Understanding how to get chickens to lay in nesting boxes can be challenging, but this article has six helpful tips to make the process easier for you.
Most hens will usually lay eggs in the most random places until they have been trained to use a nesting box. Our ladies decided the door mat was a great spot to lay before they got used to the nesting box.
Those of you who have free-ranging chickens probably know how tiring it can be to have to hunt for eggs that could be hidden behind rocks, among your gardening tools, or even covered in shavings, where you might end up accidentally stepping on them.
This is what makes nesting boxes convenient for both you and your chickens. Not only do they have a comfy and secure place to lay their eggs, but also a designated area for you to easily collect them.
What Are Nesting Boxes for Chickens?
Nesting boxes are specifically designed spaces within a chicken coop where hens can lay their eggs. They are a much safer, private, and comfortable environment than other laying areas around the coop or yard.
These boxes are usually enclosed on three sides and contain soft bedding, such as wood shavings, straw, or hay for both comfort and hygiene purposes.
You can also get pre-made nesting pads which are pretty neat and much easier to keep clean. However, not all hens will naturally start laying in these boxes and may need to be trained first.
Once they start understanding how it works, many hens will choose to lay their eggs in them rather than in random places that could be unsafe or inconvenient.
Benefits of Nesting Boxes
- Improves coop hygiene: Nesting boxes keep the eggs contained in a designated area and prevent them from being trampled on or broken, where they can dirty the coop and create an unpleasant smell
- Protects the eggs: These boxes keep the eggs safe and secure from being stepped on, pecked, damaged by other chickens, or getting lost or misplaced.
- Encourages regular egg laying: When hens have a designated spot to lay their eggs, they are more likely to develop a consistent laying routine.
- Easy egg collection: You won’t have to go looking for the eggs throughout the yard and coop and can instead collect them straight from the nesting box.
How Many Nesting Boxes Do Chickens Need?
The amount of nesting boxes you need will depend on the number of hens, their breeds, and chicken coop design. The general rule of thumb is to provide one nesting box for every two to three hens. Hens usually like to lay at the same time, so having more nesting boxes is a great way to encourage them to lay eggs more consistently.
If you have a larger flock though, you typically need fewer nesting boxes than for small flocks because it’s unlikely that they will all lay at the same time.
You can adjust the number of nesting boxes based on your flock’s behavior. If you notice any bickering, fighting, and queuing, then it’s a good idea to add more boxes.
However, I have found that some hens will still display this behavior even when there are open nesting boxes they could use. They definitely can quarrel over their favorite box to lay in!
The standard size for nesting boxes is about 12 × 12 × 12 inches for medium-sized breeds (like the Wyandotte or Australorp) and 14 × 14 × 16 inches for larger breeds (like Cochin and Rhode Island Reds).
Chickens don’t need much space to lay their eggs, but they should still be able to stand up fully or turn around easily. A cramped nesting box can discourage them from using it because it’s uncomfortable, so it’s better for the boxes to be too big rather than too small.
The larger the coop is, the easier it is to install multiple nesting boxes without compromising the available space. Nesting boxes line up next to each other to save space and can feature different designs depending on your preferences. This also helps for collecting if you have a simple lid and hinge design on your coop. You can buy kit coops like this one that have that covered.
How to Get Chickens To Lay in Nesting Boxes
Tip #1: Add Comfortable Nesting Material
Chickens are more likely to lay eggs in a comfortable nesting box with soft, clean nesting material. You have several options for nesting material, but you ideally want to use one that is non-toxic, absorbent, and easy to maintain.
A bedding layer of at least 3 to 4 inches is ideal for most nesting boxes. I find that most hens will most likely move the bedding around to their liking when preparing to lay, usually into a bowl-like shape.
Some great materials to use in nesting boxes include:
- Straw
- Aspen wood shavings (avoid cedar due to potential toxicity)
- Hemp pet bedding
- Aspen nesting pads
- Non-toxic shredded paper
- Natural grass nesting pads
It’s a good idea to provide different types of nesting material in the boxes so that your hens can choose between different nesting materials. I recommend using at least two different nesting materials for small flocks and three or more for large flocks.
We buy the Aspen pads in the list above, and have one box filled with straw for Genevieve, who prefers it to the pads.
Tip #2: Consider the Placement
A bright and noisy environment is going to discourage your hens from using the nesting boxes. They feel much more secure laying in a dark and quiet environment, as this is what they naturally seek out to nest in.
If the chicken coop design allows it, place the nesting boxes in the quietest side of the coop away from any disturbances.
Tip #3: Use Dummy or Fake Eggs to Encourage Egg-Laying
Dummy eggs, which are like artificial egg replicas, can be an effective way to encourage hens to use nesting boxes. They can also help by showing new laying hens where the right place to lay their eggs is.
They can be made from different materials such as wood, ceramic, stone, plastic, or rubber.
Dummy eggs have other uses as well and can help prevent chickens from cracking their eggs. It’s normal for them to peck at the dummy eggs when you first place them into the nesting boxes and it might discourage them from pecking at the real eggs.
Tip #4: Keep Nesting Boxes Clean
A dirty nesting box is not an ideal environment for chickens to lay their eggs in. It can also pose a health risk to your flock and harbor bacteria and other harmful pathogens that could make them ill.
That’s why it’s important to make sure that you are maintaining the boxes daily and thoroughly cleaning them at least once a week, although I usually aim for twice a week.
This will involve removing the old nesting material, scrubbing the area with a non-toxic cleaning solution and water, and replacing it with clean material.
Tip #5: Block Off Unwanted Laying Areas
If your chickens still prefer to lay in other areas besides the nesting boxes, you could try blocking off those unwanted areas to discourage them. You can use barriers like wire mesh, wooden boards, large rocks, or concrete slabs to cover those areas. We got our ladies to stop using the door mat by taking it away for a week or so.
Now that I think of it, the pads are probably their preference because of the similarity to the door mat!
If you set the nesting boxes up correctly and create an ideal laying environment, your hens will start preferring them over the unwanted areas and the barriers might no longer be necessary over time.
Tip #6: Add Curtains for Privacy
The nesting boxes should ideally have three enclosed sizes and one open side for easy access, although this depends on the layout of the chicken coop design.
However, some hens prefer to lay in completely dark and private areas. Adding a few curtains to some of the boxes can make them appealing to these hens and allow them to choose between using the semi or fully enclosed boxes.
The curtains still make the boxes easy to access and don’t reduce ventilation and laying space. Honestly, we never did use them, but some people love them. If you give it a try let me know how it works for you in the comments.
There You Have It! Hens Laying in Nesting Boxes
Ensuring that your hens have access to comfortable and secure nesting boxes is important for maintaining a happy and healthy flock.
By following these six helpful tips—providing comfortable nesting materials and privacy curtains, choosing the right placement, using dummy eggs, maintaining cleanliness, and blocking off unwanted laying areas—you can encourage your hens to use designated nesting boxes.
I hope these tips have helped you learn how to get your chickens to lay in nesting boxes effectively. Let me know what tips you have for getting your pet chickens to use the nesting boxes in the comments!
My website is community supported. This page contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission. This never changes the cost to you. I only recommend items trusted and loved by myself and others in the world of Pet Chickens.
FAQ's about Getting Chickens to Lay in Nesting Boxes
Q: My chickens are new and haven't laid eggs yet. Will they ever use the nesting boxes?
Most healthy hens will naturally start laying eggs around 18-20 weeks old. While they might explore other spots initially, using the tips in this article will encourage them to use the nesting boxes as their designated laying area.
Q: I'm worried about fake eggs confusing my chickens. Will they reject real eggs?
Dummy eggs actually help hens understand where to lay! They mimic a real egg, showing them the right spot and encouraging clutch behavior (laying multiple eggs in the same place). Chickens peck at dummy eggs less than real eggs, potentially reducing breakage.
Q: My coop is small. How many nesting boxes do I need?
Even small coops can benefit from nesting boxes. The general rule is 1 box for every 2-3 hens, but adjust based on behavior. If hens fight over boxes, add more. Aim for at least 2 nesting boxes in any size coop to offer choice.
Q: My hens keep laying in the nesting material! Is this a problem?
Chickens naturally rearrange nesting material to create a comfortable cup-like depression for laying. This is normal behavior and not a cause for concern. Just ensure you replace soiled material regularly to maintain coop hygiene.
Q: I don't like the idea of curtains on the nesting boxes. Are they necessary?
Curtains are optional and cater to hens who prefer complete darkness. If your hens are using the boxes comfortably without them, you don’t need to add them. The article offers alternative privacy options like choosing the nesting box placement.
