If you don’t make a nesting box, chickens may find a natural place to lay eggs, but that cannot be safe. Often, keepers find eggs rolling on the ground with dents or broken shells.
So, you need a proper and secure chicken nest box (single or multiple), depending on the number of chickens you have.
I have a list of possible chicken nesting box ideas. In every possible way you can create one or more, you can craft.
1. Wooden Crate Nest Boxes
Wooden crates are sturdy and make simple yet great nest boxes. They’re cheap, and look natural look and are easy to customize.
Add straws or wood shavings to the box, and keep it in a dark, cozy area of the coop.
It would be heavy, so make sure you place and stake it well. Also, you don’t want to move it frequently unless you need to clean a chicken coop.
2. Plastic Storage Bin Nest Boxes
Storage bins are great for repurposing ideas. They are affordable, easily available, lightweight, and easy to clean.
To make a nesting box, cut an entrance hole for hens, or just leave the lid open. Place a few bins (3/3 or 4/4) on multiple rows of the wooden frame and attach them, and stake the set against the wall.
It really works well for rainy areas or seasons, as they won’t rot.
3. Milk Crate Nest Boxes
They are free nesting boxes if you have already used milk bought from the supermarkets and can reclaim it. If not, they are still cheap and available everywhere.
You can use it by simply placing it open without stacking multiple crates. For this, you only need to put down some bedding.
If you want these crates mounted on walls or stacked, cut one side for hens to enter and attach or tie them.
Also, you can drill for ventilation and smooth edges to avoid injuries and add liners or straw to prevent eggs from rolling out.
4. 5-Gallon Bucket Nest Boxes
This is a very popular DIY option among chicken keepers.
Open the lid and cut more than 75 percent. Lay the buckets on their sides, lid down, on a wooden frame.
Then, stake this system on the wall and secure it. Add a straw and perch bar in the front. This will be ideal for small flocks.
If the nest box is much above ground, place a ramp there.
5. Repurposed Dresser or Cabinet Nest Boxes
You can turn your old furniture into charming rustic nest boxes. This helps you save some money and add characters.
Just remove the drawers, add dividers, and add some straw.
You can also merge the two drawers into one, keeping one drawer there without needing dividers.
6. Repurposed Barrels or Tubs
You can also use half barrels, wine barrels, or feed tubs to make chicken nesting boxes.
The more round the shape, the cozier the space for hens. Place the divider between barrels to make space on each side, or simply cut them in half into two boxes.
Make the tubs single-box or multiple-nest boxes, depending on the size.
They are durable and spacious for large breeds of hens.
7. Hanging Nest Boxes
Birds always want to sit above the ground, and there’s nothing better than having a hanging nest for chickens.
It works great for small coops and predator-proof nesting. You can suspend them on the coop wall or beam.
It keeps bedding dry and makes the coop crowdfree, especially on the ground.
Also, make sure you place old ladders or chicken roosts to help chickens reach the nest if it’s out of reach.
8. Roll-Away Nesting Boxes
Want to have clean eggs?
Often, you need to collect dirty eggs (eggs with manure, dirt, or feathers). This leads beginners to clean the chicken eggs and put them into the incubator.
So, you need to make a nest box that lets the eggs roll gently into a tray.
It also prevents chickens from eating their own eggs and cracking. You DIY with plywood or buy ready-made.
9. DIY Bamboo Basket
This is a more comfortable and rustic nesting box.
If you are a bit of a carpenter, you can easily craft these bamboo baskets. They are flexible, eco-friendly, and easy to work with.
With different types, you can make a basket from a circular nest with little depth to a cylindrical nest with long depth.
You can easily lift and suspend them on the wall or roof.
10. Repurposed Wash Basin Nest
Turn your old wash basins into mini nesting boxes for your bantam chickens.
I don’t recommend you buy new ones. Just use the old or unused ones with some cracks.
They are a bit heavy, so place them in a fixed location or on a frame rack. You will find them easy to clean.
11. Corrugated Pipe Nesting Box
Use a large corrugated drainage pipe and make circular openings along its sides.
To avoid disputes between the ladies, place a semi-circle divider between the holes inside the pipe and add straw there.
This tunnel-like nest box feels cozy and safe.
12. Repurposed Large Barrel Nesting Box
If you have a wooden barrel (wine barrel), you can cut it in half to make two nest boxes and attach them closer together as a pair or group.
For a large plastic barrel, you can drill circular holes and add dividers between them or into compartments.
Tilt the barrel and attach an extended egg collector front using synthetic grass.
13. Concrete Block or Brick Nest Boxes
This is also a durable, predator-proof nest box idea, suitable for permanent coops, as you need to break it to move it elsewhere.
If you have some concrete blocks and bricks left after construction works. Or you can buy a few.
You can also combine these blocks or bricks with a wooden frame to make them more comfortable and easier to work with.
14. Wheelbarrow Nest Box
Don’t throw your old wheelbarrow. Keep it inside your coop and add bedding to the tray. If the tray is big, place a divider to make more than one nest box.
This is portable and rustic. If you want a mobile nesting station, this can be a perfect option.
Or, park it near the corner inside the coop. It is easy to clean and fun to repurpose.
15. DIY Tote Nest Box
You can use totes in multiple ways for chicken nest boxes.
Lay these on the surface with the lid open and group the boxes in a line. Or you can make a hole in one side of the box in a circle or square shape. Either way works.
Then, you need to add some bedding and leave all for the layers.
16. Metal Nest Boxes (Galvanized)
You can buy these nest boxes, which are easy to sanitize and best for a larger flock.
They are available in 4X2 boxes to 5X2 boxes on the two-storey nest system. Make sure they are galvanized and have poked holes for ventilation.
Though metal nest boxes are a bit expensive, they are durable and long-lasting.
17. Pallet Wood Nest Boxes
This is a DIY-friendly, budget-friendly option. Pallet wood nest boxes also feel rustic and are made from free materials you can easily reclaim.
As pallets are large woods with extended frames, you can design multi-compartment boxes.
They are double-framed in wood, making a strong, sturdy piece of furniture. And yes, they withstand large chicken breeds alongside the eggs.
Even, they are spacious enough to contain roosters that roam around the laying hens.
18. Large Galloon Nest Box
Large, I mean 15 liters at least.
Cut the galloon with one side in a square or circular shape. Make sure hens can enter and sit comfortably.
You can attach the galleries to the group as a single line or in 2- or 3-storey sections, with a wooden frame at the base.
19. Repurposed Cardboard Boxes
This is not a permanent solution, but if you have a tight budget and don’t want to break your bank, throw some cardboard boxes or cartons.
It works as a starter setup but doesn’t last long. They are not durable and need to be replaced easily.
As soon as you get some money, replace them with new wooden nest boxes and sturdy nests.
20. Old Tire Nest Box
If you have old tractor or vehicle wheel tires, you can repurpose them into cool nest boxes.
Cut large tires in half and hang them on the wall or a sturdy structure. For small tires, you can lay them flat on the base surface above or on the ground.
Then, you simply put straw or bedding in the tires.
Final Thoughts
If you have lots of hens, you can keep multiple rows of chicken nesting boxes. Also, keep them higher, stacking one box on top of another.
Some people don’t want to bend, so they keep their nesting boxes below their hips.
But if the roost bars are higher than the nest boxes, ladies may fall asleep in their nest, which can lead to a problem.
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