Nesting Boxes

[Holland89]

I'm expanding my flock and will be building a bigger coop. This coop will be 14' across by 8' deep, and will accommodate roughly 30-40 chickens. My question is how many nesting boxes would be needed? My current coop (which will become our quarantine coop for newcomers) can accommodate 10 chickens and has way more nesting boxes than are necessary. I'd like to avoid wasting space for boxes that can otherwise be used for square footage. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[mowin]

1 box for every 4-5 hens.

 

[CluckerFamily]

per 4-5 hen is a perfect number.

 

[Vacman]

That might be a perfect number, but you have to sell it to the chickens. My 5 all use the same nesting box even though there are 5 of them and when I've watched them, they will usually wait until one comes out but I have seen a second one try to go in.

 

[mowin]

That might be a perfect number, but you have to sell it to the chickens. My 5 all use the same nesting box even though there are 5 of them and when I've watched them, they will usually wait until one comes out but I have seen a second one try to go in.

Very typical with a small flock. 30-40 need some extras

 

[aart]

That might be a perfect number, but you have to sell it to the chickens. My 5 all use the same nesting box even though there are 5 of them and when I've watched them, they will usually wait until one comes out but I have seen a second one try to go in.

One fake egg in each nest should 'spread the love'.

 

[Ted Brown]

One fake egg in each nest should 'spread the love'.

I currently have 17 layers and 4 nest boxes with fake eggs, all of them get used (some more than others) and in the mornings there is usually one or more loitering about to get in.

 

[Vacman]

One fake egg in each nest should 'spread the love'.

I have a fake egg in each box. They still all use the first box.

 

[aart]

I have a fake egg in each box. They still all use the first box.

Yeah, mine have favorites too.
Why I used the wiggle word...

One fake egg in each nest should 'spread the love'.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I like the colony style roll out nest boxes. There seems to be less fighting over boxes because, well, there are no individual boxes. Kind of pricy, but nice clean eggs and some cool features like built in perch that can be folded up to block the nestbox. Removable hoseable nesting material nest pad, and they're reversible so you can access eggs from outside if you want to mount them through the wall. I started with this one. https://hengear.com/products/rollout-nest-box-small and with a fake egg (included) the girls took to it quickly. Recently a bunch of my spring chicks started laying and traffic jams were leading to floor eggs so I just ordered this one. The two of them should be more than enough for my 30ish layers. https://www.hogslat.com/farmstead-large-colony-style-rollout-chicken-nest-box-fs500