! LOL!!!
we were just thinking we needed to expand!
they seem kinda 'crowded' to us!
LOL!

sigh.

One roo has a new home, and the other needs to go live in the 'side pen' which is an old rabbit hutch, like 3 ft by 6 ft, covered...
it shares a wire wall with the big coop so they can visit...
should I put the mutt hen in there with him? so he isn't alone? or do they care?

that way I can get purebred Coo Coo Marans and check for fertile eggs (now that I know how!)

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

I have three boxes for 8 hens. They prefer one box but, will use a 2nd favorite when the other is occupied. Nobody uses the third except a cat that sleeps in it every night that guards against rats and mice.