Is this really tru??

[mechanic57]

They don't need 'privacy' or darkness...they need to feel 'safe',
many folks use open topped nests with success...as long as the bird feels safe.

I'm not going to get into splitting hairs on "safe" vs "private." I'm sure the new folks get the jist of what I'm saying.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Wow, calm down guys! We have 18 nest boxes and 23 hens. Experience shows that they are NOT all used daily. However I have a couple of hens that will lay in different boxes on different days. More than one hen will lay in a box on any given day, but I've never seen more than 2 eggs in a box, but I'm sure it happens. Right now I have two hens in a small coop. They have a choice of a nice "covered" set of 4 boxes, or two uncovered wire shelves. They lay more in the uncovered shelves! They will sometimes lay in the same one and some days in different ones. You never can determine the mind of a chicken! Anyway, the answer is "NO", you don't need one nesting box per hen.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I also want to add that my girls will return to the coop to lay eggs even when they are free ranging. They love their coop and I've never had to wonder where they were laying. Sometimes when they are free ranging they will return to the run or coop to roost and rest as well. Like Art said, I think it's because they feel safe there.

 

[aart]

I'm not going to get into splitting hairs on "safe" vs "private." I'm sure the new folks get the jist of what I'm saying.

Actually it's because of the new folks that I stressed the difference between privacy and safe.... so they don't waste time sewing curtains, stressing over light levels, or apologizing for invading the birds privacy if they happen to walk into the coop when a bird is laying. ... plus I abhor anthropomorphism, 'privacy' is human hangup chickens don't care if you see their vent.