6 Best Nesting Box Improvements For Increased Yield Old Farmers Swear By
Boost your egg yield with 6 farmer-proven nesting box improvements. Simple changes to comfort, privacy, and safety encourage hens to lay more consistently.
You walk out to the coop and find an egg under the roost, another in a dusty corner, and one cracked in the nesting box itself. This isn’t just bad luck; it’s your flock telling you something important about their laying environment. The comfort, security, and cleanliness of your nesting boxes directly influence not just where your hens lay, but how consistently they do it.
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Why Nesting Box Comfort Dictates Egg Production
A hen’s primary instinct is to find a safe, secluded spot to lay her egg. If the provided nesting boxes are bright, drafty, or feel exposed, she’ll start looking for alternatives. This search causes stress, and a stressed hen is an unproductive hen.
Stress hormones like corticosterone can interfere with the reproductive cycle, leading to fewer eggs or inconsistent laying. A hen holding an egg because she can’t find a suitable spot is also at higher risk for becoming egg-bound, a potentially fatal condition. The goal isn’t just to provide a box; it’s to provide a sanctuary.
Think of the nesting box as the most important room in the house. It needs to be the most appealing, comfortable, and secure location in the entire coop. When a hen feels safe, she will lay reliably and without issue. This simple principle is the foundation of a productive flock.
Precision Pet Excelsior Pads for a Softer Nest
Loose bedding like straw or pine shavings gets kicked around easily. You can fill a box in the morning and find it nearly bare by afternoon, leaving eggs to roll against the hard bottom and crack. This is where excelsior pads make a world of difference.
These pads are made of interlocking wood fibers that create a soft, springy cushion. They hold their shape far better than loose material, ensuring there’s always a protective layer for the egg. This drastically reduces the number of cracked eggs you’ll find.
The tradeoff is cost. Shavings are cheap, while pads are a recurring expense. However, for a small flock, the cost is often offset by the value of saving even one or two eggs per week from cracks. Excelsior pads provide consistent cushioning that loose bedding simply can’t match. They also help lift the egg slightly, keeping it cleaner than if it were settled deep in dusty shavings.
Henny’s Hen House Curtains for Privacy and Calm
Hens are prey animals, and they instinctively seek out dark, hidden places to lay. A wide-open nesting box in a brightly lit coop feels exposed and dangerous. Adding simple curtains to the front of your nesting boxes can completely change their appeal.
These curtains create a dim, private little cave that signals "safety" to a hen. This sense of security encourages her to use the box instead of seeking out a dark corner under the coop. It also reduces distractions and squabbles, as a hen inside a curtained box is less likely to be bothered by another hen wanting the same spot.
You can buy pre-made nesting box curtains or easily make your own from scraps of dark-colored, breathable fabric like burlap or cotton. Just ensure they are hung securely but can be pushed aside easily by a hen. The simple act of adding a privacy curtain is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost improvements you can make.
Using Brower Roll-Out Nests to Keep Eggs Clean
Nothing is more frustrating than discovering a freshly laid egg has been soiled or pecked by another hen. A roll-out nesting box is the ultimate solution to this problem. These boxes are designed with a slightly sloped floor.
When a hen lays an egg, it gently rolls away from her, under a partition, and into a protected collection tray at the front or back of the box. The hen never has a chance to step on it, and other curious hens can’t get to it to peck at it. This results in perfectly clean, unblemished eggs every single time.
The major consideration here is cost and a bit of a learning curve. Metal or plastic roll-out systems are a significant investment compared to a simple wooden box. You also may need to temporarily block off old nesting spots to encourage your flock to adopt the new system. For those who sell eggs or simply demand pristine quality, a roll-out nest eliminates egg damage and cleaning chores almost entirely.
Add Scratch and Peck Feeds Herbs to Deter Pests
Mites and lice love to make their homes in the warm, cozy bedding of a nesting box. An infestation can cause hens so much stress and irritation that they’ll avoid the boxes altogether, and it can even impact their overall health and egg production. A simple, natural way to make the boxes less inviting to these pests is by using nesting herbs.
Mixing a blend of aromatic, dried herbs into the nesting material can work wonders. Herbs like lavender, mint, chamomile, and calendula have properties that are known to repel insects. They won’t eliminate a full-blown infestation, but they are a powerful preventative measure.
Think of it as proactive pest management. A small handful of an herbal blend, like the one from Scratch and Peck Feeds, mixed into the fresh bedding once a week creates an environment that pests find unpleasant. This simple addition keeps the nests smelling fresh and, more importantly, makes them a less hospitable place for parasites to settle in.
Miller Little Giant Boxes for Easier Sanitation
Wooden nesting boxes have a classic look, but wood is porous. It absorbs moisture and can become a breeding ground for bacteria and a hiding place for mites that burrow into cracks and crevices. This makes thorough sanitation a real chore.
Plastic nesting boxes, like the popular Miller Little Giant models, solve this problem. They are non-porous, so they don’t harbor germs. Mites have nowhere to hide. When it’s time for a deep clean, you can simply take them out, scrub them with soap and water, and have them completely sanitized in minutes.
Some people prefer the aesthetics of wood, but the practical benefits of plastic are hard to ignore, especially for busy hobby farmers. The ease of cleaning plastic boxes means you’re more likely to do it thoroughly and regularly, leading to a healthier flock. They often feature a lower lip to help retain bedding and a perch for easy entry.
The Ideal Nesting Box Height and Placement
Where you put your nesting boxes is just as important as what’s inside them. The wrong placement can lead to hens ignoring them or, worse, sleeping and defecating in them. This contaminates the space and makes for filthy eggs.
The ideal height is generally between 18 and 24 inches off the floor. This keeps the boxes out of the main foot traffic and away from floor drafts, offering a sense of security. It’s also a comfortable height for most breeds to hop into without straining themselves.
Most importantly, nesting boxes must be lower than your lowest roosting bar. Chickens instinctively want to roost at the highest point available. If the nesting boxes are higher than the roosts, some hens will choose to sleep in them, creating a mess you’ll have to clean every single morning. Place them in a quiet, darker corner of the coop, away from the door, feeder, and waterer, to minimize disturbances.
Maintaining Your Upgraded Nesting Box System
Even the most perfectly designed nesting box system will fail without regular maintenance. These improvements aren’t a one-time fix; they are part of an ongoing commitment to the health and comfort of your flock. A clean, well-maintained system is a productive system.
Establish a simple routine. This includes:
- Daily: Collect eggs promptly to prevent breakage and discourage broodiness.
- Weekly: Check bedding levels, fluffing it up or topping it off. Refresh any nesting herbs and brush off any droppings.
- Monthly: Remove all bedding and do a thorough cleaning. If you have plastic boxes, take them out and scrub them. For wooden boxes, scrape them clean and check for any signs of mites.
This consistent attention ensures the nesting area remains the safe, clean sanctuary your hens need. Your investment in better boxes and bedding is protected by a simple, repeatable maintenance schedule. It prevents small issues from becoming big problems and is the final piece of the puzzle for maximizing your egg yield.
Ultimately, paying close attention to your hens’ nesting environment is one of the most effective ways to ensure a steady supply of clean, healthy eggs. These small upgrades aren’t just about convenience; they’re about working with your chickens’ natural instincts, not against them. A happy hen is a productive hen, and it all starts with a better place to lay.
