Nesting box questions and wonderments.

[The Lazy L]

Coop is 4' x 6'

I've got 8 + 1 BO coming in May. I'm figuring one loosing one or two chickens from my stupidity.

BOs will have a 20' x 6' secured run and the the option of free ranging (under a watchful eye).

Coop has 6 nesting boxes. From what I've read on this forum I only need 2 or 3?

So to help with the square footage per bird should I take out at least 3 of the nesting boxes?

And convert one of the remaining nesting boxes into a feeder?

 

[OkChickens]

That would work. Are you going to make a automatic feeder that will fit in the next box?

Nate

 

[The Lazy L]

That would work. Are you going to make a automatic feeder that will fit in the next box?

Nate

Yes. That would be my intent.

 

[OkChickens]

I think that would be great for your coop!

Nate

 

[gryeyes]

Sounds like a grand idea!

...as long as chicken math doesn't strike you and you get some more hens...... or more than one of those BOs goes broody at the same time, monopolizing a nest apiece.

 

[Kaitie09]

I built 8 nesting boxes for 20 chickens and they only use 2. They will pick their favorite one and unless you have a broody, they will pretty much all lay in that one box.

 

[CarolJ]

My coop has ten nest boxes - I have 23 chickens in that coop - and they all use only 2 or 3 of the nest boxes. My coop is big enough to hold 35 or so chickens - but even if I had 35, I wouldn't need more than 5 nest boxes. They just like using the same ones.

 

[NestingHillsSC]

I have 10 hens and 3 nesting boxes. Once one lays in the morning they all want THAT one and will stand there and wine until the other one is done.

I was going to put in 3 more buy why???

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Yep just like the others all 8 of my hens lay in one of 4 nest boxes.....they all stand in line waiting