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ORGANIC POULTRY
W
hat do hens really want? In nature, they
will choose a safe, dark, secluded place,
and laying tends to be hassle free when
the henhouses we provide replicate this.
A standard nest box is 30cm wide, 30cm deep and
35–40cm high. It is best to have approximately one
nest to every three hens, and line with soft litter such
as wood shavings or pea straw.
Hens prefer dark nests, which reduce opportunities for
unwanted pecking. When laying, the lower part of the
hen’s oviduct protrudes from the vent, which can present
an appealing target for exploratory pecking from others.
Dim lighting also lowers the chance of soft shelled or
broken eggs being spied and eaten.
Typical laying rituals include rearranging nesting
material and trying out different positions. This process
can take up to an hour, so nests need ample ventilation,
especially in hot weather. If nests are stuffy, add small
ventilation holes to the external wall with a 6mm drill bit.
Keep nests clean so eggs are not soiled or in contact
with droppings. Traffic jams
It’s a universal truth that all laying hens will want to use
the same nest at the same time. This can lead to egg
retention due to queuing, as well as scuffling and egg
breakages. Providing sufficient nests is vital, but may
not solve the problem when they are all fixated on one.
A good alternative is a communal nest, easily made
by removing the dividing wall between two nest boxes
to make a wider unit. Hens can find enough space
beside each other in the preferred spot without piling
on, particularly important in hot weather.Nest avoidance
A hen’s instinct is to lay down low, however, modern
coops often have nests waist-high for easy access without
bending. Some fowls will adapt, others clearly think they
are being asked to lay up a tree and choose elsewhere. If
building from scratch, a low nest is more natural.THE BEST NEST
To encourage chooks to lay plenty of eggs, it makes sense to
provide optimal nesting conditions, writes Jessamy Miller.Above: Providing sufficient nests for your hensPHOTO: JESSAMY MILLER will avoid them all wanting to use the same one.