Is this really tru??

[Duckstail]

I just heard I do not need a nesting box for each hen? I have three hensand I'll probably get to 5 or 10 hens by the end of the summer so I figured I need to have the same amount of nesting box so they have somewhere to lay an egg? So what do i really need?

Im In the process of building or buying one... Please show me the light, thanks

 

[RidgeCreekFarm]

We are also in the research phase of Coop Building! We have Zero Experience, but I'll pass on what I just read earlier today:

"Allow one nest per four hens. You can buy ready-made nests from a store or catalog, make your own, or use found items. A covered cat litter box, for instance, makes a good nest. A reasonable nest size is 14"wide by 14" high by 12" deep."
~From "Barnyard in Your Backyard" edited by Gail Damerow​

Hope that helps!

 

[mechanic57]

True. They will lay an egg in the box, then go on about their daily duty of scratching and pecking. Once they hop out, another will hop in and deposit their rent in the same spot. I have had up to 30 birds at one time. I have two nest boxes, each is big enough for 2 birds to get in at the same time and have room not to touch each other. There's eggs in each box every day.

 

[SueT]

I've heard reco'd one box per 3 hens. I used to have 5 nest boxes for 7 hens and they only used 3 of them so I removed the rejects. It wouldn't hurt to have 2 boxes for your 3.

 

[lazy gardener]

Mechanic: I LOVE your quote! (re: drinking water)

 

[mechanic57]

Mechanic: I LOVE your quote! (re: drinking water)

LOL, I've had chickens for several years and my biggest challenge of all was figuring out a water system that they could not poop in.

 

[lazy gardener]

You could have an abundance of nest boxes. There would still be many empty boxes while the hens pile into one box. I have 9 boxes. The hens have a few favorite boxes. Often, there will be 2 hens in a single box, an other hen standing on top of those two, while an other hen stands in front of that box screaming: "Hurry up all ready. I gotta go!!!" Mean while, there are 6 empty boxes.

 

[mechanic57]

The number of boxes to hens is not set in stone, but typically hens will lay eggs where others lay their eggs. They will develop their favorites boxes and leave others empty. If you have laying age hens, the young ones will start laying in the same place once they are old enough. If you have no other laying age hens, then once yours get old enough to lay, you can put plastic Easter eggs in the box to give them the hint. When starting with young chicks that still sleep in a pile to keep warm, block the boxes off until they are close to laying eggs. That way they will get in the habit of sleeping on the roost when they grow a little bigger instead of sleeping in the nest boxes. (Roost should be higher up than the nest box).

They prefer privacy for laying eggs. Some people make a curtain over the entrance to keep it a little more dim in the box. I cut a section off an empty feed bag, cut strips in it and stapled it over the entrance to the box. Gives them more privacy. When they get close to laying, I stop letting them free range for a while. You want them in the coop and run so they will get in the habit of laying in the boxes and not under a bush, in the garden or under a porch where you can't get the eggs.

 

[mechanic57]

Also, once they start laying, it's normal for them to lay some very weird eggs. Eggs with no shell, just the liquid in the membrane. Small marble sized eggs, long narrow eggs, eggs with the white but no yolk. You'll also find eggs with blood or spots of bloody tissue on the shell or in the egg. This is normal and could last a month or two while their organs continue to mature and get in sync.

 

[aart]

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 use fake eggs to 'spread the love' of 13 layers and 4 nests,
It works great all the nests get used,
tho there are still favorites that get squabbled over on occasion.