Nest Boxes for Laying Hens: Design and Welfare

The design, provision and maintenance of nest boxes for laying hens is a critical welfare factor affecting egg-laying behaviour and overall hen welfare.

Key Facts

Laying hens have a strong motivation to find a secluded, dark, enclosed space to lay eggs, driven by hormonal and behavioural pre-laying behaviour
Insufficient nest space causes competition and stress, with subordinate hens unable to access nests when ready to lay
Recommended ratios are 1 nest for every 5-7 hens in furnished cage systems and cage-free environments
Nest box design features including litter substrate, perch position and entry shape affect hen preference and use
Floor eggs in cage-free systems indicate that nest provision or accessibility is inadequate for some hens

Welfare Considerations

The pre-laying behaviour sequence in hens - exploring, testing sites, and searching for the ideal nest - represents one of their strongest motivated behaviours. When appropriate nest boxes are unavailable or inaccessible, hens experience significant pre-laying frustration and may eventually lay floor eggs. Good nest box design and provision allows hens to fulfil this strong behavioural need, reducing frustration and contributing to overall positive welfare. This is an area where housing design directly enables natural behaviour expression.

What You Can Do

Advocate for minimum nest provision ratios to be strengthened in welfare regulations for laying hens
Support certification schemes that specify nest design requirements beyond simple quantity
Choose eggs from certified systems with documented nest provision standards
Support research into hen nest preferences and optimal nest box design
Engage with egg producers about continuous improvement in nest provision and maintenance