Housing

Nest Boxes for Laying Hens: How Many, What Size, How High and What to Line Them With

Field guide · Updated October 22, 2026 · about 9 min read

Hens look for a secluded spot to lay, and Utah State University Extension calls nest boxes "essential furnishings of any hen house." Good nests keep eggs clean, cut down on eggs laid on the floor and, according to several extension services, are one of the main defenses against egg eating. This page sets out the numbers the sources give for nest count, size and height, where to put the boxes, what to line them with and how they fit into daily egg collection.

Short version: about one 12 × 12-inch nest for every four to five hens, mounted 18 to 24 inches or more above the floor with a perch in front, in a darker part of the coop, away from the roosts, lined with about 2 inches of clean, dry material, and collected at least twice a day (Penn State, Utah State, Virginia Cooperative Extension, University of Minnesota).

How many nest boxes: what each source says

The sources agree that hens share nests, but not on how many hens per nest. The range runs from one box per three to four hens (University of Delaware) to one nest space per five hens (University of Georgia). Two sources also set a minimum number of boxes regardless of flock size; neither says whether that floor is meant for very small flocks.

Applied to common backyard flock sizes, the two most-cited ratios give the counts below (our arithmetic, rounded up). The coop space calculator uses one per four hens.

Size, height and the parts of a nest box

Most sources give a box of about 12 inches each way. Utah State allows 12 to 15 inches high and wide. The University of Georgia gives no dimensions but says a hen should be able to stand comfortably and turn around. Mounting height varies more: at least 18 inches (Utah State), 24 inches (Penn State) or at least 2 feet (Kansas State, Virginia). Georgia adds a limit for heavy meat-type hens: boxes or perches no higher than 18 inches unless there is a ramp.

Where to put the boxes

• Somewhere darker. Oklahoma State and Kansas State put nests in the darker part of the house; Kansas State says less light at the nests also reduces pecking and cannibalism. Georgia notes that some hens prefer dark nests and others more light, and suggests small differences in look and lighting between boxes so each hen can find one she likes.
• Away from the roosts. Penn State, Virginia and Kentucky all say so; Oregon State adds that boxes should not sit directly on the ground or lower than the roosting poles, which helps keep them cleaner.
• No rival "nests." Georgia warns against enclosed spots, shadowy corners and loose litter in other secluded places, which hens may choose instead of the boxes.
• Easy to reach. Hard-to-reach boxes push hens to lay elsewhere (Georgia). Give raised boxes a perch, and a ramp if birds struggle (Oregon State).
• In place before laying starts. Georgia's 2005 tip says to set up nests before the birds begin laying; its 2007 tip says pullets should explore the boxes for a couple of weeks first, because floor laying is hard to correct once it starts. See how long hens lay for how production changes with age.

Nesting material

Bedding cushions eggs, absorbs moisture and keeps eggs cleaner, and hens avoid dirty nests (Georgia, Cunningham). Leaving it out encourages floor laying (Georgia, Webster).

Floor eggs

Eggs laid on the floor are more likely to be soiled, cracked and contaminated with bacteria, which shortens shelf life and raises the food-safety risk (Georgia, Webster). The same source lists the usual causes: too few boxes, so lower-ranking hens are crowded out; boxes that are hard to reach; nests without litter; and inviting corners elsewhere in the coop. Georgia's 2005 tip adds that floor eggs breed more floor eggs, because other layers lay outside the nest when they see eggs on the ground, so pick them up often while pullets are starting to lay.

Egg eating: what nests have to do with it

Egg eating usually starts when a hen finds a broken egg, and other hens copy the habit (Kansas State, Kentucky). Most prevention steps the extension services list are about the nests.

The sources disagree on diet. Kentucky's article suggests the habit may start from a calcium or vitamin D deficiency or plain curiosity. Kansas State says egg eating is learned, not usually a mineral or vitamin deficiency, and that no feed or water additive prevents it. Once the habit has started, Kansas State, Virginia and Kentucky all say to remove the hen responsible; Kansas State calls this often the only reliable fix and says to watch the flock for a few days for dried yolk on a beak or the side of the head.

Collecting from the nests

Penn State and the University of Minnesota say to collect eggs twice a day; Mississippi State says two to three times; Kansas State says as often as possible. Penn State lists the reasons: fewer broken eggs, less broodiness and less egg eating. For eggs meant for hatching, Georgia's 2005 tip says at least four times a day. After collecting, follow the cleaning and refrigeration steps in egg handling and washing.

Broody hens in the nest boxes

A broody hen stays in a box for long periods, can become territorial and keeps other hens from laying there; nest boxes at least make her easy to spot (Utah State). Virginia and Kentucky say to remove broody hens from the nesting area. See broody hens for letting her hatch or breaking the brood.

Nest box checklist

1. Count hens and divide by four (or five); round up.
2. Build or buy boxes about 12 in each way, with a 4–6 in front lip and a sloped top.
3. Mount them 18–24 in or more above the floor, lower or with a ramp for heavy hens, with a landing perch in front.
4. Place them in the darker part of the coop, away from the roosts, with no tempting corners elsewhere.
5. Line them with about 2 in of clean, dry shavings or straw; replace soiled or egg-stained material.
6. Have the nests ready a couple of weeks before pullets start laying; pick up any floor eggs quickly.
7. Collect eggs at least twice a day, starting in the morning.
8. Watch for broody hens and for yolk on beaks.