Nest boxes - do they have to be grouped together?

[CrazyBirdLady]

Do nest boxes have to be grouped together?

My nest boxes are plastic milk crates. I was going to just put hooks on the wall so I could hang them making them removable for easy cleaning and also relocatable if necessary. I would have two next to each other and the other two would be separate, but they would all be hung at the same height. Do you think it matters?

 

[canada-goose]

It probably doesn't matter much. They'll probably choose a favorite nest, but chickens almost always do that.

 

[Chicken Chat]

It shouldn't make a difference.

 

[Chicken Boo]

I had two single nest boxes on opposite walls. They would alternate which one was the favorite that day. When I added two more, that were stacked and looked totally different, next to one of the singles, they did not get more or less use.

 

[gryeyes]

I have 3 coops inside the same run enclosure. The nest boxes in all 3 get used by 8 layers. For a while, the DUCK HOUSE even had a couple eggs laid in it every once in a while. The ducks don't use the house I build just for them; I now use that for the teen "grow out" quarters. Two of my hens were ticked off about that - I guess they were the ones laying eggs in there.

So, no, nest boxes do NOT have to be grouped together. It is nice to have more than one in a "group" because they do gossip together (if they aren't annoyed that someone else is in HER favorite nest)!

 

[CrazyBirdLady]

Quote:
I was going to have a nest box on either side of the pop door, but maybe I'll just move the pop door and put the boxes in sets of two. Wouldn't want to break up any chick gossip!

!!!

Thanks everyone!