How many nests?

[kuntrygirl]

I would say no more than 4 nesting boxes. Sometimes, I find 10 eggs in 1 nesting box. I have about 20 nesting boxes and maybe 10 are used.

 

[critterranch]

i do 4 hens per nest box. but they still mostly use only 2 of my 4 nestboxes . no matter how many hens i have. they will wait in line like its a ladies restroom lol.

 

[Kat's Silly Chickens]

We have 4 LF hens and a nest box with 4 areas. They won't even use it, I had to put a tote on it's side with hay in it and that's what they use. They made 2 areas they share to lay their eggs.

 

[mamabigbird]

I have heard that you should have one box for every four birds.
Apparently my hens have heard that too because yesterday when I went out to see them there were four hens crammed into one box.
No wonder I have been getting broken eggs lately.
My nest boxes are about the size of a plastic milk crate with a 1x2 across the bottom front to prevent eggs from rolling out.
I have 12 hens and 3 boxes and usually one will have the most eggs in it.
You just can't tell what chickens will do.
P.S. WELCOME TO BYC. YOU WILL LOVE IT HERE.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
ROTFLMAO

Snorting and choking, and admiring the great TRUTH of that statement cuz don't chickens just DO that!,

Pat

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Quote:
I think I still have the picture somewhere, unless it got gobbled in the great computer crash. Came out one morning last fall, had gotten a bit cold overnight, not low enough to turn the coop heater on. Now the Jersey Giants and Orphs have larger nest boxes, more for their size. The Lorps and BRs prefer the more "normal" size of nest box. Apparently it was disgustingly cold enough to the ladies that I went in and found 2 Jersey girls and a Lorp all cram-jammed into a normal sized nest box giving me the dreaded chicken stink eye for making it cold.

 

[babyrnlc]

We have 10 birds but only 2 are laying so far. We have 6 nest boxes, but they two that lay only use the one.

 

[man-of-steel78]

Do 1 nest per 4 chickens and you will be fine. You will find that they will share the nests with no problems. Just make sure that the nest stay clean and dry and clean them out if an egg breaks in them. Using nests gives you cleaner eggs and helpsto prevent them from breaking.

 

[man-of-steel78]

I forgot to say that you want your nest about 2 feet off the ground.

 

[Wisher1000]

I just added on to my coop and built 4 more nest boxes that they access from the run and I access from the feed room. It took them no time to find the new digs and start laying there. They are seemingly trying all of them on for fit because I have found eggs in all 4 (even the one with the small opening that I thought they would hate!) Silly birds...