How many nesting boxes?

[hmlongino]

How many nesting boxes do you think I will need for 30 hens? We only have 4 boxes right now, but two are wide enough that sometimes two lay in the same box at the same time. How many would you suggest?

 

[GiddyMoon]

Going rate I see is one for 4 hens.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You could have 5 or 6. Bottom line is that no matter how many you provide, they'll prefer the one the alpha hen uses and maybe another couple, hit and miss. They never balance out their laying between the boxes, it seems, no matter how many you provide, laying will be 10 eggs in one, none in box two, 4 eggs in box three, etc.

 

[hmlongino]

I know!!! I hate to spend the time building more when they are only using 3 out of the 4! But, I wasn't sure if it would keep them from laying or anything.

 

[Fred's Hens]

For 30 hens, I'd make 5 available minimum, at most 6. There's not much point in building more. Shoot, they double up and lay together, as you say, and all kinds of funny stuff. There's no way if you built 8 boxes they will use them all, you'd think they would, but it doesn't happen. Goofiness.

 

[carrlr]

I agree, 5 or 6. Mine all lay in only one of the 4 nest boxes I have.

 

[hmlongino]

I just divided two of the boxes I have down the middle (they were wide) and maybe that will make them feel like they have some personal space... if they even care!!

 

[featherz]

I posted this in another thread, but it bears repeating.. have as many nest boxes as you like, they all wanna go in the same one!!

 

[hmlongino]

That is HILARIOUS!!!