Nests and how many do I need

[Dar]

I have 10 hens that are due to start laying any day now...right now I have 10 nests but I was out in the coop this morning and I am thinking about "redecorating"

right now i have the 10 nests lined up along 2 walls but now that I have been in the group and have seen some of the coops on here I want to rearrange things a lil...but in doing so I will loose 3 nests....

will hens "share" nests or do they all need thier own?

 

[ChickenToes]

It's 4 to 5 birds per nest, I think.

 

[mattmatts-momma]

I think that two to three would be enough. I found mine laying eggs in the nest together a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

2 would do the trick

 

[chickiebaby]

7 per is my rule. You could do two nests happily. Betcha you still find some cuddling together in the box.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Two or three nests will be fine..... the hens may get it into their little heads to only use one or two nests anyway.

If the nests are all at the same level, the hens will be more apt to use them all.

Carla

 

[All about the EGG]

We have one for 5 hens. It is nice and cozy. There have been some arguements over it, but no fights. I think they are too loaded up to fight..they just growl. I got the feeling if we had two nests, they would all use the same one.

 

[steffpeck]

duplicate.....

 

[steffpeck]

We have 10 hens with 3 boxes and they all lay in the middle one. Occasionally we will find an egg or two in one of the other boxes, but they all like the middle one. I think you would be fine with 2 boxes.