If you have pullets that will begin laying soon or you are buying some laying hens you may want to know how many nesting boxes you will need. The number may surprise you!
So the question is how many nesting boxes do you need? Most coops come with a minimum of three but you most likely won’t use all of those spaces. It is really funny when you hear one of your hens start fussing because a different hen is in their spot. Even though there are usually a lot of other boxes open they seem to usually wait and lay in the same one. In our coop we have 5 spots for them to lay and we have 13 hens (for now) 😉 most of the time I will find all of the eggs in the same box. They usually pick their favorite and that is the only one they use. So with that being said, you probably would be fine with however many boxes your coop comes with.
So a good rule of thumb is one nesting box for every four to five hens. This amount will ensure that your flock stays happy!
Other articles that you may like:
- How to keep your chickens cool in the heat of summer
- Treats to keep your chickens warm this winter
- Why you need to store your eggs pointy side down
The 1912 Homestead 