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Your chickens need a quiet, protected place inside the coop where they can lay their eggs. If they don’t feel comfortable in the nest boxes you have provided, then they may look for other locations in their environment to lay their eggs.
It is recommended to have at least one nest box for every 3 to 4 hens so they will always have a place to go when they are ready to lay.
The following table provides general guidelines about the best dimensions for a nest box based on breed size:
Nest boxes should ideally be raised about 45 cm off the ground either by directly securing them to a wall or creating a sturdy platform. If you have young pullets who are learning how to use nest boxes, you may wish to start them closer to the ground and then gradually increase the height once they have the basic idea mastered. Placing plastic eggs or golf balls inside the nest can also encourage them to lay there.
Nest boxes should be located in an area that is not very busy and free from loud noises or moving animals, people, or objects that could disrupt the birds when they are laying. The nest boxes should also ideally be against a wall where they will not be in direct sunlight from windows as birds prefer dark spaces that are not too warm.
Other design features you probably want to include are:
An optional extra is adding curtains that can provide a little extra privacy. However, just be careful because some birds may not realise that there is a nest behind there. You may need to leave the curtains drawn open while they get used to it.
Nest boxes are usually made from either wood or plastic and also occasionally metal. Plastic is easier to keep clean and is better for keeping mites away.
It is important to have soft bedding inside the nest box to keep your hens comfortable, prevent eggs from breaking, and keep your hens warmer in winter months. The most popular options are nesting box pads, wood shavings, hemp bedding, and straw.
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Materials you should avoid are cat litter, hay, newspaper, grass clippings, sand, and cedar shavings.
As part of your egg-collecting routine, you should remove any soiled bedding, feathers, and droppings to keep the nest boxes clean. The bedding should ideally be replaced completely at least once per month. Mixing diatomaceous earth in with the nest box material can help to control external parasites like lice and mites.
Nest boxes and subsequently eggs can easily become soiled if the chickens are allowed to roost in the nests during the night. Avoid this by closing the nest boxes or have them slightly tilted to discourage hens from remaining in nest boxes over the night.
It is also important to make sure the roost bars are elevated above the nest box since birds will naturally look for the highest place to roost. In the coop shown to the right, the birds would probably rather roost in the nest boxes than on the lower two roost bars.