Chicken Nesting Box Sizes report
Nesting boxes are required for many small farm animals. Each type of bird or animal requires a different size box. Chickens need nest boxes to lay eggs, sleep and rest. Chickens usually need a clean, dry area where they feel safe to lay their eggs.
While the nesting box is not 100% necessary for your chicken, nesting boxes will drastically reduce the time you spend searching for eggs, and it will also make them feel safe and secure, which improves laying rates.
A comfortable nesting box can usually hold two or three chickens. There are many different options for your chicken nesting boxes. You can buy them at a store or build your own. There is no doubt that using a homemade chicken nesting box is a great way to keep costs down. The determining factor for the best nest box is the right size.
Chicken Nesting Box Size Guide
Almost every coop owner would like to install a must-have tool to make egg collection easy: the chicken nesting box. An ideal nesting box should be safe, quiet, dark, and private. Then your chicken will lay eggs wherever she feels secure, where you can find eggs easier. However, the question is: "How big should your nesting box be?" When building a coop, you must determine the accurate chicken nesting box dimensions and their placement.
Chicken Nesting Box Size Chart
Generally speaking, the standard size of a chicken nesting box is about 12×12 inches and should be easy to clean and keep predators at bay. For height, the standard is about 18 inches. However, the actual size depends on the type and breed of your chickens. The following are common nesting box sizes for different chicken types.
| Average Nesting Box Size (L/W/H) | Chicken Type |
|---|---|
| 12" x 12" x 18" | Most chicken breeds |
| 14" x 14" x 20" | Brahma, Cochin, and other larger breeds |
| 12" x 10" x 10" | Bantam varieties |
How many nesting box you will need
Suppose you want to keep a bunch of different breeds together. In such a case, it is best to use the largest chicken in the flock to determine the size of the nesting boxes. The number of nesting boxes for chickens depends on the size of the flock. The ideal ratio is one nesting box for every four chickens.
| Number of chickens | Number of nesting boxes |
|---|---|
| 2-4 | 1 |
| 6-8 | 2 |
| 10-12 | 3 |
| 14-16 | 4 |
| 18-20 | 5 |
| 22-24 | 6 |
| 26-28 | 7 |
| 30-32 | 8 |
Summary
When determining the correct chicken nesting box dimensions, the important factor is that they should be small enough to feel safe but still big enough for them to turn around and stand up. And for larger birds, it is more important that the nesting box be taller than wider. Do not forget to place the nesting boxes in a sheltered, quiet location, away from foot traffic.
