How Many Nest Boxes Per Chicken? The Optimal Number for Your Flock

The rule of thumb is one nesting box for every 3 to 5 hens, but that’s just the starting point and exceptions.

Chickens are quirky creatures with strong preferences—some boxes might stay empty while others become hot property! You dont need a separate nesting for every chicken, but even with just two hens, we recommend to get two nesting boxes to avoid squabbles. Larger flocks can happily share the laying boxes, so for example for a 20 hen flock 4-7 nesting boxes is ideal.

There is a helpful calculator below that will help you figure out how many nesting boxes your flock needs.

Providing the right number of boxes keeps your laying hens stress-free, keeps your eggs cleaner, and reduces bullying.

For quality and durability, check out our Australian-made Dine-A-Chook nesting boxes. Whether you’re just starting out or expanding your flock, we’ve got the perfect nesting box solution.

One of the most important things for a healthy and productive backyard chicken flock is to give them the right number of nest boxes. But there are a lot of different suggestions out there, how do you know how many nest boxes to give each chicken?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to determine the ideal nest box ratio for your specific flock, including:

The standard rule of thumb for nest box quantities
Key factors that impact how many nest boxes your chickens need
Consequences of having too few (or too many) nest boxes
Frequently asked questions on nest box numbers and management

Plus plenty of tips and tricks for optimizing your chickens’ laying experience Let’s get started!

The Standard Rule of Thumb

The most commonly recommended nest box ratio is one box for every 4-5 hens. This general guideline provides a good starting point.

However, every flock has unique needs. This number of nest boxes might work for some flocks, but others might need more or less depending on a number of factors.

So while one box per 4-5 hens is a good benchmark, don’t treat it as a hard and fast rule. Be prepared to tweak the quantities as needed for your specific flock.

Key Factors That Impact Nest Box Needs

When determining the ideal number of nest boxes, consider the following key factors:

Breed Size

Smaller breeds like bantams need less space than larger breeds, A nest box suitable for a Brahma may be too big and insecure feeling for a bantam,
Bigger breeds need bigger nest boxes. Aim for 12 to 14-inch boxes for standard-sized breeds and 14 to 16-inch boxes for heavy breeds.

Flock Size & Density

You need more nest boxes if you have more hens. Make sure to provide sufficient boxes to prevent overcrowding.
As a general rule, don’t keep more than 5-7 hens per box. Overcrowding causes stress, injuries, and egg eating.

Flock Dynamics & Personalities

Docile, friendly flocks happily share boxes. Flocks with more dominant hens may require more boxes to prevent squabbles.
Observe your flock to understand their preferences. Add more boxes if you see constant fighting or hens unable to access boxes.

Seasonality

Hens may crowd boxes in winter for warmth. Provide extra nesting material during cold months.
In peak season, almost all hens lay daily. More nest boxes helps accommodate this demand.
During molting when egg production decreases, fewer nest boxes are needed.

Nest Box Design & Placement

Well-designed nest boxes (dark, private, away from noise) encourage use. Exposed, poorly lit boxes deter hens.
Nest boxes directly under roosts often get avoided due to droppings contamination. Optimal placement reduces competition.

Consequences of Incorrect Nest Box Ratios

Providing the right number of nest boxes has a big impact on flock health and egg production. Here’s what happens when ratios are off:

Too Few Nest Boxes

If there are too few nest boxes for the number of hens, common problems include:

Increased stress, injuries and cannibalism as hens compete for limited boxes
Hens being unable to access boxes and laying eggs outside of nests
Higher risk of egg eating behaviors
More egg breakage and floor eggs as boxes get overcrowded
Reduced egg production from stressed hens
Increased chance of hens developing egg binding

Too Many Nest Boxes

While less risky than insufficient boxes, providing too many boxes has drawbacks including:

Wasted space and resources building unnecessary boxes
Messier coop as small number of boxes see more daily traffic
Increased chances of hens sleeping/roosting in boxes at night
Stale air and reduced ventilation with excessive enclosed boxes
Harder to monitor all boxes for cleanliness, broken eggs, etc.
Rodents and insects attracted to unused boxes with bedding

Frequently Asked Questions About Nest Box Quantities

How Many Nest Boxes Do I Need For 12 Chickens?

For 12 hens, aim for 3-4 nest boxes as a starting point. Monitor your flock’s preferences and add another box if needed. Position boxes in different areas to give hens options.

My Chickens Ignore Some Nest Boxes. Should I Remove Them?

Not necessarily. Having extra unused boxes is better than too few. Try making the ignored boxes more attractive by adding fresh bedding, fake eggs or privacy curtains.

I Have 1 Nest Box For Every 4 Hens But They Crowd 1 Box. What Should I Do?

This is common nest box preference behavior. Try adding decoy eggs to other boxes or make the preferred box temporarily inaccessible to encourage hens to explore other options.

How Many Nest Boxes For 10 Chickens?

For 10 hens, 2-3 boxes is ideal. Start with 3 next boxes and remove one later if it consistently goes unused. Position boxes in separate areas of the coop.

Should Nest Box Quantity Vary By Season?

Yes, adjusting quantities by season can be beneficial. Add 1-2 extra boxes in cold months when hens crowd together. Remove any unused boxes in summer to increase airflow and ventilation in the coop.

Tips for Optimizing Your Nest Box Setup

Beyond getting the number of boxes right, you can optimize your nest box experience for your flock by:

Using clean, absorbent bedding materials like straw or pine shavings. Replace frequently.
Placing boxes in dark, quiet areas of the coop away from roosting bars.
Installing boxes at a hen-friendly 18-24 inch height.
Deterring sleeping in boxes at night by making roosting bars higher.
Allowing each hen 12x12x12 inches of box space minimum.
Cleaning boxes thoroughly at least 1-2 times per week.
Disinfecting boxes regularly to prevent disease and parasite buildup.
Discouraging box pecking by providing chickens enrichment activities.
Collecting eggs frequently throughout the day to minimize breakage.

Finding the Right Nest Box Balance for Your Flock

While the standard recommendation is one nest box for every 4-5 chickens, use this only as a starting point. The ideal quantity depends on your flock size, breed, personalities, coop layout and more.

Observe your hens and adjust nest box numbers gradually until you strike that sweet spot where your flock is happy, comfortable, and laying abundant eggs in tidy nests. It may take some tweaking to get the ratios just right, but your chickens (and their eggs) will thank you!

how many nest boxes per chicken

How Many Chickens Per Nesting Box?

A single nesting box can comfortably serve three to five hens, as hens don’t lay all at once. You will often see a couple of hens in the box at once as well.

This flexibility is why you don’t need a box for every hen.

Here are some examples:

A flock of 6 hens needs 2 nesting boxes.
With 12 hens, 3 or 4 boxes will usually suffice.
Based on how they act, a big flock of 20 hens should have 4 to 7 boxes.

Start with the general rule, then adjust if you notice your hens bickering or queuing up. Happy hens lay better eggs, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their preferences.

Wondering exactly how many nesting boxes your flock needs?

Use our handy calculator below to get a quick estimate based on your flock size:

Types of Nesting Boxes for Your Flock

Choosing the right nesting box is just as important as knowing how many you need. Here’s a quick guide to our Dine-A-Chook nesting boxes and how many hens they can accommodate:

Good for: 3–4 hens.
A must-have for small flocks or as an extra box to keep them from fighting.
It’s best to have at least two of these boxes, even if you only have a few hens. Shop now.

Good for: 6–8 hens.
Two spaces in one sturdy design makes it perfect for medium-sized flocks. Shop now.

Good for: 3–5 hens.
It’s a bit bigger than the single nesting box and is meant to keep eggs clean and make collection easier. Shop now.

For DIY enthusiasts, see our guide to building nesting boxes.