Ultimate Guide to Chicken Nesting Boxes

Chicken Nesting Boxes. If you’ve ever poked your head into the coop and found eggs in every wild, weird corner, you know the pain. Trust me, I once found an egg tucked inside a raggedy old boot behind the feed bin! If you’re just figuring out the whole chicken thing, or even if you already peeked at the best dual purpose chicken breeds or scoured the comprehensive guide to choose the chicken breeds, you might be wondering how to keep egg hunts…well, a little less wild. Nesting boxes make all the difference. Cozy, private, easy to clean, and your hens will thank you (maybe not in words, but with more eggs where you want them).

this FOR LATER

Do I Need a Nesting Box?

Honestly? Absolutely. Unless you’re aiming for a daily scavenger hunt, nesting boxes are your best shot at clean, safe, uncracked eggs. Chickens have a knack for laying wherever they feel safest, and if you don’t make a spot for them, they’ll get real creative. One time, mine made a nest INSIDE a bale of hay. Took me a week to sniff those eggs out.

With nesting boxes, you’re giving your hens a “Hey, this is THE spot!” signal. Less mess. Fewer broken eggs. And, honestly, a tidier coop. If you skip them, you’ll end up collecting eggs caked in poop or finding them way too late—ew, no thank you.

Nesting boxes are a simple way to make life easier, for you and your girls. You want happy hens, right? And you want clean breakfast eggs? Trust me. Set up boxes and call it a win.

How Many Chicken Nesting Boxes Do You Need?

A question as old as the coop itself—how many boxes for how many chickens? Here’s the simple rule: you DON’T need one box per hen. Most of my hens line up to use the same box anyway. Guess they like gossiping in line.

Really, you aim for one box for every three or four chickens. It sounds low, but if you add more, the extra boxes just end up empty. When I tried six boxes for my little flock, three collected dust while the rest squabbled over their faves.

If you’re raising fewer than ten hens, three to four nesting boxes are plenty. For bigger flocks, just keep up the ratio and add a few more if you notice chickens fighting over their favorite spot. Keep it simple.

What Size Should Chicken Nesting Boxes Be?

Listen, chickens aren’t picky about square footage—just about comfort. Standard size that works for most breeds is about 12 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 12 inches high. Though, for large breeds (like those giant Orpingtons I’m obsessed with), you might go up to 14 inches all around.

You want your hen to feel safe, but not have so much space she brings her friends along. If the box’s too big or too small, your girls might lay outside instead. And getting down on your knees, reaching behind old feed sacks, is nobody’s favorite part of chicken keeping.

Here’s a quick look:

A box too tiny will just be a perch. Too big, and you’ll get group naps. There’s your goldilocks moment right there.

Chicken Nesting Box Ideas

All right, so you want your coop looking cute or quirky, or hey, maybe you just want to use stuff you already have. Get creative. I’ve seen everything from lime green cat litter boxes to old wooden crates and plastic milk crates.

Here are some ideas that don’t take an engineer’s brain:

• Plastic tubs: Easy to clean, and somehow, my girls always love this style.
• Old dresser drawers: Yeah, seriously, they work. Just anchor ’em down.
• Milk crates turned sideways: Fast, cheap, and you likely already have a few lying around.
• Five-gallon buckets: Tip on their side, toss in some straw. Looks funny, works great.

Bonus tip: I once saw a neighbor use an old laundry hamper. Chickens loved it. Creativity rules with nesting boxes.

How to Get Your Chickens to Lay Eggs in Nesting Boxes

Oh boy. This part is trickier than it seems. Chickens can be real rebels, like teenagers with curfews.

Start by making the nesting box inviting and darker than other spots. Chickens like privacy when laying eggs. Put the box in a quieter part of your coop. Toss in some soft bedding—straw, wood shavings, or even those lovely nesting pads.

Next, do a fake-out. Place a few dummy eggs (plastic or wooden eggs work) in the box. Chickens think, “Oh! Someone else already laid here—it must be the spot.” It’s chicken psychology. Works about 95 percent of the time.

And block off other tempting corners. Otherwise, you’ll still be doing egg acrobatics around the coop.

I switched to old wooden crates after reading a guide about how to raise chickens with ease. Now my girls lay nearly every egg right where I want it. It’s honestly saved me so much hassle, and my kids think it’s hilarious to collect them every morning!

What Makes a Good Nesting Box for Chickens?

A good nesting box isn’t rocket science, but there are a few must-haves if you want stress-free egg collection. First, privacy. Your hens gotta feel safe, so a partially enclosed box away from traffic is best. Then, comfort. If it’s rough or dirty, your hens are going to find somewhere they like better. No one likes a lumpy mattress, right?

Ventilation’s important, but not drafts. Damp, musty boxes make grumpy (and unhealthy) layers. Last, for your sake, easy to clean. If you need a crowbar to scrape out the mess, you’ll avoid the job and so will the chickens.

Biggest tip? Avoid sharp edges. Chickens can be clumsy, and a cut foot is bad news. Happy chickens, happy eggs.

What are the Rules for Nesting Boxes?

There ARE rules—well, guidelines really, but you’ll want to follow these if you don’t want daily headaches. Place the boxes lower than your perches so your girls don’t roost and poop in them at night. (Big rookie mistake. Ask me about the time I forgot and cleaned poop-caked eggs for a month.)

Keep your boxes lined with fresh bedding (straw, wood shavings, clean grass). Privacy screens help, especially for shy layers. And don’t move boxes around too much—chickens hate change as much as my grandmother hates moving her couch.

A box for every three to four hens is still a good rule, and clean them weekly. Or else…get ready for some very dirty eggs and unhappy hens.

What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Chicken Nesting Box?

You want your eggs to come out clean and uncracked, right? The bottom layer makes a big difference. Most folks use straw. Works fine, soft, easy to change.

Some go with wood shavings (not cedar! Too strong), or those reusable nesting pads. Even clean, dried grass clippings in a pinch. I once tried newspaper, but honestly? Big mess, stuck to everything, never again.

Make sure it’s thick enough to cushion the eggs, but you’ll want to scrape and replace at least weekly. And if you ever smell anything funky, change it out. Fast. No one wants a rotten egg story.

How Many Nesting Boxes Do I Need for 6 Chickens?

Short answer: two is great, three if you like options. My flock of six always lined up for just one or two favorites, even when I put out four boxes.

Here’s a quick breakdown for six hens:

• Two boxes: Plenty
• Three boxes: Just right if you want less squabbling
• Four/five: Overkill, but hey, do you

Honestly, don’t overspend or overthink it. Chickens just want a safe, soft place to lay—nothing fancy. Spend that extra cash on chicken snacks instead.

If you have any additional questions about Chicken Nesting Boxes or want to share your experience with raising chickens, feel free to comment below or connect with our gardening community on Facebook and Pinterest!

Coop-Ready Confidence: You Got This!

So, there you have it. Nesting boxes save your sanity and keep those eggs lovely and clean. Keep it simple, comfy, and easy to clean, and your chickens will reward you. Don’t fret perfection—sometimes the wildest homemade box becomes a five-star restaurant for picky hens.

Ready to get rolling? Try some ideas from Building Old-fashioned Chicken Nests – FHC Q & A – YouTube, or get inspired with 50+ Surprising Chicken Nesting Box Ideas – Backyard Poultry. Little changes make a big difference. You’ve got this! Eggs-traordinary days ahead.

FAQ about Chicken Nesting Boxes