Poultry Farming

Poultry Nest Box Design and Laying Behaviour

Nest box design significantly affects whether hens can express their strong motivation to lay eggs in a secluded, sheltered site.

Key Facts

Hens show strong pre-laying behaviour including searching, nesting, and vocalisation
Failure to access a nest box causes significant distress - hens show agitation for hours
Nest box provision of 1 per 7 hens is recommended but often inadequate in practice
Nest box design including depth, litter, and perch access affects hen preference
Litter-floored nest boxes significantly reduce keel bone fracture rates from falls

Welfare Considerations

The motivation to lay in a suitable nest is so strong that nest deprivation causes suffering equivalent to chronic stress. Hens denied nest access pace, vocalise, and show physiological stress responses. Provision of adequate, well-designed nest boxes meets a fundamental welfare need that cage-free systems theoretically provide but often fail to deliver in practice due to inadequate numbers or poor design.

What You Can Do

Support laying hen welfare standards specifying nest box numbers and design requirements
Choose eggs from farms with cage-free systems verified to have adequate nest boxes
Advocate for nest box provision standards to be specific and enforced in welfare assurance