The Basics on Chicken Nesting Boxes

Once you have decided that you would like to raise chickens of your own, you’ll need to figure out where and how you will house them. There are different types of chicken coops that are generally used, some are placed permanently and others are portable, but regardless of the type of coop you decide to go with, you will want to make sure that your chicken nesting boxes are in a quiet, sheltered part of the enclosure.

Nesting boxes are where the hens will go to lay their eggs, so you will want to pay particular attention to making sure the boxes are comfortable and inviting. The box should be just big enough for the hen to get into; usually a good size for a nesting box is 12 inches long, 12 inches high and 12 inches deep. They should be set in a shaded area of the coop, as hens prefer privacy while laying their eggs. You will also need to have some nesting material in the boxes like straw or wood shavings.

Many people make their own chicken nesting boxes, since it is a pretty easy task to do. In most cases they are made out of wood, nailed together to form a row of connected boxes. A good rule of thumb is to have one box for every two to four laying hens you own, so more than one box is often needed. There are other ways to make nesting boxes that may not look quite as good, but are still effective. Some people use plastic washing buckets with a cut out of the side that will allow the bird to enter. Placing these in a covered area seems to work well for the hens and they are very easy to clean.

There are a few things you should keep in mind if you do decide to make your own nesting boxes. First, you don’t want the chickens to be able to roost (sleep) on top of their nesting box because that can get very messy. For this reason, it is best to have the top of the boxes be sloped. Also most people prefer to have the nesting boxes slightly off the ground, which helps when it comes to gathering the eggs. Just make sure that it’s not too high off the ground, or your chickens may have a difficult time jumping up to it. And lastly, it often helps the hens if there is a raised lip, step or bar in front of the box that they can jump to before entering the box. This sort of thing may also help keep the bedding and the eggs safely in the box as well.

There are many places that sell ready-made nesting boxes, if you don’t want to make your own. Of course, the prices will vary depending on where you go, but it will be faster and more convenient to buy one that is ready to go.

Click here for immediate access to Chicken Coop Building Plans. You will also get:

• The Cheapest Materials To Build Your Coop Out Of
• The Best Materials For The Ground
• How To Build Chicken Nesting Boxes For Free Out of Common Materials
• How To Best Position Your Chicken Coop