nesting boxes

[blizzardfris]

My husband didn't build nesting boxes for me-- I had gotten some crates and they do lay eggs in them. Right now though I have a hen sitting on eggs in a corner of the coop but all the other hens wants to lay eggs there too and are bothering her. 2 of the eggs she was sitting on got broken. Is it better to have nesting boxes for them to lay and sit on? I've been checking into buying a nesting box for them. Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

If you want your broody hen to hatch a clutch of eggs in the coup with the layers, then I have had the best results with several small nests, in which only one bird barely fits. This keeps the other birds out of her nest, which will keep them from late eggs into the clutch. Too many eggs and none or almost none will hatch.

I have 4 nests, they tend to lay in one or two of them, but every so often, which one they lay in will change.

Mrs K