Nesting Boxes

[scrapinlady38]

Hello everyone, I am new. Ha Ha. I am going to be ordering my chicks within the next few days, I am so excited! I have finally gotten my hubby on board with this. My question of the day is if you have say 12 pullets how many nesting boxes do you need? Do they all need their own, or can they share? Thanks for any help!

 

[cookinmom]

They can share. 4 will probably be enough. Even then, they might all want to use the same one!

Welcome to the insanity!!!

 

[keljonma]

The general rule is 1 nest for 3 or 4 hens. However, that doesn't mean they won't all want to lay in the same box.

I have 15 girls. I have 5 nest boxes that are 14x14x12 and 1 nest box for broodies that is 18x18x16 and 2 corner hay bins (3 gallon size) with bedding in them.

Four of our girls prefer to lay in the corner hay bins. Three stand in queue for our large broody nest box and the rest of them use whichever box takes their fancy. Yesterday, our Delaware, Golden Penciled Hamburg, Silver Lakenvelder and White Faced Black Spanish girls were fighting over one of the hay bins!

 

[scrapinlady38]

Thank you all for your answers. I am sure that I will have more questions as I go along.