Best Nesting Boxes for Chickens
Updated How we research
A nest box is the one place in the coop your hens choose deliberately, and they are picky about it. Dark, quiet and slightly enclosed is what most birds look for, and boxes that miss that mark get ignored in favor of a corner on the floor. What varies is material, mounting height, whether the box is open front or hooded, and how quickly you can strip it out when mites or a broken egg appear. We weighed how easy each box is to scrub and dry, whether the lip holds bedding in place, and how well the dimensions suit standard laying breeds as well as bigger dual purpose hens. Galvanized units suit keepers who want to hose everything down; molded plastic suits small flocks in tight coops; timber banks suit anyone fitting out a walk in coop and happy to sand and seal.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 7.4 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Duncan's 4 Hole Chicken Nesting Box for Laying Hens, American Made Galvanized Steel Hen Nesting Boxes. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Chicken Nesting Boxes, 8 Compartment Metal Poultry Nest Box Wall Mount for Chickens, Hens and Ducks. Value score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:TOCRETOARE Chicken Nesting Boxes, 3 Hole Nesting Box for Laying Eggs, Heavy Duty Metal Nest Boxes for Poultry. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Feature-rich:CSQOO Chicken Nesting Box, Waterproof Hens Nesting Box with Nesting Pads, Wall Mount for Chickens and Ducks. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Duncan's 4 Hole Chicken Nesting Box for Laying Hens, American Made Galvanized Steel Hen Nesting Boxes
Duncan's American made 4 hole galvanized steel nesting box, a durable wall unit for a larger flock of laying hens.
Our score8.4/10Budget
Chicken Nesting Boxes, 8 Compartment Metal Poultry Nest Box Wall Mount for Chickens, Hens and Ducks
An 8 compartment metal wall mount nest box for chickens, hens and ducks, sized for a large laying flock.
Our score8.4/10Budget
#1Duncan's American made 4 hole galvanized steel nesting box, a durable wall unit for a larger flock of laying hens.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + American made galvanized steel lasts for many seasons of use
- + 4 holes serve a mid to large flock without nest box squabbles
- + Steel surfaces are simple to scrub and treat for mites
- - Heavy unit needs strong wall studs or framing to mount safely
- - Higher price than wooden or plastic nesting boxes
#2An 8 compartment metal wall mount nest box for chickens, hens and ducks, sized for a large laying flock.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8 compartments give a big flock room to lay without queuing
- + Metal build wipes clean and leaves fewer hiding spots for mites
- + Wall mount layout saves floor space in a crowded coop
- - Large metal unit is heavy and needs solid framing to hang safely
- - Ducks usually prefer ground-level nests, so upper rows may go unused
#3TOCRETOARE's 3 hole heavy duty metal nesting box for laying eggs, a wall-ready unit for small to mid flocks.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3 holes suit a flock of several hens sharing nests
- + Heavy duty metal is easy to sanitize and resists mites hiding
- + Metal box resists weather and pecking better than cardboard or crates
- - Metal can feel cold, so add nesting pads or bedding in winter
- - Mounting it to a wall needs screws and solid framing
#4A 3 pack of single compartment solid wood nesting boxes rated for up to 15 hens, placed separately around the coop.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Separate boxes can be placed where hens prefer to lay
- + Rated for up to 15 hens, so it serves a decent sized flock
- + Solid wood gives a sheltered, cozy nest that encourages laying
- - Three individual boxes take more mounting work than one unit
- - Bare wood needs regular cleaning to keep mites from settling in
#5CSQOO's waterproof wall mount nesting box that includes nesting pads, for chickens and ducks in damp coops.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Nesting pads are included, so the box is ready for hens right away
- + Waterproof build suits coops and runs exposed to rain or hosing
- + Wall mount design keeps eggs off the floor and cleaner
- - Check the compartment count covers your flock size
- - Replacement pads will be an ongoing cost once the included ones wear
#6A heavy duty wooden wall mount nesting box with 4 compartments, a natural material option for laying hens.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 4 compartments give a busy flock enough places to lay
- + Wood feels warmer and darker inside, which hens tend to like
- + Wall mount design keeps the coop floor clear for scratching
- - Wood absorbs moisture and needs sealing or cleaning to deter mites
- - Check screws are snug after assembly since fit can vary
#7A 2 Pack of wooden wall mount nesting boxes for laying eggs, a cozy natural nest option for a chicken coop.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Wood gives the dark, snug feel that encourages hens to lay
- + 2 Pack lets you add nests gradually as the flock grows
- + Wall mount placement keeps nests raised off the coop floor
- - Wood needs regular cleaning and treatment to keep mites away
- - Check the compartment size fits large breed hens
#8A 2-Pack of 2 compartment laying boxes with easy assembly, giving four nest spots for a small backyard flock.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 2-Pack of double boxes gives four nests in total for a small flock
- + Easy assembly means you can set them up without special tools
- + Separate units can be placed on different walls to spread hens out
- - Check the material thickness if durability is a priority
- - Flat-pack boxes may feel lighter than welded metal nest units
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Heavy unit needs strong wall studs or framing to mount safely (Duncan's 4 Hole Chicken Nesting Box for...)
- Large metal unit is heavy and needs solid framing to hang safely (Chicken Nesting Boxes, 8 Compartment Metal...)
- Metal can feel cold, so add nesting pads or bedding in winter (TOCRETOARE Chicken Nesting Boxes, 3 Hole...)
- Three individual boxes take more mounting work than one unit (Hens Nesting Box, Chicken Nesting Boxes 3...)
- Check the compartment count covers your flock size (CSQOO Chicken Nesting Box, Waterproof Hens...)
- Wood absorbs moisture and needs sealing or cleaning to deter mites (Wooden Chicken Nesting Box for Poultry, Heavy...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among nesting boxes for chickens?
Duncan's 4 Hole Chicken Nesting Box for Laying Hens, American Made Galvanized Steel Hen Nesting Boxes is our top overall pick. Duncan's American made 4 hole galvanized steel nesting box, a durable wall unit for a larger flock of laying hens. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Chicken Nesting Boxes, 8 Compartment Metal Poultry Nest Box Wall Mount for Chickens, Hens and Ducks is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. An 8 compartment metal wall mount nest box for chickens, hens and ducks, sized for a large laying flock.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span $ price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Chicken Coop Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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