Nesting boxes aren’t necessarily vital to ensure that your chickens lay eggs. You’ll find that as long as your hens feel secure, they will lay. But, nesting boxes can help them to be confident they have a safe and secure place to lay. And, when you have happy chickens, you will have more eggs. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to the best chicken nesting boxes for your flock.
Choosing the right nesting boxes means it will be easy for you to collect eggs from your flock, rather than having to go search every part of your garden or yard for them. But, with so many different types, shapes and sizes of nesting box on the market, it can be hard to choose the best option. Below, you’ll find all the most recommended chicken nesting boxes for your hens.
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Top 5 best chicken nesting boxes reviews
If you keep chickens then it is only natural you would prefer that they lay their eggs in nesting boxes rather than outside where they may be difficult, or even impossible, to find. You don’t want to spend each day searching for eggs. But, as long as you provide appealing nesting boxes, your hens should follow their instinct to lay their eggs in a nice, quiet place, meaning it will be easy for you to collect your eggs every day for a perfectly fresh breakfast.
Take a look below at some of the very best chicken nesting boxes you can choose from, with pros and cons to think about for each one before you make your purchase decision:
1. Little Giant single chicken nesting box for birds
If you’ve been keeping chickens for any length of time, you will know that your hens need a dark, shady place which gives them privacy to lay their eggs. They need room to turn around in their nesting box, they need good ventilation to give them air and they need to easily be able to get into their box before they settle down to lay.
They also prefer to have their box off the floor. Your hens also won’t want their coop mates nesting on top of the box while they are trying to lay, which is why the sloping roof on these nesting boxes is such a good feature. This Little Giant single chicken nesting box attaches onto the walls of your chicken coop and provides your chickens with all of the shade and privacy they need.
Pros
- Fold down perch on the front for easy access to the box
- Well made and sturdy so will last a long time
- Easy to clean
- Won’t corrode or rust in bad weather
- Sloped roof means hens are not able to roost on top
Cons
- It doesn’t come with screws so you will need to buy those yourself.
- You may have to use a little less bedding in the box if you have larger breeds.
2. Precision Pet triple nesting box
If you prefer the natural look of wood for your coop, then the Precision Pet triple nesting box could be the one for you. Choosing a triple nesting box could be a good option if you are having problems with your hens trying to share the same nesting box, as this will give your flock extra places to lay where they can have the privacy they need.
You can either choose to place these nesting boxes on the floor, or to elevate your box by screwing into the wall of your coop. Either way, these triple boxes could be a good budget buy for your hens
Pros
- You can use these nesting boxes either in or outside of your coop
- Using a triple box can help prevent nest sharing
- Easy to put together
Cons
- Not as long lasting as options made of more durable materials such as plastic or metal
3. Brower 10-Hole Poultry Nest
You can tailor the size of your poultry nest to the size of your flock with Brower’s metal nesting poultry nest options, which come in a choice of four, six or 10 holes, meaning that you can comfortably provide nesting for around 30 hens.
The nest has plenty of ventilation to make sure that your chickens get enough fresh air to keep them healthy and one of the biggest selling points is how easy to clean these nesting boxes are. You simply remove the bottom to take out dirty bedding. Plus, the galvanized steel construction should mean that your nesting box remains rust free, ensuring your chickens can use it for a long time to come.
Pros
- Choice of sizes to suit your flock and discourage nest sharing
- Nest bottoms are removable for easy cleaning to take out dirty bedding
- Easy assembly, so long as you are a little handy
- Long-lasting, anti-rust galvanized steel
- List Item
Cons
- Instructions can be a little tricky to follow
4. Best Nest Box Rollaway Community Nest Box
If you have a relatively large flock of hens and you want clean eggs, then the Best Nest Box Rollaway Community Nest Box is definitely worth considering. Once the hens have laid their eggs, the egg tray rolls the eggs away from them, ensuring that you have clean and unbroken eggs.
You can either stand the box on the floor of your chicken house, or use the rings which are already attached to the back of the box to fit it to the wall of your coop. There are vinyl flaps on the front, which are especially designed to keep the nesting box dark and shady so your hens will feel safer and more secure using it to lay their eggs.
Pros
- Clean and unbroken eggs
- Vinyl panels create plenty of shade for your hens
- You can attach on the floor or on the wall, whatever you prefer
- No dividers to prevent crowding among your hens
- Roost bar can be used to stop chickens roosting in the nesting box at night
- Made from galvanized steel
Cons
- Pricier than other options
5. Harris Farms 2-hole Nesting Box for Chickens
You don’t need to have a big flock of chickens to benefit from a galvanized steel nesting box. The Harris Farms nesting box has two nesting boxes if you don’t have a huge number of chickens, or you want to add to the existing boxes in your coop. There is an alternative to opt for a pack of four nesting boxes if you have a larger flock of hens.
The nesting box is made from galvanized steel so it should be long lasting enough for you, and it has the benefit of a pitched roof, which prevents other hens from trying to roost on top of the box while your chickens try to lay their eggs.
Pros
- Made of rust-resistant galvanized steel so it is long lasting
- Ventilation holes so your chickens get plenty of air
- A hinged perch for closing to prevent roosting in the box at night
- Easy cleaning
Cons
- Assembly can be a little trickier than other nesting box options
Things to consider before buying a nesting box
When you are thinking about the best nesting boxes for your chickens, there are a number of factors that you need to consider to ensure that your hens are happy and feel safe enough to lay their eggs where you want them to. Below are the considerations you ought to think about before you make your nesting box purchase:
Is it easy to clean?
While collecting fresh eggs – and then eating them – is a joy, cleaning out your nesting boxes is not quite so enjoyable. That’s why it is important to ensure that your new nesting box is as easy to clean out as possible. Otherwise, you may find that your hens won’t use a box which does not meet their strict hygiene standards.
How long will it last?
If you are going to invest in new nesting boxes, you naturally want them to last as long as possible. Therefore, look for materials which will withstand the conditions you are putting them in. If your nesting boxes will be outside, it is a good idea to look at strong plastic and galvanized metal materials so they can withstand the elements for years to come.
Design
You may think that one nesting box is very much the same is another – after all, a nesting box is essentially a box shaped structure. However, the design varies very much from one nesting box to another, and it is important to think about what will suit you and your hens.
For example, you may want to think about a design with a sloping roof. That way, you will discourage other hens from trying to perch on top of the nesting box while the chickens inside want enough privacy so they can lay their eggs. Or, you may want to ensure that your nesting boxes have flaps at the front to ensure they are dark and shady.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I really need chicken nesting boxes?
Technically you do not need a nesting box for your chickens to lay their eggs. Your hens will lay wherever they feel safe and secure enough to do so. However, the problem may be that your hens find somewhere to lay that means you end up searching for the eggs rather than being able to easily collect them from the nesting box. Having a nesting box means you won’t have to go hunting around your garden or land every day for eggs.
Do I need a nesting box for every hen?
No, you don’t need a nesting box for each hen you have. After all, you are not providing them with a place to sleep. You are providing them with a place to lay their eggs and they don’t all do that at once! You will find that around one nesting box for every five hens works well.
You need to get the balance right. If you have too many boxes, this will encourage your hens to roost in them rather than just lay their eggs there, and they will soon get dirty. However, too few boxes and you could find that your hens are fighting for space.
Do I need to use the nesting box in a coop?
You don’t necessarily need to put your nesting box in your coop, although most chicken owners would choose to do so. If you prefer, you could opt to install your nesting box anywhere on your land where you feel your chickens will feel safe. However, you will want to make sure that your chickens are definitely safe from predators, otherwise you could end up losing your chickens and your eggs.
What size nesting box do I need?
The smallest nesting box you should look at, as a general rule would be around 11 or 12-inches cubed. However, if you have smaller bantam chickens, you can get away with going a little bit smaller, while if you have larger breed chickens such as Orpingtons or Cochins, you may need to get larger sized nesting boxes to ensure they are comfortable while laying their eggs
Does it matter if my hens roost on top of the nesting box?
It’s best to discourage your hens from roosting on top of your nesting boxes. Otherwise, the chickens who are trying to lay inside the box could be put off because of a lack of privacy. You can look at a nesting box which has a pitched roof if you feel this could be a problem within your coop
Conclusion
The best chicken nesting boxes for you will depend on the type of chickens you have as well as how many hens are in your flock. If you have a smaller number of hens or you prefer individual nesting boxes then it’s hard to think of a better option than the Little Giant single chicken nesting box which benefits from its robust material and pitched roof design. However for larger flocks then the Best Nest Box Rollaway Community Nest Box is a great option, meaning that there is plenty of room for all your hens and your eggs will be kept nice and clean.
We hope you have found this guide useful in making your decision on the best chicken nesting boxes for you and your flock. If you have, don’t forget to share. You may help someone else to weigh up all the pros and cons before making a purchase.