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Chickens like to be secretive and hide their eggs. For this reason, you will have to create nesting boxes if you don’t want to do an egg hunt everyday. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy but you will need something that is big enough for all your ladies and something that feels secure enough for them to use.
#1 Old Dresser
If you have an old dresser floating around, you can have a surprisingly effective nesting box. You might even find on online for free! What I like is you can pull the drawers out for easy access.
#2 Plastic Bucket W/ Lid
I think these plastic buckets work great! Easy to make, easy to clean, and just the right size. You can probably even get them for free. I would go to the deli in your grocery store and ask if they have any they can give you. Or the big kitty litter buckets work great as well. Ask your crazy cat lady neighbor if she has any to spare.
#3 Mailboxes
I don’t know anyone that has an extra mailbox laying around, but I know they’re out there. Maybe you can find them on Craigslist. I like how they have it set up in the picture. The chickens have access from the back and you can open the front lid from outside the coop. Plus its a great conversation starter or Instagram picture. Imagine the hen’s surprise when you catch her mid laying!
#4 Bookcase
These are perfect, especially if you have a lot of chickens. There are a lot of spaces. Make sure its sitting pretty flush against the wall so you don’t have bedding or, even worse, eggs falling out the back. I’d be curious to see how many lay in the top squares of that bookcase.
#5 Cat Litter Box
I really like this idea. It is literally all ready to go. No cutting required. You can try it with the lid on or off. Even the door flap on or off.
#6 Storage Tote
This is another really great, simple idea. It provides a lot of privacy for the chickens and it’s super easy to take out and clean when needed. Probably don’t need one that big, but it works.
#7 Milk Crate
Another perfect one. Ready to go, just add bedding. I think they are the perfect size too. You can put them upright like this or even on its side with the opening facing the front. When you turn them on their side, you can also stack them as well.
#8 Tractor Tire
I know most of us don’t have access to or maybe even room for a tractor tire cut in half, but this does look like a great idea. I’ve seen good deals online for old tires. So if you have the space, it could be a good option. You notice how there is a lot of room but MOST of the eggs are in one spot? Chickens are funny.
#9 Wood Crate
Basically, it’s just like the milk crates above, just more decorative. They aren’t as easy to find as the plastic ones, at least around here, but they’re around. Personally, I would find a spot in my house to use it instead of getting dirty in a chicken coop. But maybe that is just me.
#10 Old TV
I thought this idea was AWESOME when I saw it. I know these old TV’s can be easy to come by. Make sure all the glass is removed though! Plus NONE of your friends are going to have a TV nesting box in their coop.
#11 Plastic Bowls
These bowls work great if you are going to have them on the floor. You could even build a wood box and cut holes for them to fit in. I’m sure these are easy to find at a dollar store or even Walmart pretty cheaply. Easy to dump everything out. No building or cutting. You might want to small brick or rock in there to give it some weight. Depends on your hens and how rowdy they get.
Sometimes it is nice to have a product that looks great and will last a long time, even if that means you do not DIY. If you are thinking that might be the case, check out this pre-made nesting box from Tractor Supply.
Here are some tips and tricks to consider for your nesting boxes:
Materials For Nesting Boxes
I would say metal or plastic are going to be the most hygienic options. But most commonly used is probably wood. Metal and plastic can be hosed down easiest without risking damage to them. So it depends on how neat and tidy you are trying to keep everything. If you are going with paint, the smooth side of plywood would help with cleaning. You could also paint or white wash your nesting boxes. This will help with sealing in the wood and the seams as well as with cleaning later on.
Size of the Nesting Box
The standard size for a nesting box is 12 inches wide by 12 inches tall by 12 inches deep. If you have bantam birds you could get by with something smaller. Obviously bigger breeds, like Jersey Giants, will need something a little bigger. This is not an exact science but more of a general rule of thumb. If it’s too small, they won’t use it. If it’s too big, you’ll get hens pushing each other around and could have broken eggs. Which kind of defeats the whole purpose.
You’ll want to have one box for every 4 hens or so. You’ll notice that they will have their favorite one and most of the eggs will be in one box. But, like cats and litter boxes, you want to make sure they have options. I would have a minimum of two.
Other Details
When you have found a suitable nesting material for creating chicken nesting boxes then you will have to find suitable materials to line it. You can use shredded paper, pine shavings, sawdust, wood shavings, or grass clippings for this purpose. You can also get a nesting pad or rubber mats from feed stores or farm supply stores to lie down at the bottom of the chicken nesting boxes as lining. You’ll need to swap this bedding occasionally. Just a simple visual check will let you know.
Nesting boxes can be placed directly on the floor but if you don’t want to sacrifice any floor space, you can put them up about 18 inches or so off the ground. You can put them higher than that as long as they are not as high as the roosting bar. Chickens like to sleep in the highest position and if your nesting box is high enough, they’ll sleep in it. And chickens poop a lot at night.
If you do put them up off the ground, I’d recommend some type of perch for your hens to jump to before stepping into the nesting box. A simple 1×4 board across the front works great. This also helps keep your bedding and eggs from falling out. If you are going 3 feet or higher, you might consider a ramp or chicken ladder for them to get access.
Some hens like extra privacy for laying eggs. You can experiment with putting some type of drape or other covering to shield the box a little more. I’ve never used them but know they are common. You could put them on one box and leave the other box open. See what one they like most.
Hopefully you were able to learn something from this post and gain more confidence to get your own chicken nesting boxes going. Remember to share this post on social media and make sure to post what box you liked the best. Sharing is caring and helps us keep growing here at BackyardChickensHQ.