Topic of the Week - Nest boxes

[Molpet]

Is there like a nesting box to hen ratio? Because I feel like my hens are always either standing in a line waiting to lay, or there is 2 hens in 1 nesting box.

50+ hens in 4 coops. 3 to 10 nests per coop. One coop rarely are any eggs in the 3 nests. Another coop 2 of 4 are used. A 3rd coop 2 of 5 are used by hens from 3 coops. The 4th 2 of 10 are used by hens from 4 coops.

 

[BackyardinWales]

I have four 'double' nesting boxes in the new roosting box I'm making, and I'll be using the silicone nesting pads that they use in their current box as I'm 'legally blind' and need the contrast to find the eggs. Mine all seem quite happy with the pads.

 

[Synthlady]

- What do you use for nest boxes?
- What bedding materials do you use in your nest boxes?
- Maintaining your nest boxes. (Cleaning, pest control, etc)
- Managing broody hen(s) in the nest box.
- How do you make your nest boxes attractive for the hens? (I.e. encourage them to use the boxes, instead of dropping their eggs all over the yard)
- How do you discourage your hens from sleeping in the nest boxes?

Anything you'd like to add?

I'm still experimenting. I recently dismantled my old rotten wooden nesting boxes and replaced them with plastic nesting boxes known as "Cozy Nests". I thought it would be best because they seem easy to clean and provide a lot of privacy.
Turns out my hens are not interested in using them. They prefer a makeshift nesting box I made out of cardboard. I also have a large basket with bedding that is well hidden in the coop/run that they prefer to use as well. Not sure how to train my hens to use the new cozy boxes, I guess time will tell.
For bedding, I use pine shavings. I also add a few rosemary clippings from my rosemary plant. Rosemary adds a nice aroma to the nesting boxes.
If I'm not able to maintain more chicks (which is most of the time), I put the broody hens in chicken jail. They due time for 1 - 2 weeks. If I want to hatch eggs, I give my broody hen and her eggs their own house for the next 21 days.
I haven't had a problem with hens sleeping the nesting boxes. I think it's because the roosts are mounted much higher than the boxes.

Does anyone else use the cozy nest boxes? If so, how did you train your hens to use them?

 

[Traffie Chickens]

There’s always the favorite though, and inevitably a broody will use it

Oh ya! I have heard of so many people who say that their chickens will only use one nesting box, or it’s the (favorite) nesting box! But actually, my hens don’t have a favorite box!! They will just use whatever one!!

 

[igorsMistress]

Oh ya! I have heard of so many people who say that their chickens will only use one nesting box, or it’s the (favorite) nesting box! But actually, my hens don’t have a favorite box!! They will just use whatever one!!

Mine stand around complaining about it

 

[Traffie Chickens]

Mine stand around complaining about it

 

[Sylvester017]

@Synthlady ~ how's your Cozy Nest boxes from Rent-a-Coop working out? We got some waterers and port feeders from Rent-a-coop and they worked great in the chick brooder but the port feeders as adults not so popular. Maybe cuz chickens are rather foraging grazers IDK?

Our chickens free range the backyard and are not penned up all day. They use the coop only for egg-laying or roosting for the night.

Anyway, for all the money we spent (over $2000) on our manufactured barn coop which had blue plastic pans as individual nestboxes our hens squabbled when laying because there was no privacy between pans. It wasn't till we used old cardboard boxes as walls with a partial roof over the plastic nestbox pan before there was peace between laying hens. Of course as usual there's always one or two boxes the hens line up to use and complain the whole time anyway until the previous hen moves out and it's their turn to use the favorite box! Is it possible that hens have jealousy or possessive issues like humans do?

Here is the barn coop and the flat blue pans the manufacturer included as individual nestboxes that the hens didn't like until we put up cardboard box walls between nestboxes.

 

[Synthlady]

@Synthlady ~ how's your Cozy Nest boxes from Rent-a-Coop working out? We got some waterers and port feeders from Rent-a-coop and they worked great in the chick brooder but the port feeders as adults not so popular. Maybe cuz chickens are rather foraging grazers IDK?

Our chickens free range the backyard and are not penned up all day. They use the coop only for egg-laying or roosting for the night.

Anyway, for all the money we spent (over $2000) on our manufactured barn coop which had blue plastic pans as individual nestboxes our hens squabbled when laying because there was no privacy between pans. It wasn't till we used old cardboard boxes as walls with a partial roof over the plastic nestbox pan before there was peace between laying hens. Of course as usual there's always one or two boxes the hens line up to use and complain the whole time anyway until the previous hen moves out and it's their turn to use the favorite box! Is it possible that hens have jealousy or possessive issues like humans do?

Here is the barn coop and the flat blue pans the manufacturer included as individual nestboxes that the hens didn't like until we put up cardboard box walls between nestboxes.

Hello @Sylvester017, you have a nice setup for your girls. My chickens forage all day too and eat feed as supplementation. They are happier when they search for their own food - I think.
Finally found eggs in two out of the four rent-a-coop boxes today. As a bonus, a broody hen settled in one of them. The boxes are mounted at different height levels. Looks like they favor the ones closer to the ground.
In my experience, I found that hens prefer a hidden, private box with a bowl-like surface for laying eggs. I think if you provide walls for all of your pans the hens will start to use two boxes. The other two will serve as spacers.
Like I said in my original reply, I'm experimenting. I also have one nest made out of a cardboard shipping box. I replace it every 3 to 4 months. The cardboard box seems to be their favorite, two to three hens wait in line for it at a time. I'm also trying a basket with bedding that's hidden under that same hen house. So far, it's a fail. Another experiment, I put an old wooden drawer inside another hen house, I found one egg in there today. So far so good!

 

[Sylvester017]

Hello @Sylvester017, you have a nice setup for your girls. My chickens forage all day too and eat feed as supplementation. They are happier when they search for their own food - I think.
Finally found eggs in two out of the four rent-a-coop boxes today. As a bonus, a broody hen settled in one of them. The boxes are mounted at different height levels. Looks like they favor the ones closer to the ground.
In my experience, I found that hens prefer a hidden, private box with a bowl-like surface for laying eggs. I think if you provide walls for all of your pans the hens will start to use two boxes. The other two will serve as spacers.
Like I said in my original reply, I'm experimenting. I also have one nest made out of a cardboard shipping box. I replace it every 3 to 4 months. The cardboard box seems to be their favorite, two to three hens wait in line for it at a time. I'm also trying a basket with bedding that's hidden under that same hen house. So far, it's a fail. Another experiment, I put an old wooden drawer inside another hen house, I found one egg in there today. So far so good!

Aren't chickens funny? Drawers, baskets, and cardboard boxes! They pick the darnedest places to lay as long as mine use the coop and not the yard its ok w/me.

P.S. Just a thought ~ maybe if your round basket was square it would get used? Our Dominique chicks/juveniles rested in a square straight up basket when we raised them in the kitchen. Sitting in a handled dustpan felt also sturdy to them or just a plain plastic bag they shaped into their own liking!

Plastic bag

 

[Sylvester017]

@Synthlady ~ someone removed all their individual nestboxes and just put down straw under the nestbox lid. Their hens didn't mind the open space. However, for our setup the nest floor is harder to clean than the blue plastic nestbox pans.

Also, we once had such an agitated Silkie hen she used to scratch an old wooden nestbox floor so hard she ripped off toenails and lost a couple toes -- blood everywhere! We had to buy plexiglass and line the bottom of the wood nestboxes so she or others didn't splinter/damage their feet when they scratched! Chickens! Worrisome!