Nesting box to hen ratio

[Lydia]

We have a coop in progress and I have a few questions:
What should the ratio of nesting boxes to hens be? I will have 12 hens eventually and my husband is going to make 6 nesting boxes- is that enough? How far off the floor of the coop should the nesting boxes be? How do the chickens access them if they are off the floor a little?

Thanks-
Lydia

 

[Jacky'sMamma]

From what I have read on here"

3-4 birds per box

 

[morelcabin]

I usually do it a little differently than most. I make a bigger size nesting box...about 24"x16 or so inches and let them all use the same one. Sometimes you'll find 4 or 5 are using it at the same time but as long as there is lots of bediing no eggs gt broken and it works great!

 

[karrie]

My boxes are a little larger too. Two hens sometimes get in at the same time. I have some hens that regularly argue over the same box! I have plenty to go around, but mine have their favorite ones!
Some of my boxes are close enough to the floor to just hop in, & others are on top of those, but smaller. They can fly up to the top of the lower boxes (like a shelf) & step into the top ones.