Nesting boxes?

[Reyvaughn]

According to my coop plans book, they claim 10 is good for 50 hens - so a 5 to 1 ratio. I have 10 and 29 chicks in the coop (not the finished coop they will be housed) and they like to pile in 1 or 2 of the nests. I've seen 6 crammed in one spot already.

 

[Judy]

For six hens I would build one. Might make it a little wide, like 16", as they already get in my smaller ones two at a time anyway.

 

[ErinG]

2 should be about right for 6 chickens. We have 2 for 5 and they prefer one over the other, but use both. The only reason I would suggest you build more is so that you can add more chickens later if you want. (There's a good chance you will want more chickens

)

 

[Ridgerunner]

I suggest two for six hens. Thye will mostly use one, but the second one will probably get some use. And if you get a broody, a second nest can come in real handy, even if you don't want her to hatch there. Two gives you a bit of flexibility in how you manage them.

Another option is the community nest box, where you build one nest big enough for a few hens to use it at the same time. You might look at this thread for nest options.

Nesting Boxes
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=41108