How Many Nest Boxes For 20 Chickens: Best Nesting Guide

As a new backyard chicken keeper growing your flock you may wonder, how many nest boxes for 20 chickens is best? Let’s go keep happy, healthy hens, shall we?

So, How Many Nest Boxes for 20 Chickens?

Many backyard chicken keepers would agree that you should have one nesting box for every 4-5 hens. So, when trying to figure how many nest boxes for 20 chickens, it’s safe to say that about 4-5 chicken nesting boxes for your laying hens should be sufficient.

The Best Chicken Nesting Boxes Have a Few Things In Common

Now that you know how many nest boxes for 20 chickens, you must also know that there are some basic requirements for laying hens and their nesting boxes that I have learned from years of experience.

• Perch- The perch is an important feature of the nesting box.  It gives a landing spot at the entrance so they can slowly enter, which reduces the chances of broken eggs.
• Lip- A decent lip at the opening of the nesting box keeps bedding material in and keeps eggs from rolling out.
• 45 Degree Angle- You may find that your chickens will roost on the box at night unless the roof has a good 45 degree angle to it. 
• Size- Generally speaking, most chickens can use a 12 inch x 12 inch x 12 inch nesting box.   
• A Fairly Dark Box- Chickens will feel safe and protected from predators in a darker nesting box. Many chicken keepers even add curtains to their chicken nesting boxes.
• Good Bedding- Chickens like to scratch around so a bedding that moves well is a good idea.  Think pine shavings, leaves, or straw.
• Easily Cleaned- Your laying hens will appreciate clean chicken nesting boxes. Cleaning them on a regular basis will keep eggs cleaner and the chance of mites infesting your boxes low. 
• Comfortable- I don’t know any laying hens that want an uncomfortable spot to lay an egg. Give those ladies a safe, dark, clean, and comfy spot in the chicken coop for egg laying.

The Different Chicken Nesting Boxes 

When deciding how many nesting boxes for 20 chickens, chicken keepers also have lots of choices on the type of chicken nesting boxes. Let’s take a look at the choices you have for your backyard chickens.

Individual Chicken Nesting Boxes

Made for one laying hen at a time. They can easily be made from many different materials as a DIY. Our individual nesting boxes are made out of five gallon buckets. You can use several for any number of hens.

Group Chicken Nesting Boxes

This is a great idea when deciding how many nest boxes for 20 chickens or for a large backyard flock. Simply put, it’s a group of chicken nesting boxes connected together for multiple laying hens to use. 

Rollaway Chicken Nesting Boxes

If nice clean eggs is what you are after, then your preferred nesting box may be a rollaway nest box. A standard rollaway nest has a slope that will safely roll a freshly laid egg out of the front of the nesting box so it can be safely stored.

There is also a reversible rollout nest box that can be configured to roll the egg out of the front or the back of the nest, which ever you prefer.  A rollaway nest box is often purchased but can also be built. The floors are often sloped between 12-18%.

Trap Nests

Some chicken keepers are eager to know which of their laying hens are laying which eggs.  In this case some chicken keepers may use a trap nest.  

It traps then laying hens once they are in, requiring you to let them out after they lay their egg.  In my opinion, that’s too high maintenance for my chicken coop.

DIY Chicken Nesting Boxes

Many chicken keepers, myself included, just decide to build their own chicken nesting boxes when trying to figure how many nest boxes for 20 chickens.  There are many great DIY plans for nesting boxes, such as this group nesting box from the inspired workshop. 

How May Nest Boxes for 20 Chickens & Using Repurposed Materials

If you aren’t that handy with tools and building things, using repurposed materials is often an easy, cheap way to make chicken nesting boxes for your backyard poultry.

From milk crates, a five gallon bucket, dish pans, a cleaned out kitty litter box, an old book shelf, to spare tires filled with pine shavings, there are many things you can repurpose into nesting boxes for small flocks when deciding how many nest boxes for 20 chickens. 

My Preferred Nesting Boxes to Buy

If I was to buy nesting boxes instead of making my usual DIY nesting boxes, my favorite nesting box would be a group rollaway nesting box with the nice little compartment for the eggs to roll into. This particular design even comes apart so it can be easily cleaned.

Preferred Nesting Box Sizes for Different Breeds Of Chicken

• Bantam Breeds- The small breeds of chicken are perfect for a smaller boxes. A 10 inch x 10 inch x 10 inch is plenty of space for bantams.
• Standard Breeds- Your standard sized chicken, like Buff Orpingtons, can use a 12 x 12 x12 inch nesting box.
• Heavy Breeds- The larger chickens, like Jersey Giants, will appreciate bigger nesting boxes. Going with a 14 x 14x 14 inch nesting box will give a little more room. 

Preferred Nesting Box Size for a Broody Hen

A broody hen may appreciate a little more space to move around, especially when those baby chicks start hatching. A nesting box up to 20 inches wide would be enough space.

Where Should Chicken Nesting Boxes Be?

Once you’ve decided how many nest boxes for 20 chickens you’ll need to think about where to put them. Laying hens will always try and look for a safe place to lay their eggs.

It’s a great idea to place chicken nesting boxes in an area of the chicken coop that has easy access and is less traveled. Ideally, tucked away far from the door and the feeding area could be the right place. 

How High Should the Chicken Nest Boxes Be?

The best height for chicken nesting boxes will be between 1-3 feet high.  Having them up off the ground will help your laying hens feel safe.  It will also help keep them clean, as the coop floor material wont be scratched into the boxes. 

How Many Nest Boxes for 20 Chickens & Best Nesting Box Bedding

The preferred nesting box bedding will be something that’s moveable, as chickens like to scratch out the perfect spot to lay. Nesting material that’s easily cleaned is also a must.  

I prefer to use pine shavings, pine needles, grass clippings, straw, wood shavings, or leaves.  They are all really inexpensive or free. In my opinion, nesting box pads are way too expensive.

How to Train Hens to Use Nesting Boxes

Training hens to use nesting boxes is simple.  Start with your nesting box on the floor of the coop and put several fake eggs in the nest.  

Laying hens instinctively want to lay eggs where other chickens have already laid. Gradually, you can raise your nesting box up off the ground as your laying hens become accustomed to using the nesting boxes.

Common Issues With Chicken Nesting Boxes

Many chicken keepers find overtime that they run into several common issues with chicken nesting boxes. Let’s take a closer look at each of the common problems you may come up against. 

Are Your Chicken Nest Boxes Too High?

If you find that your laying hens aren’t using the nesting boxes and laying eggs underneath, they may be too high.  You can lower the boxes to a height of 12-18 inches to see if that helps or add a fun ladder for the laying hens to use to get to the nesting boxes. Train them to use the boxes by putting wooden eggs, or even a golf ball, in them.

Are  Your Hens Not Laying in the Nest?

There are other reasons for your laying hens to reject using the nesting boxes.  Perhaps they aren’t as clean and cozy as they’d like?  A dirty nesting box can easily become overrun with mites or smelly larvae if they haven’t been kept clean.  Who would want to lay an egg in that? 

Is Your Nesting Box in a Good Location?

Installing the nesting box in a busy or loud location of the chicken coop may deter laying hens from using the nesting boxes. A good rule of thumb is to put the boxes in a nice dark, cozy corner of the chicken coop. Are your chickens safe from predators?

Are Your Hens Eating Eggs?

Chickens can accidently discover the deliciousness of eggs and begin eating them on a regular basis. Collecting your eggs in a timely matter will help salvage more of your eggs.  

Be sure that your laying hens are getting plenty of nutrition, you can often tell the health of your chicken by the color of their comb. A calcium deficiency can cause laying hens to seek out nutrients through their eggs. They may need chicken grit, along with a high quality feed.

Dirty or Broken Eggs in the Nesting Boxes

Over crowded nesting boxes with not much space can mean egg breaks, which leads to dirty eggs. Furthermore, egg collection on a regular basis will also ensure you have less egg breaks, and cleaner eggs coming out of the chicken coop. 

Hens Sleeping in or on Nesting Boxes

While sleeping in the nests isn’t really a horrible thing, it will lead to a dirtier nesting box, which means dirtier eggs. Be sure they there is plenty of roosting bar space available that is higher than the nesting boxes.  

Additionally, many rollaway nest boxes have a perch that can be flipped up at night to prevent laying hens form sleeping in the boxes. You will find though that broody hens prefer to sleep in the nesting box, as they are sitting on their clutch of eggs.

Can a Nesting Box Be Too Big?

A nesting box isn’t usually too big.  If you have multiple laying hens it really just means that more than one hen may take to laying eggs in that nesting box. For multiple hens it may be just the right size.

Stop Chickens From Pooping in Their Nest Box

Chickens are notorious for leaving lots of chicken manure where they sleep.  Blocking off the nesting boxes at night may help keep the boxes a little cleaner. Also be sure you have plenty of roosting bar space available.

Do You Need One Nesting Box Per Hen?

When trying to determine how many nest boxes for 20 chickens, definitely don’t start with one nesting box per hen. Chicken owners have found that a good rule of thumb is one box for every 4-5 hens.

How Many Nest Boxes for 6 Chickens?

Laying hens will usually need one box for every 4-5 hens. So, you will need at least two nesting boxes for 6 chickens. You may find that this is the perfect number of chickens for a family of four.

How Many Nest Boxes for 12 Chickens?

If you have 12 chickens, you can expect to need 3-4 nesting boxes to keep them happy and your eggs clean. That’s one box for every 4 laying hens and a little extra, in case chicken math happens. 

How Many Nest Boxes for 20 Chickens?

For happy, healthy, laying hens and plenty of fresh eggs, be sure to provide one nesting box for every 4-5 hens. On average, that would be about 5 nest boxes for 20 chickens. 

Happy Homesteading and Chicken Keeping,

Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides!