Everything You Need to Know About Nesting Boxes
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- 7 min read
If you have backyard chickens, you already know they can be a little particular about where they lay their eggs. Some hens will happily use the nesting boxes, while others seem determined to find the most inconvenient corner of the coop!
The good news is that a cozy, well designed nesting box can make a big difference. It gives your hens a quiet, comfortable place to lay, helps keep eggs cleaner and makes daily egg collecting much easier.
Whether you’re setting up your first coop or giving your current nesting boxes a refresh, here’s what to know about size, placement, bedding and a few simple extras your hens will love.
What Is a Nesting Box, and Why Does it Matter?
A nesting box is a dedicated space inside your coop where hens go to lay their eggs. In the wild, chickens seek out quiet, dark, sheltered spots to lay, and nesting boxes mimic that instinct in a safe, contained environment.
Without proper nesting boxes, hens may lay eggs in random corners of the coop, in the yard or, worse, directly on the floor where they’re more likely to get cracked or soiled. Good nesting boxes mean cleaner eggs and less hunting around your property for the morning’s collection.
How Many Nesting Boxes Do You Need?
The general rule of thumb is one nesting box for every 3 to 4 hens. So if you have a flock of 12 hens, aim for 3 to 4 boxes.
Here’s the thing though, chickens are creatures of habit and will often prefer the same box, usually the darkest or most private one. Don’t be surprised if you have six boxes and every single hen is waiting in line for the same one. That’s just chicken logic. Having adequate options still helps reduce stress and competition in the flock.
Getting the Dimensions Right
For most standard laying breeds, a nesting box should be roughly 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep by 12 inches tall. This gives a hen enough room to turn around, get comfortable and settle in without feeling exposed.
For larger breeds like Jersey Giants or Buff Orpingtons, bump that up to 14 by 14 inches or even 16 by 16 inches. A hen that feels cramped won’t use the box, and you’ll end up with eggs in all the wrong places.
Want to see a clever nesting box set up in action? Check out our Chicken Coop Tour on the Strong Animals Chicken Essentials YouTube channel to see a slanted nesting box design that automatically rolls eggs out for easy collection.
Where to Put Your Nesting Boxes
Location inside the coop matters more than most new chicken keepers realize. Keep these tips in mind:
Mount boxes off the ground. Aim for 18 to 24 inches above the coop floor. This keeps boxes cleaner and gives hens a sense of privacy and security.
Keep boxes lower than roosts. Chickens instinctively roost at the highest point available. If your nesting boxes are higher than your roosting bars, hens may try to sleep in them, leading to soiled, poopy nesting material. Always position roosts higher.
Prioritize darkness. Hens prefer dim, sheltered spots to lay. If your boxes are in a bright, exposed location, consider adding a curtain or partition to block direct light.
Avoid drafty spots. Cold, drafty nesting boxes discourage use, especially in winter months.
What to Fill Nesting Boxes With
The bedding inside your nesting boxes serves a few purposes. It cushions eggs, absorbs moisture and keeps hens comfortable. Popular options include:
Pine Shavings - Affordable, widely available and great at absorbing moisture. Avoid cedar shavings, which contain aromatic oils that can irritate a hen’s respiratory system.
Straw - A classic choice. Hens love to rearrange it, which satisfies their natural nesting instincts. The downside is it can harbor mites if not changed regularly.
Hemp Bedding - A newer favorite among backyard chicken keepers. Hemp is highly absorbent, low dust and naturally resistant to mold and bacteria. It tends to last longer between changes than other options.
Nesting Pads - Premade rubber or astroturf style pads are easy to clean and reuse, though some hens prefer loose material they can rearrange.
Whichever material you choose, plan to refresh it regularly, at minimum once a week or whenever it looks soiled or damp.
Herbs and Flowers for Nesting Boxes
One of the most enjoyable and effective things you can do for your flock is add fresh or dried herbs and flowers to your nesting boxes. This is a practice that’s been used by chicken keepers for generations, and for good reason. Many common herbs carry natural properties that support hen health, repel pests and keep the coop smelling fresh.
Here are some of the best options to try:
Lavender - Perhaps the most popular nesting box herb, lavender has a calming, stress reducing effect on hens and smells wonderful in the coop. It’s also a natural insect repellent, particularly effective against mites and lice. Tuck dried lavender bundles into the corners of boxes or scatter dried buds through the bedding.
Mint - Mice hate mint. So do many common chicken pests. Mint is a powerhouse natural repellent and adds a clean, fresh scent to the coop. It also grows aggressively, so you’ll likely have plenty to harvest. Use dried mint generously in and around nesting boxes.
Rosemary - is another excellent pest deterrent with a pleasant, strong scent. It’s also thought to support respiratory health in chickens. Dried rosemary holds its potency well, making it a long lasting addition to nesting bedding.
Thyme - has natural antibacterial and antiparasitic properties, making it a smart addition to your nesting boxes. It may also support respiratory health and has been used as a natural worming aid when chickens consume it.
Chamomile - is a calming herb that many chicken keepers swear by. It’s known to soothe anxious hens and may help reduce stress related laying issues. The dried flowers are pretty, fragrant and gentle, making them a perfect addition to a cozy nesting box.
Calendula - flowers are anti inflammatory and antimicrobial, and they bring a cheerful splash of orange and yellow to the nesting box. They’re also completely safe for hens to nibble on. Hens that eat calendula petals may produce eggs with richer, more vibrant yolks.
Lemon Balm - has natural antibacterial properties and gives off a pleasant citrus scent. It’s thought to have a calming effect and is a nice complement to lavender in a mixed herb blend.
Yarrow - is a natural insect repellent and has been used historically for wound care. It’s safe for chickens and adds variety to a mixed herb nest.
Tips for Using Herbs in Nesting Boxes
Dried herbs are best for nesting box bedding because fresh herbs can introduce moisture and mold if they are left too long. Dry your herbs before adding them to the nesting material to help keep the boxes clean and comfortable.
Each time you refresh the bedding, add a small handful of dried herbs to the nesting box. This helps keep the area smelling fresh and gives your hens a cozy place to lay.
You can also mix and match herbs based on what you have available. A blend of lavender, mint and chamomile is a favorite for many chicken keepers because it smells great, helps deter pests and adds a calming touch all in one.
If you have the space, consider growing your own herbs near the coop. Most of these herbs are easy to grow, and many are perennials that come back year after year. Having a small herb garden nearby makes refreshing the nesting boxes quick and easy!
Bonus tip: If you decide to put grass clippings in your nesting boxes, make sure they aren’t too long. Long grass clippings can cause sour crop if consumed.
Keeping Nesting Boxes Clean
Even the best nesting box setup requires regular maintenance. Here’s a simple routine to follow:
Daily: Check for broken eggs and remove them promptly. Broken eggs left in the box can lead to egg eating behavior, which is a very hard habit to break once it starts.
Weekly: Remove and replace soiled or damp bedding. For an extra layer of coop freshening power, try adding Coop Recuperate to your nesting box bedding. It contains a blend of organic lemongrass and eucalyptus essential oils to help neutralize odors and support a clean, healthy environment your hens will love.
Monthly: Do a full clean out of the box. Remove all bedding, wipe down the interior with a diluted white vinegar solution, let it dry completely and add fresh bedding.
Seasonally: Inspect boxes for mites. Check the crevices and corners. Mites hide in the dark and come out at night to feed on hens while they sleep. Food grade diatomaceous earth can be dusted into clean, dry boxes as a preventive measure.
Common Nesting Box Problems and How to Fix Them
If hens are sleeping in nesting boxes, your roosts may not be positioned correctly. Chickens naturally want to sleep at the highest point available, so make sure your roosts are clearly higher than the nesting boxes. You can also block the boxes at night for a short time until your hens break the habit.
If your eggs are consistently soiled, the bedding may need to be changed more often, or your hens may be tracking mud into the boxes from a wet run. Add extra bedding to help keep eggs clean, and consider adding a mud free barrier near the coop entrance to help clean off their feet before they go inside.
If hens are not using the nesting boxes, try making the boxes darker, quieter and more private. Adding a curtain can help create a more sheltered space. Also make sure the boxes are not positioned too high for young or smaller hens to reach comfortably.
Egg eating can become a frustrating habit, so remove broken eggs as soon as you find them. It can also help to check for possible nutritional gaps, since hens that lack calcium may be more likely to break into eggs. Make sure your flock always has access to crushed oyster shell free choice, and consider adding extra nutritional support like Golden Graze if it fits your flock care routine.
Bottom line, nesting boxes might seem like a simple piece of the coop puzzle, but getting them right makes a real difference in the health, happiness and productivity of your flock! Focus on the right size, smart placement, good bedding and a little herbal love, and your hens will reward you with beautiful eggs day after day.
Coop Recuperate - Freshen Up Your Chicken Coop
Coop Recuperate is a safe and natural way to care for your coop. This coop refresher contains organic eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oil, along with diatomaceous earth to reduce odor and moisture and help improve the quality of your compost.
Golden Graze - For Quality Eggs & Golden Yolks Golden Graze is a daily chicken snack that promotes quality eggs with golden yolks and Omega-3 fatty acids. It contains oregano essential oils, multi-grains, cracked corn, oyster shells, marigold petals and flaxseed. Treat your hens to this healthy snack and enjoy eggsellent eggs.