Best Roll Away Nest Boxes
Updated How we research
A roll away nest has a sloped floor that carries each egg into a covered tray moments after it is laid. That single change ends most of the problems that come with open boxes: eggs stepped on, eggs soiled, and hens learning to eat their own. What varies is the angle of the slope, the surface the egg rolls across, how the tray is covered, and whether the unit is a single box or a multi hole bank. We looked at whether the roll is gentle enough to protect thin shells, how well the collection tray stays dark and dry, and how much of the unit comes apart for cleaning. Single boxes suit backyard flocks of a few hens; two and four hole banks suit anyone selling eggs at the gate. Keepers with bantams should check the slope, since light eggs sometimes need a steeper pitch.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 6.2 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Homestead Essentials Deluxe Metal 4 Compartment Forward Rollout Hen and Chicken Nesting Box. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Chicken Nesting Boxes for Laying Eggs, 3-Compartment Roll-Away Nesting Boxes with Perch and 3 Wooden Dummy Eggs. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:8 Hole Metal Roll Away Nest Box for Chicken Coop with Lid Cover for Easy Egg Collection, Red. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:KERTY Nesting Boxes for Chicken Coop with 4 Compartments, Roll Out Nest Boxes with Auto Collection and Perch. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Homestead Essentials Deluxe Metal 4 Compartment Forward Rollout Hen and Chicken Nesting Box
Homestead Essentials' Deluxe metal 4 compartment forward rollout nesting box, delivering eggs to the front for collection.
Our score8.6/10Budget
Chicken Nesting Boxes for Laying Eggs, 3-Compartment Roll-Away Nesting Boxes with Perch and 3 Wooden Dummy Eggs
A 3-Compartment roll-away nesting box with perch and 3 wooden dummy eggs, for training hens to use the new nests.
Our score8.6/10Budget
#1Homestead Essentials' Deluxe metal 4 compartment forward rollout nesting box, delivering eggs to the front for collection.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Forward rollout brings eggs to the front where you collect them easily
- + Deluxe metal build is sturdy and simple to sanitize
- + 4 compartments suit a flock of backyard layers
- - Nest trays are plastic, with only the outer panels and roof in steel
- - Premium metal roll out units cost more than plastic nest boxes
#2A 3-Compartment roll-away nesting box with perch and 3 wooden dummy eggs, for training hens to use the new nests.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 3 wooden dummy eggs help show hens where to lay from day one
- + Roll-away floors keep eggs clean and away from peckish birds
- + Perch in front gives an easy landing spot for each nest
- - Three nests will be tight for flocks larger than a dozen hens
- - Check the material feels sturdy enough before mounting
#3A red 8 Hole metal roll away nest box with lid cover, built for easy egg collection from a large coop flock.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Lid cover lets you gather eggs from outside the nest area
- + 8 holes serve a large flock with a single wall-mounted unit
- + Metal construction resists pecking, pests and hard use
- - Bulky unit needs plenty of wall height and strong mounting points
- - Red paint can chip over time and expose bare metal to rust
#4KERTY's 4 compartment roll out nest boxes with auto collection and perch, for clean eggs from a mid-sized flock.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Auto collection tray gathers eggs in one place for quick pickup
- + 4 compartments give enough nests for a typical backyard flock
- + Perch in front makes it easy for hens to hop in and out
- - Check whether it is plastic or metal before buying for durability
- - Roll out floors need the right angle or eggs may stall in the box
#5JELSVOP's 8 compartment nesting boxes with egg collection and perch, a large roll away bank for bigger flocks.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8 compartments cover a large laying flock in one mounted unit
- + Egg collection feature keeps eggs cleaner and harder to peck
- + Perch helps hens approach upper nests without crowding
- - Big unit needs a lot of wall space and strong mounting
- - Check the material weight if comparing against metal nest boxes
#6Rural365's single metal curtained roll away nest for hens, rolling eggs out of reach to keep them clean and unpecked.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Roll away floor moves eggs away from hens, which deters egg eating
- + Curtain gives hens privacy and a darker spot to lay
- + Metal construction is easy to clean and stands up to coop life
- - Single nest serves only a few hens, so larger flocks need more
- - Some hens dislike the sloped floor at first and need time to adjust
#7A green 5-Pack of plastic laying boxes with roll-out egg collection trays and perch, modular nests for any coop layout.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 5-Pack of separate boxes lets you arrange nests to suit your coop
- + Plastic is easy to hose off and does not harbor mites like wood
- + Roll-out trays protect eggs from being broken or soiled
- - Plastic can crack in very cold weather if knocked hard
- - Bright green color may look out of place in a rustic coop
#8Eggluuz's green 3 compartment egg laying nest box for hens, a compact option for small backyard flocks.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + 3 compartments suit a small flock without taking over the coop
- + Green finish is easy to spot and adds some color to the coop
- + Compact unit fits smaller coops where wall space is limited
- - Check whether eggs roll to a collection tray or sit in the nest
- - Lesser-known brand, so build details are thin in the listing
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.
- Nest trays are plastic, with only the outer panels and roof in steel (Homestead Essentials Deluxe Metal 4...)
- Three nests will be tight for flocks larger than a dozen hens (Chicken Nesting Boxes for Laying Eggs,...)
- Bulky unit needs plenty of wall height and strong mounting points (8 Hole Metal Roll Away Nest Box for Chicken...)
- Check whether it is plastic or metal before buying for durability (KERTY Nesting Boxes for Chicken Coop with 4...)
- Big unit needs a lot of wall space and strong mounting (JELSVOP Nesting Boxes for Chickens with Egg...)
- Single nest serves only a few hens, so larger flocks need more (Rural365 Single Chicken Nesting Box, Metal...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among roll away nest boxes?
Homestead Essentials Deluxe Metal 4 Compartment Forward Rollout Hen and Chicken Nesting Box is our top overall pick. Homestead Essentials' Deluxe metal 4 compartment forward rollout nesting box, delivering eggs to the front for collection. It earns our score of 8.6/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Chicken Nesting Boxes for Laying Eggs, 3-Compartment Roll-Away Nesting Boxes with Perch and 3 Wooden Dummy Eggs is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. A 3-Compartment roll-away nesting box with perch and 3 wooden dummy eggs, for training hens to use the new nests.
›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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