Nest box to hen ratio for 3 hens in a 4'x4' coop

[dthomascg]

Afternoon folks,

I am in the process of building my coop and can't decide if I should add one or two nest boxes. I keep reading about how so many people's chickens all use the same one, and the others go unused, but I was wondering if I should have an extra nest box just in case. Again, 4 foot by 4 foot coop, 3 hens (EE, brown leghorn, and a cuckoo marans). Also, the side walls (not including rafter space), are 44.5 inches tall. Considering I will be using the deep litter method until it is 8-10 inches deep, how high off the floor do the nest boxes need to be? I was thinking about a foot up, but I hear of/see a lot of coops that have the nest boxes 2+ feet off the ground. Thanks folks!

Dan

Oh, and they will be the kind that hang out the side of the coop with a hinged lid, not the "boxes stacked inside the coop" kind

 

[tymimo]

I have a coop with the same dimensions for 4 chickens and opted for 2 boxes. If you're going to build one, adding a second isn't too much time/lumber/effort. Also, while all the chickens may use the same one, they may not. And if you get a broody hen who refuses to vacate the box it give the other chickens an option. I'm trying DLM as well and placed the opening about 14 inches up, although the floor of the nesting box is probably only 10 inches above the floor of the coop as I put a lip on to hold in bedding.

Hope this helps.

 

[speedy2020]

Just make one long large box 12" x 20" or 10 x 24": with divider slot in the center so you can split into 2 if need. Make sure the small piece of wood that hold the divider piece few inches high to avoid problem like crack egg, etc..