[westie]

Is there a recommended size for nest boxes?
We have 4 hens and at the moment don't have a seperate nest box for them to lay in. They seem quite happy to use the corner of their house, but we intend to add an extension to the side of the house which would become the nest box/es.
Should we have more than 1 nest box or several sections?

[Aunt Sally]

One should be enough, two will be luxury  

Hen sized would do it  

[poultrygeist]

Can't rememeber exact size of ours but it's approx 12" deep, 18" wide and about 12" high rising to about 15" high.

If you do a google search you can find a rough consensus and adjust it to suit your hens' bum size !  

Made mine with a completely removable lid but could have done with a smaller access hatch just to pinch the eggs while they're in there reading the paper or knitting or whatever they do when they're not laying.

Hope this helps.

Rob

[westie]

Thank you...you can picture me measuring the girl's botties tomorrow!!
Shall I ask my husband to provide them with a library shelf too, do you think?  

[poultrygeist]

Magazine rack should do it. And somewhere for the TV remote.  

Rob

[muntjac]

Magazine rack should do it. And somewhere for the TV remote.  

Rob

 wonder if the girls would read the stud cockerel norty pages :roll:

[poultrygeist]

You know what women are like when they get together.

They'll be planning a hen night    


Rob

[poultrygeist]

...I'll fetch me coat  :oops:

[petsrthebest]

Hi Westie:

This will sound obvious but in a way the answer is!  Generally, the nest box should be big enough for your hens to feel comfortable in but not too big so as to distract them or keep them feeling overwhelmed.  Another important factor which i saw posted here
http://www.paw-talk.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-20683.html
is that the nest box must have the right climate, temperature, atmosphere, etc. so it's not just size that matters.

By the way, I noticed that you posted this back in March - what did you decide on?  Is it working for you?

Lance H.

Is there a recommended size for nest boxes?
We have 4 hens and at the moment don't have a seperate nest box for them to lay in. They seem quite happy to use the corner of their house, but we intend to add an extension to the side of the house which would become the nest box/es.
Should we have more than 1 nest box or several