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Chicken Nesting Boxes 101 and 13 Best DIY Plans

Chicken Nesting Boxes

Chicken nesting boxes aren’t essential for hens to lay eggs. They can (and do) lay where they feel secure.
The nesting box is essential for you, the flock keeper, unless you enjoy searching the yard, outbuildings, and under every bush or overhang for eggs!
In this article, we cover the basics of nesting boxes, including best placement, recommended sizes, and how many you need for your flock.
We then present both shop bought solutions and DIY plans with simple step-by-step instructions to build your own. We will show you the various types and explain their advantages and disadvantages.
Our Pick: Roll Away

The Best Chicken Coop Nesting Box

Roll Out Nesting Box
  • Quality Materials
  • Easy Cleaning
  • Wall mounts and perch included

See Price on Amazon


Chicken Nesting Boxes 101

Chapter 1

Chicken Nesting Boxes 101

 


13 DIY Nesting Plans

Chapter 2

13 DIY Nesting Box Plans

 

Chicken Nesting Boxes 101

Chicken on NestThe nesting box requires a few things to make it attractive to a hen. It needs to be:

  • Quiet
  • Safe
  • Darkened
  • Private

These four things will encourage her to use the box to lay her eggs. If you place the box in a noisy, busy area where everyone can see her, she will not use it. A girl needs her privacy for some things!

Placement

Ideally, the boxes will be placed in an area of the coop that is fairly dark and not too busy. The height of the nest box should be no less than 18 inches from the floor and can be as high as a few feet off the ground.
They should not be at the same height as your roosting bars, or you may find your hens sleeping in the boxes! Although this is not a major catastrophe, you will get tired of mucking out the nest boxes each morning.

How Many Nesting Boxes Do You Need?

Chicken Nesting BoxThere really isn’t a definitive consensus on how many nest boxes you should have for your flock.
A couple of Government websites stated one box to 7 hens. However, most people go by one box for every 3-4 hens. This number is in line with the ‘5 Freedoms’ recommended by animal welfare groups. If you want your flock to be ‘certified humane,’ you must have one for every five hens minimum.
I can promise you one thing, no matter how many boxes you build, it will not be enough! They will all want that one box all at the same time.

Size

A standard nest box for regular chickens such as Leghorns, Sussex, Plymouth Rocks, and hybrid layers needs to be a 12-inch cube, 12 inches tall, wide and deep. This will fit the average hen quite nicely.
Larger birds such as Jersey Giants will need 12 inches deep, 14 inches wide, and 12 inches tall. Bantam hens can get away with a slightly smaller box of 10 inches deep, 12 inches wide, and 10 inches high.
These measurements make the box snug, and there are reasons for that. If the hens have too much room, they tend to kick out the bedding material. It also discourages hens from bunking up together to lay eggs.

Chicken Nesting Boxes

Which Nesting Materials to Use?

There are lots of different nesting materials you can use. Below we are going to run through the most popular materials used.

  • Pine shavings: easy to find. Most farm stores sell them in convenient bales.
  • Straw: another favorite of chicken keepers. You can usually buy these from your local farmer or farm store.
  • Pine needles: free for the taking if you have a local source! The softer pine needles are the best.
  • Sawdust: can be obtained for free or very cheaply from a sawmill or perhaps a neighbor.
  • Leaves: raking and gathering all the fallen leaves in the autumn will not only give your ladies free bedding but give you a workout too.
  • Nesting pads: can be bought from most hatcheries and online sources. They are washable and inexpensive.

Any of these can be used for nesting materials, either separately or together. When supplies are good, I will fill a couple of boxes with pine needles, a couple with leaves, and a straw.
As always – they will all want the same box!
To encourage the hens to relax while laying and deter pests, add some fresh herbs to the boxes. Lavender aids relaxation while lemon balm gives a fresh lemony smell and deters pests too.

Training Hens to Lay in them

Training your hens to use the boxes really isn’t that difficult, but you must start training before they start to lay.
Placing a golf ball, ping pong ball, or fake egg in the nest boxes usually gives them the right idea.
They may not get it right immediately but will eventually get the hang of it and use the boxes accordingly.
If you have hens that will not use the boxes, try to think about why. Is it too public? Too noisy? Perhaps you don’t have enough nest boxes for your ladies. Try to remedy any shortcomings that you find, but try a different approach if they still refuse to use the boxes.
Keep them locked in the coop until they have laid eggs; make sure only the nesting boxes have bedding. Please do this for a few days, and then see what happens when you let them out.
Some hens will steadfastly refuse to use nest boxes, and nothing you can do will make them do otherwise. Newer hens that have been integrated with older hens will get the idea very quickly, and you really don’t have to do anything for them.

Readymade Nest Boxes

If you aren’t very DIY or don’t have enough time to make your own, then shop-bought nesting boxes will work for you.
They can be built from wood; however, the metal and plastic varieties are more common.
Plastic

Plastic Chicken Nesting Box

Plastic Chicken Nesting Box
Miller Single Hen Nesting Box
  • Easy to clean and will not rot or corrode
  • The sloped roof stops them from roosting
  • Inbuilt mounts to easily fasten to the wall

See Price on Amazon

Ready-made plastic laying boxes are generally the cheapest ones on the market; they are ideal for beginners and small flocks.
As you buy them individually, it gives you the flexibility to fix them outside the coop or other suitable locations (such as nearby trees or outbuildings).
Also, being plastic makes them very easy to clean.
Metal

Metal Poultry Nest

4 Hen Metal Nesting Box
  • YOU can remove the bottom of each nest for easy cleaning
  • Includes roosting bars, which makes access to the nests easy
  • All exposed edges have been folded to protect your hens

See Price on Amazon

Metal boxes are the chosen type for small to mid-sized flocks. They are easy to clean, withstand a lot of abuse, and are relatively lightweight compared to wood.
You will generally find that metal nesting boxes are sturdier than their plastic or wooden counterparts, making them more suitable for larger breeds such as Jersey Giants.
Conventional nest boxes are sold singly, but most metals come in multiples of 2-10 boxes.
There is also the ‘rollaway’ nest box.
They can be made out of either plastic or metal; however, the metal ones are generally better.
A rollaway box has a slightly slanted floor which encourages the egg to ‘rollaway’ from under the hen. This prevents pecking or accidental breakage from trampling and keeps the egg much cleaner.
The eggs roll away to either the front or back of the box for easy collection by you.

Chicken Nesting Boxes

13 DIY Chicken Nesting Box Plans

This is the fun part! What can you use to make nest boxes for your hens? The list of possibilities is almost endless – some folks have been very innovative.
You can even make your own rollaway boxes if you so desire!

WhiteNest

WhiteNest

1-6 Hens

The WhiteNest is a simple, classic design; it even has a vaulted ceiling. Like the “GooseBox,” this design is also portable, meaning you can place them throughout the run to provide your girls some privacy.

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WineBarrel

WineBarrel

1-6 Hens

Built by Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily, this nesting box started as a wooden half wine barrel. Each nesting box takes around 10 minutes to ‘build’ and accommodate up to 3 laying hens.

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BucketEgg

BucketEgg

1-6 Hens

Each one of these buckets will provide enough space for 3 egg-laying hens. You can use them as free-standing, or you can fix them to a wall. My preference is wall mounting them because the hens seem to prefer this.

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RaidersNest

RaidersNest

12+ Hens

Again this is a straightforward nest box to create and requires very little DIY know-how. This particular layout is suitable for 18 laying hens, but you can add and remove crates to make them suitable for your flock.

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ToteNest

ToteNest

1-6 Hens

What I love about this creation is the simple yet effective nature of it. Anybody can build one of these, and it takes a matter of minutes. Each nesting box can accommodate up to 3 laying hens, so just repeat as many times as needed for your flock.

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BeeBeeNest

BeeBeeNest

12+ Hens

This huge nesting box can accommodate up to 24 laying hens. One of my favorite features of this plan is the roll-away design. It stops egg eating and also prevents accidental breakages.

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EasyEgg

EasyEgg

12+ Hens

This is one of the largest nesting box designs featured in this list. It has an inventive design, which makes collecting the eggs very easy. The downside to this particular style is that you need to fit it into an existing coop to work properly.

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SwedishNest

SwedishNest

12+ Hens

The SwedishNest is an expensive nesting box to build. I’d only recommend this style if you’re having problems with egg eating and breakages; its roll-away design will prevent these problems.

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PlasticBowls

PlasticBowls

1-6 Hens

If you don’t want to spend much money, this nesting box is for you. Each ‘nest’ costs $1 and will accommodate up to 3 hens. Just remember to place them in a sheltered, private space.

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BucketNest

BucketNest

1-6 Hens

The BucketNest is one of the simplest and most innovative designs featured here. Made from a recycled 5-gallon plastic bucket, each nest will accommodate up to 3 chickens. Remember to keep the lids; they are used to keep the bedding material inside the bucket.

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TheTriplex

TheTriplex

7-12 Hens

The Triplex is an affordable and versatile nesting box. My favorite feature about this particular design is the roosting rail fitted to the front of the box. If you’re building this as a portable nesting box, remember to fit a wooden back to it.

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ToyNest

ToyNest

12+ Hens

This large nesting box was originally designed as a toy store. Built in under a day, it is suitable for larger flocks and can accommodate up to 27 egg-laying hens.

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GooseBox

GooseBox

1-6 Hens

Don’t be fooled by the name. Although they are called goose nesting boxes, they are perfectly suitable for chickens. This simple A-Frame design is cheap and quick to build. These boxes are also portable so that you can place them throughout your run.

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This should give you a general idea of what’s available for use. An old cardboard box will do in a pinch, but it won’t stand up to too much usage. When making your boxes, ensure they have a steep pitch to the roof so that the hens can’t roost on top of them.
Unless you use ‘open plan’ boxes, the nest box should have a 4-inch lip to ensure the egg doesn’t roll out and break.

Accessorize Your Nesting Box

You can take any of the plans above and turn them into a unique design with some simple accessorizing.
Curtains! Hens do like privacy when laying their egg, so hanging a simple curtain over the entrance will do a good job of screening her from prying eyes.
You do not have to get the sewing machine out for these curtains. They can be as simple as burlap sacking, feed sack, old napkins from the ‘nearly new’ shop, or old tea towels you no longer use. Staples or a push pin can hold them – it doesn’t need to be fancy.

Summary

If your hens are anything like mine, they will all want the same box at the same time! Failing that, they will lay elsewhere and make your hunt for the eggs. Although mine has been trained to use boxes, they still occasionally lay somewhere else if it pleases them.
Accordingly, I have made a few extra cozy corners that they can use if they want to. I am lucky to be able to accommodate them in this way. Not everyone has sufficient room to do this.
Unless you use ‘open plan’ boxes, the nest box should have a 4-inch lip to ensure the egg doesn’t roll out and break.
So there you have it in a nutshell. They are relatively cheap to buy, even easier to make, and essential for you if you don’t want to play hide and seek with your hens!
Let us know your thoughts on nesting boxes in the comments section below…

READ NEXT: Straight Run Chickens, Everything You Need to Know

Chicken Nesting Boxes

39 thoughts on “Chicken Nesting Boxes 101 and 13 Best DIY Plans

  1. Very interesting solutions. Would you write about creative and easy ways to get water to a coop that isn’t near a hose?

  2. Thank you so much for all this welcomed information, I have been outside for most of the day, I am converting my shed into a coop and this information will really help me with my project.

  3. Thanks so much for another great article! Perfect timing – reminding me we will need to be sure our current next boxes are large enough for our next round of girls – Buff Orps, Brahmas, and Cochins scheduled to arrive in June. Our lone hen, a Plymouth Barred Rock, fits cozily into the ones in the hen house, but that would indicate to me that our new girls (once they grow up) will not!

  4. very precise and interesting. am so relieved of how to go about getting a place for my hens to lay.

  5. We used old recycle bins that were no longer used by our garbage co. my husband built them into a frame and we but lids over them with hinges. The lids lift up for easy egg removal.

  6. Thanks for giving us knowledge whereby we can use the local available material for nesting.

  7. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  8. Ok, I admit, I am inexperienced when it comes to keeping livestock, but my two cents is this: knowing raccoons and how they can figure out how to get into anything and apparently skunks are diggers, I would imagine a fenced-in run (possibly electrified since bears are a concern) would be best if you aren’tgoing to be able to shepherd over and watch your chickens when they are outside the coop. Excellent tips you’ve got here in this article, Elizabeth. I will surely incorporate your tips in my next coop plan. 🙂

  9. so i had chickens when i was a kid. I MISS THAT LOL Although i did find some good stuff hear i built my roasting boxes and used racks out of a couple toaster ovens i slopped them boxed that in and 45 my lid but i also added 4 -6 inches of space under the racks for a few little night light bulbs they will be placed under rack about 1 inch and 12 inches or so apart. the purpose to stop freezing. so a few foam containers and wala no more fozen eggs. Got lights and cords at deals im going to hook them to a 12 volt car battariit will probabaly last the season. put the hole system off the ground 2.5 feet ind im good to go….

  10. How high should the roosting bars be compared to the nesting boxes? You mentioned if they’re the same height, the hens might use the boxes to roost.

    1. Chickens will always roost as high as they can- for safety. So make sure your roosts are higher then the nest boxes.

  11. I keep my chickens confined to the pen until they begin to lay eggs… After a couple of weeks of the ladies producing eggs.. I release them each morning and they return to the coop every evening… Funny note,, the rooster is ALWAYS the last one to go in… Almost like he ensures all the girls are safe…?

    1. There’s nothing almost about that! He has only two tasks in life – protect his flock and – ahem – fertilize eggs.

  12. Thanks for the info. I’m not exactly handy with a saw, and was trying to figure out a cheap but effective place for my chickens to lay. I have a pretty nice coop, but haven’t had a micro-flock since 2013. The coop became a storage area. I’m raising four chicks now and need to get the coop ready for their transition to the outside world. I know they won’t be laying for another five or six months, but I wanted to be forward thinking.
    I think I’m going to go with the plastic tote nest. I can remove the top, I can take it out of the coop to easily clean it, and it looks incredibly easy to make.
    I’m glad I stumbled upon this site.

  13. I have cats and have found that repurposing the square plastic buckets that cat litter comes in makes awesome nesting boxes. The lid is hinged so I just cut off the flap that opens and voila, instant nest box with lip included!
    They also make great storage bins for treats like mealworms and sunflower seeds, not to mention diy feeders and waterers. (Just don’t forget to clean them out to remove any litter residue since there’s usually clay in it.)

  14. My daughter decided to buy 2 ducklings along with her order of 4 easter egger chicks because of the cost right now of chickens. I’ve read what chickens need to have and what ducks need to have. Our coop has an area on the ground for the chicks to lay eggs. My question is will the ducks and chickens lay eggs in the same area or do I have to have an elevated area for the chicks and their eggs?

  15. My hen started brooding but I don’t have fertilized eggs on hand so had to order some. By the time I got them it had already been 5 days. Wondering if this will be a problem – i.e. will she stop brooding right at 21 days?

  16. I want my hens to raise baby chicks they are all free range and I have roosters, but how do I know if the eggs are fertil and leave them in the nest

    1. You can actually shine a light on them. I take a picture while shining the light. You can see they embreo inside the shell. My grandson loves this! We take pictures as the baby chick grows. I’m sure there are many other ways, but that’s the one I know. Hope that helps!

    2. a fertilized yolk has a white bullseye in it. google images of fertile egg. when you are making breakfast, notice if your eggs are fertile. Once they are, you can hatch them out or mark them with an X and leave them under a broody hen

  17. Absolutely love your plain and simple ideas. Non expensive but you still offer what can be purchased. I can’t wait til my book arrives!had to order it….happy chicken is far by the best to follow for information ideas on everything.

  18. What about boxes for Indian Runners? They move around in their Taj Mahal duck house and lay where ever they feel like. None of them are interested in brooding but that ok . Id just like to not have to search all over for the new nest.

  19. I love all the information here! But I have a dumb question. I just built my coop…very proud if how it turned out. I have my boxes 2′ off the ground. After mama hen has the chicks, she can fly back up to the boxes but…what about the chicks? How do they get back up to nest with her? Do I have to build a shelf underneath the boxes with a ladder ramp going up? Im sure this is a crazy question but I truly haven’t done this before! Help!

  20. Look around your property, you may be surprised by what you have laying about that would make an ideal and inexpensive nesting box. Nests need not be expensive and can often be provided for free or at minimal cost. Providing a nest doesn’t have to involve carpentry skills or even the time to build nests from scratch.

  21. My husband, who has alzheimers and enjoys farming needed to have something easy to do. He had decided to order 200 pullets. We used the store bought 5 gal. water buckets. But we had troubles with them either plugging up and not filling trays or the trays running over and making the floor of our coop wet and muddy. Plus having to fill them a couple times a day. I decided that we needed to have a different plan. Years ago when we were a working farm, raised pigs. I decided to use the hog feeders and water tanks. The feeder holds 500 lbs of feed. The water tank that I am using has 1 water tray. Of course, you have to fix a lid for it so your chickens don’t get into them and drown. Another benefit has been is that I bought a stock tank heater and don’t have to worry about their water freezing up or breaking ice. Also I move the tanks outside during the summer. I only have to feed once about every 10 days and fill water tank every 3-4 days. My husband loves this setup as he spends his time checking his flock and gathering eggs. And I don’t have to worry about him forgetting to feed and water. It leaves me more time to take care of him instead of more chores for me.

  22. Love this post! As a backyard chicken keeper, I can attest to the importance of comfortable and secure nesting boxes. These DIY plans are impressive and easy to follow. Can’t wait to try them out and give my girls a cozier place to lay their eggs. 🐓🏠

  23. Great post! I’m really interested in trying out the DIY plans for the chicken nesting boxes. My hens are laying eggs like crazy and I want to make sure they have a comfortable and safe place to lay them. The step-by-step instructions and pictures make it look like a great project for a beginner. Thanks for sharing!

  24. Loved this post! As a backyard chicken keeper, I’m always looking for the best and most practical ways to create a safe and comfortable nesting space for my flock. Thank you for sharing these 13 DIY plans – can’t wait to try them out!

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