nesting boxes

[ShrekDawg]

i always thought chickens were supposed to each have their own nesting box. but lots of things say one nesting box for every 4 chickens. i find that amazing. i never have really looked it up. no chickens yet but i hope to soon have some. also do chickens smell? and what about bird flu? sorry, i'm kinda paranoid. thanks.

 

[ginasmarans]

I have 19 nests and right now they are all laying in one nest. Go figure.

 

[ShrekDawg]

wow. that's amazing. how many chickens? it almost seems like a waste to have that many boxes if they only use one. lol. thanks.

 

[Matt A NC]

In the main henhouse I have 6 nests with 21 hens. I will go in during the day and each nest will have a hen. Later in the day, all the eggs will be in 1-2 nests. Just what a chicken does. I look at it as natural instinct. A nest full is more likely to be taken up by a setting hen then a nest with just a couple eggs.

Matt

 

[dixiechick]

My dad's birds (for whatever reason) are preferring buckets over nesting boxes! Obviously, there are fairly free-range. But once the word was out that a bucket (on its side) was available, the hens were lining up to brood!

 

[MamaheninKY]

I have 8 hens all laying in one nest. They take turns which makes it difficult for me to choose the correct time to collect eggs but I keep checking back until no hen is on the nest. Here's the strange part: The "nesting box" they are actually laying in is none other than a pet crate with the door removed that I set in on top of their actual chicken pen. They prefer to use this nesting box over the other. Maybe they feel it provides more privacy. I don't know their thinking process but it works.

 

[ginasmarans]

I have about 16 hens right now and they are using 3-4 of the nests. I have had as many as 60 hens and they used most of the nests.

 

[casportpony]

@KDOGG331