Nesting box - 1 big one or divided?

[SillyChicken]

I put up a nesting box thats about 44"L x 14"H x 16"D..... Should I put divider panels in it or will they lay in one big box?

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
Good question. I was thinking about doing that as well. From what other say, it seems like they all wait in line for the same nest anyway.

I was thinking about making it so it was a little deeper (maybe 20") so they could squeeze past one another and only putting a single, pop-door sized entrance into it so it was nice and dark.

 

[SillyChicken]

I was thinking similar, maybe some cloth torn in strips to kinda cover the front

 

[wildorchid053]

they lay in one big box.. usually all in the same corner

 

[Nostalchic]

They will lay in one big box, though they will fashion little soft cavities to form individual nesting areas within the long "community" boxes. I have one that is a little longer than yours (52 or 53 inches)- actually two long boxes stacked, and they've made three nest areas in that length, though of course they all seem to like one area the best. I like this because you don't have two chickens (particularly if good sized breeds) trying to crowd into the same small box (which they will do) and potentially breaking eggs - there's just a little more room to "line up".

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I say Divided because if one goes broody then the others can have the other areas to lay in.
Just MHO.

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
That's a good point too. I'm thinking that if they wallow out a couple of individual nests in the communal box like Nostalchic says then that would still leave the other individual nests. Would it be any different than if a girl went broody in the "choice" box in a divided set up?

 

[buckabucka]

We're going to try the community nest box. Chickens are not coming until May. I hadn't thought about the broody hen situation, but we have room to add some individual boxes if necessary.

Sorry that I have not figured out how to post a photo here yet, but there are photos of the nesting box at the bottom of my BYC page, if you click on that.

Looking forward to chickens!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I can't be sure as to why but they do tend to get angry at the others when they go broody they don't want them to even see the eggs I think it is the fact that protection of the baby chicks kick in so in a divided box they will feel safer just MHO.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I was thinking about putting in a couple of single boxes and two community boxes. I figured if they prefer the single boxes it's easy enough to fix. Or like a lot of birds, they won't use any and just lay them on the floor.