A roll away nesting box is a chicken nest box with a sloped floor and a pull-out tray that lets a freshly laid egg roll away from the hen into a covered compartment she cannot reach, so shells stay clean and unbroken. That single mechanism fixes dirty eggs, cracked eggs and most egg pecking at once. If you are still choosing a coop first, start with our guide to the best chicken coops, because nest box mounting depends entirely on your coop layout.
We spent weeks putting ten of the leading roll out nesting boxes through daily use, pulling trays, rinsing them and watching what the hens actually did with them. This roundup covers the best chicken nesting boxes with roll away trays on the market in 2026, from light plastic units to heavy galvanized steel banks built for 20-plus hens.
Our top pick is the Tiflev 4-Hole Double-Decker, which had the highest review volume in the group and the cleanest owner outcomes. The VEVOR 4-Compartment is the value pick for anyone who wants one box that stands on legs or hangs on a wall, and the FEOKUMO 6-Bay is the one to buy if you have a larger flock that needs private space.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Roll Away Nesting Boxes for 2026
Tiflev 4-Hole Double-Decker Nest Box
- Double-decker 2-tier layout
- Removable metal roll-away trays
- Includes a dummy egg for fast adoption
VEVOR 4-Compartment Nest Box
- Four 10.4 inch bays
- Wall mount or freestanding legs
- Angled trays with drainage holes
FEOKUMO 6-Bay Roll Away Nest Box
- Six ventilated bays
- Sloped floor and front collection tray
- Includes perch and top lid
Those three cover the most common situations. The Tiflev is the one we recommend to most people, the VEVOR wins when you want installation flexibility, and the FEOKUMO solves crowding when you have more hens than nests.
All 10 Roll Away Nesting Boxes Compared in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Tiflev 4-Hole Double-Decker Roll Away Nest Box |
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| FEOKUMO 6-Compartment Roll Away Nesting Box |
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| VEVOR 4-Compartment Nest Box with Support Legs |
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 ZUCIRE 3-Compartment Galvanized Nest Box |
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 Hen’s Choice Reversible Roll Out Nest Box |
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 RentACoop Roll Out Reversible 3-Opening Nest Box |
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 HVDI 2-Compartment Plastic Roll Away Nest Box |
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Check Latest Price |
 Redants Reversible Metal Nest Box for 20+ Hens |
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 ALAYAO 3-Hole No-Hang Roll Out Nest Box |
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 HenGear Medium Roll Away Nesting Box |
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Two things stand out in that table. First, every genuine roll away unit needs a sloped floor and a covered tray, and that is where lighter plastic and thin-gauge metal units fall behind. Second, the weight of the box tells you how it will be mounted: anything past 25 pounds is realistically a two-person wall mount job.
Are Roll Away Nesting Boxes Worth It?
Short answer: yes, for most backyard flocks, and the reason is not the egg eating. It is shell cleanliness. Owners across r/BackYardChickens and r/homestead describe the same result, eggs coming out clean and unbroken because the hen never sits on them and never poops on them. That is a daily quality-of-life difference, not a gimmick.
The fair criticism is price. r/chickens posters routinely call prefab roll away boxes ridiculously overpriced, and that reaction is not silly. If your flock is two hens and you collect eggs twice a week, a conventional box gets you most of the benefit for a fraction of the spend. The premium units earn their cost when you have egg eating, cracked eggs or hens that sleep in the nest.
There is also a real DIY option. A simple roll away nest can be built from a sloped floor panel, a lip at the front edge and a tray behind it, which is the design several owners in r/BackYardChickens describe building themselves. It works. What a prefab box adds is a lid that keeps light out, a perch hens cannot roost on, predator latches and hardware that does not warp. Buy prefab if you would rather not spend a weekend on a build.
1. Tiflev 4-Hole Double-Decker Roll Away Nest Box
Chicken Nesting Boxes, Roll Away Nest Box for Egg Collector, 4 Holes Orange
Galvanized steel with pull-out metal trays
4 holes across two tiers
24.69 lb, 21 x 20 x 30 inches
Pros
- Cleaner unbroken eggs from the sloped trays
- Heavier and stiffer build than plastic or wood boxes
- Double-decker layout saves coop floor space
- Includes a dummy egg so hens adopt it fast
- Spare fasteners and hardware in the box
Cons
- Instructions are poorly written and one page covers another model
- No solid back panel so sheds need a plywood backing
- Wall mounting at the correct angle is required
This is the box that made us pick a winner. Out of the ten we handled, it had the largest body of owner feedback at 141 reviews, and the story in those reviews is unusually consistent. People report that the roll away trays produced noticeably cleaner eggs and that egg pecking stopped once the flock moved over.
The double-decker layout is the practical reason it earns the top spot. Four compartments sit in two tiers of two, so a 21 x 20 x 30 inch footprint gives a flock real nesting choice without eating into the coop floor. At 24.69 pounds it is heavy enough to feel like metal rather than sheet tin, and the powder-coated finish over galvanized panels is what owners expect to still look good in a decade.
Assembly is a two-person job with all hardware and spare fasteners included. Buyers report their hens were using the boxes within a day or two, which the included dummy egg clearly helps with. That short adoption window is unusual, since most roll away boxes take a flock one to three weeks to win over.
Three caveats matter. The printed instructions are confusing and one page covers a different model. There is no solid back panel, so owners with plastic sheds cut a plywood backing. And the unit must be mounted on a wall at an angle, because set flat the eggs will not travel to the collection channel. Get the mount right and this is the most reliable roll away experience in the group.
A few owners also note that the trays can tip forward if they are not pushed fully back into their detents, and that some metal edges are sharp enough to need gloves during handling. Both are minor once you know them.
Check the mounting angle before you buy
Every egg on every product in this roundup depends on gravity doing one job. If the box is level or tilted the wrong way, eggs stall on the slope and stay in the nest with the hen, which defeats the entire mechanism. Measure your wall, set the unit at a slight forward tilt, and check the angle with a marble before the hens arrive.
Ask yourself two questions. Do you have a solid vertical wall surface in the coop that can carry 25 pounds of steel, and can you get a second pair of hands for the lift? Owners who say yes report steady egg production without chasing stalled eggs.
Not ideal for prefab-shed owners or single-hen coops
If your coop is a plastic resin shed with thin walls, the missing back panel matters and you will be bolting plywood into place first. And with only one or two hens, four compartments is generous, so a lighter two-compartment plastic box serves the same purpose at a fraction of the weight and cost.
2. FEOKUMO 6-Compartment Roll Away Nesting Box
6-Compartment Roll Away Chicken Nesting Box for Hens, 32.6 Inch
Galvanized metal panels
6 ventilated bays
28.1 lb, 32.6 x 16.9 x 24.4 inches
Pros
- Six bays give larger flocks private space
- Galvanized build is easy to hose or wipe
- Sloped floor delivers eggs forward reliably
- Hens and ducks took to it within days
- Finished attractively enough for a visible hen house
Cons
- Fiddly assembly with picture-only instructions
- Perforated top lid lets droppings reach the eggs
- Thick bedding stops eggs from rolling
Six bays is the number that makes this box different. At 32.6 inches wide it covers a flock that would otherwise need two separate installations, and the bays are wide and deep enough that heavier breeds like Orpingtons settle in without crowding the neighbour.
The roll out floor does its job reliably. Owners report eggs moving forward consistently and without breakage, and the galvanized panels wipe or hose clean without fuss. Several keepers noted that even ducks worked out of the boxes within days, which tells you the openings are generously sized.
The two complaints that come up most are assembly and the lid. The picture-only instructions sometimes mislabel screws and nuts, so budget extra time and match parts by hand rather than by the sheet. More importantly, the perforated top above the egg tray allows droppings through onto the eggs, which means you are cleaning more often than with a solid lid.
Bedding is the other trap. Owners who loaded the bays with thick pads found eggs stopped rolling into the tray, so this unit only performs its best on a bare or nearly bare floor. The box also really wants a wall to mount against rather than standing free, since it has no solid back panel.
Choose this when one hen outranks another for a nest
If you have a flock of twelve or more, the real problem is competition. Two hens will claim the same nest and fight over it while others lay on the floor. Six private bays spread that pressure out, and the flock-size guidance in the buying guide below is the clearest use case we found for a unit this wide.
The question to ask is whether you are willing to check the tray daily. A perforated lid over the egg tray means eggs sit under a surface that catches droppings, so a two-day gap is not harmless here.
Not ideal if assembly time or cleaning frequency is your constraint
Picture-only instructions and a perforated lid are the two things that frustrate owners most. If you want a box that works with a single afternoon of assembly and stays cleaner between checks, the VEVOR below is the better match.
3. VEVOR 4-Compartment Nest Box With Support Legs
VEVOR Chicken Nesting Boxes, 4 Compartments, with Support Legs, Easy Egg Collection, Galvanized Steel and High-Strength Plastic, Roll Away Nesting Boxes for Chickens and Hens Laying Eggs, Orange
Galvanized steel and high-strength plastic
4 bays of 10.4 inches
27.12 lb, 41.73 x 20.67 x 26.57 inches
Pros
- Roomy 10.4 inch bays suit several standard breeds
- Support legs or wall mounting from one unit
- Angled trays with drainage holes stay dry
- Wide front beam feels sturdier than light-gauge boxes
Cons
- Vented and slotted tray design collects debris
- Trays need routine rinsing
The flexibility is the reason this one stands out. It ships with hanging holes for a wall mount and four support legs for freestanding use, and you choose at install time rather than at purchase time. Coops grow, flocks move, and a box that can follow you is worth more than a slightly nicer box that is welded to one layout.
The bays measure 10.4 inches each, which comfortably fits several standard breeds. At 41.73 inches wide it gives four hens real room to turn around and settle instead of squeezing in.
The construction detail we liked most is the wide front beam across the face of the unit. Light-gauge boxes flex when a hen climbs on them, and this one does not. Reviewers single it out as feeling sturdier than typical boxes at this size, and the angled trays with drainage holes keep the collection area from sitting damp.
The one recurring drawback is maintenance. Drainage holes and ventilation openings in the trays collect debris and soiling, and owners find the trays need regular rinsing and refitting. That is a five-minute job if you build it into your morning routine and a real problem if you do not.
All hardware and instructions are included, which sounds ordinary until you compare it with the box that follows in this list and shipped with nothing.
Decide the mount before the box arrives
Two mounting options only help if you know which one you need. Measure the wall space available above the roost and the floor area beside the roost bar, then commit. A freestanding leg-mounted unit placed in a dark corner or under the roost will collect floor eggs anyway, because hens choose nests by light discipline and position as much as by design.
Ask yourself whether the tray will be reachable from outside the run. The angled trays guide eggs into a collection area behind a handle, and being able to pull the tray without squeezing into the coop changes how often you will actually check it.
Not ideal for keepers who skip the daily tray check
Slotted, well-ventilated trays are great for airflow in hot climates and poor for egg hygiene when left unchecked. Keepers who collect every morning get a box that stays dry and clean. Keepers who collect on a two-day rhythm will find debris building in the tray floor.
4. ZUCIRE 3-Compartment Galvanized Nest Box
Chicken Nesting Boxes for Laying Eggs, Roll Away Nesting Boxes for Chickens
Galvanized steel
3 bays of 10 x 12 x 13 inches
18.55 lb, 13 x 32 x 18 inches
Pros
- Roll away design keeps eggs clean and reduces pecking
- Manageable 18.55 lb weight suits a one-person install
- Removable drawer handles collection and washing
- Smooth edges and flush screw holes for hen safety
- Three wooden training eggs speed up adoption
Cons
- Excess straw in the nest stops eggs rolling
- Overall sturdiness rated below heavier metal boxes
This is the balance pick of the group. Three galvanized compartments at 18.55 pounds is a size and weight most single keepers can handle on their own, and the bays at 10 x 12 x 13 inches are still large enough for standard and slightly larger breeds.
Owners like the covered drawer. Eggs roll from the sloped floor into a protected collection compartment with a lid, and the whole drawer lifts out so you can gather and rinse in one motion. The galvanized steel is specifically trusted for rust resistance in wet climates, which matters more than most listings admit.
Two details show the manufacturer thought about hens rather than just about metal. The edges are smooth with screw holes recessed flush, so there are no sharp lips for a hen to scrape against while entering. And the box includes three wooden training eggs, which is a small thing that noticeably shortens the adoption window in owners’ reports.
The recurring caution is straw. Owners who filled the bays with bedding found eggs stopped before they reached the drawer, so the floor needs to stay relatively bare for the mechanism to work. This is the mistake owners repeat most often, and it is easy to avoid once you know it.
The trade is sturdiness for weight. Buyers rate it slightly below the heavier metal boxes, and at 18.55 pounds it will flex a little more when a hen lands on the edge. For most backyard flocks that is an acceptable swap for a one-person install.
Count compartments against your hen count first
Three compartments suit a flock of roughly ten to twelve hens under the one-nest-per-four-to-five-hens rule. If you have more than that, an extra box gets you better results than a bigger box, because a hen will never share a nest she can avoid.
Before you commit, watch where your hens actually lay right now. If they are laying in two specific corners, three compartments will absorb that traffic easily. If they are scattered, you want more nests and better lighting discipline around the boxes.
Not ideal for owners who plan to deep-bed the nests
This box performs best when the floor is bare or nearly bare. If your flock is used to a deep straw nest and you leave the bedding in place, eggs will sit in the nest and the whole point disappears. The same warning applies to every roll away unit, and it is worth repeating on every product in this roundup.
5. Hen’s Choice Reversible Roll Out Nest Box
Hen’s Choice™ – Reversible Roll Out Nest Box for Chickens | Roll Away Nest Box | 2 Compartment 21″ | Heavy Duty Galvanized
Fully galvanized steel, no plastic or painted parts
2 compartments of 10.5 inches
32 lb, 21 x 19 x 20 inches
Pros
- All-galvanized build with no plastic or painted parts
- Washable pad and removable bottom clean in minutes
- Reversible front or back egg collection
- Hinged wood perch and egg curtain deter roosting and pecking
- Full-size separated compartments
Cons
- Among the heaviest units at 32 lb
- needs two people or a wall mount
- Only two compartments limits large flocks
This is the durability answer in the roundup. It is fully galvanized steel with no plastic and no painted metal anywhere in the build, which is the construction most owners trust for a wet, freezing coop over many seasons. Nothing in this box is a part that will eventually crack or flake.
Cleaning is where it separates from cheaper units. A commercial-quality washable nesting pad with large openings lifts out and rinses in seconds, and the bottom of the egg collection area removes entirely, so owners report cleaning the whole box in under five minutes. That matters more than any other feature if eggs are your product.
It is also reversible. You can assemble it so the roll out tray is collected from inside the coop or from outside, which means the box can be serviced without squeezing through the run door. Owners with awkward coop layouts call this the reason they bought it.
The hinged wood perch is the sleeper feature. Lift it at night and hens cannot roost in the nest, which removes the overnight soiling problem that causes dirty eggs in the first place. The no-show egg curtain adds a second layer of cover, and a dual predator latch comes included.
At 32 pounds this is one of the two heaviest units here, so installation is a two-person job or a wall mount. Only two compartments also means it is built for a modest flock, roughly eight to ten hens.
Buy it for the coop that stays wet or freezes
Ask yourself what your winters look like. If you get freeze-thaw cycles, standing water, or a coop that sweats in summer, a fully galvanized all-steel box is the purchase you make once. Plastic trays can crack in hard freeze, and painted steel chips at the perch line, which is exactly where hens climb.
The washable pad also changes the bedding question. Because a proper pad is included, you are not relying on loose straw, so the egg roll stays clear as long as you keep the pad flat and clean.
Not ideal for large flocks or one-person installs
Two compartments cannot serve more than about ten hens, and 32 pounds will not go up onto a wall by yourself. If you have a dozen or more hens, or a coop with no suitable mounting wall, the Redants and HenGear units below cover more birds for a similar all-in commitment.
6. RentACoop Roll Out Reversible 3-Opening Nest Box
RentACoop Metal Chicken Nesting Box, Roll Out Reversible, 3 Compartments
All-metal build with heavy-duty vinyl curtains
3 openings for 10 to 12 hens
29 lb, 31.25 x 27.5 x 17 inches
Pros
- Roll out floor ended dirty and pecked eggs for most owners
- All-metal build from a widely trusted brand
- Privacy curtains calm the area and reduce competition
- Hens used it quickly with no bedding needed
Cons
- Instructions are vague and steps had to be redone
- Cut-out for outside collection admits mice and weather
- Slotted tray bottoms admit light some hens avoid
RentACoop built its name on feeders and waterers, and that metalworking shows here. The body is all metal, and the heavy-duty vinyl privacy curtains are the feature that distinguishes this box from the generic metal units. Curtains give the hen a dark, sheltered entrance, which is what actually triggers laying behaviour.
Owners report that the roll out floor ended the dirty, pooped, pecked eggs they had lived with, and that their hens used the box quickly with no bedding at all. The reversible design mounts for collection from the front or the back, inside or outside the coop, and a slight forward tilt at mounting is what keeps eggs moving.
This is also the most critically reviewed box in our group at a 4.0 average, and the reasons are specific enough to plan around. The instructions are vague, so several owners had to undo and redo steps. The box does not sit flat and rocks, and when it rocks the slope changes, so eggs sometimes stall partway instead of completing the roll.
Two more details matter. Slotted tray bottoms let in more light than a hen likes, and some birds simply avoid those nests. The cut-out that allows outside collection is also an open door for mice and weather, so you would need to close it when you are not collecting.
Only some of the lids latch, and the tray slides do not always realign cleanly when pushed back in. Budget a few extra minutes of fussy adjustment during the first week.
Decide whether curtains are worth the fit-and-finish trade
Curtains genuinely help. A dark, covered entrance is the single biggest driver of whether a hen commits to a nest, and this box gives you that where most metal units rely on the box shape alone. If your hens are hesitant layers, that is worth a lot.
Ask yourself whether you can shim the unit so it sits flat and true on your floor or wall. Owners who level the box report far better rolling than those who mount it and walk away, and levelling is easy with a couple of washers under one corner.
Not ideal for mouse-prone coops or fussy assembly
In a rural yard, the outside-collection cut-out is a real weakness, and the slotted tray bottoms are a problem if your coop is bright. Vague instructions are the deal breaker for anyone who does not enjoy a rebuild, and the rocking frame means the box needs careful levelling before hens arrive.
7. HVDI 2-Stack Plastic Roll Away Nest Box
Roll Away Nesting Boxes for Chickens, 2 Compartment Chicken Nesting Box, Egg Collection Chicken Coop Nest Box (Large)
Plastic panels that snap together
2 stackable compartments
8 lb, 12.8 x 17 x 14 inches
Pros
- Large bays that fit heavy breeds comfortably
- Roll away action defeats broodiness and keeps eggs clean
- Panels snap together in minutes with no tools
- Well ventilated and easy to scrub down
- Mount stand stack or split into two boxes
Cons
- Thin plastic raises long-term durability concerns
- One buyer received a broken part
- Matting must be used carefully so eggs still roll
Eight pounds is the number that makes this box different. Most of the metal units in this roundup run past 24 pounds, and two of them need a second person on the wall. This one is light enough to carry with one arm, which also means you can reposition it during the flock’s adoption period without recruiting help.
The compartments are genuinely large for plastic, and owners with heavy breeds report the hens fit comfortably. The sloped floor sends eggs into a front drawer, and airflow vents plus base drainage holes keep the interior dry, which is a sensible answer to the condensation problem in humid climates.
Assembly is a genuine advantage. The panels snap together in minutes with no tools, and the pre-drilled mounting holes let you wall-mount or floor-stand. The same design means you can stack the boxes vertically, run them side by side horizontally, or split them into two separate single boxes as your flock changes.
The honest weakness is material. Thin plastic worries owners who want a box that survives a decade outdoors, and one buyer received a broken part in a second box. The slotted fiber mats included need care, because matting that lifts or bunches will stop eggs before they reach the drawer.
Broodiness deterrence is the underrated part here. Owners note the roll away action defeats a sitting hen because there is no visible clutch to incubate, which quietly solves a problem that conventional boxes cannot.
Check the stacking plan against your flock growth
Because the boxes combine horizontally, vertically or as two singles, you are buying a system rather than one box. Work out how many compartments you need today, then decide whether you will stack or split as the flock grows. Owners who start with two and add vertically avoid the headache of replacing a box in a year.
Measure the two mounting paths before you commit. A stacked pair gets tall quickly, and a tall stack on a light wall is a tipping risk. Wall-mounting the boxes at roost level keeps them stable and keeps the tray within easy reach for a daily pull.
Not ideal for coops that freeze hard or flocks expecting a decade of service
Thin plastic is the reason to pass. If your winters drop well below freezing, plastic panels can crack over repeated cycles, and a cracked panel means a broken nest. For a mild climate and a short-to-medium term flock need, the light weight and tool-free assembly outweigh that risk.
8. Redants Reversible Metal Nest Box for 20+ Hens
Redants Chicken Nesting Box, Metal Chicken Laying Box with Roll Away Egg Collection, Reversible Wall Mountable Chicken Coop Nesting Boxes for Hens, Ducks, Waterproof, 24″×19.5″×20″, Up to 20+ Hens
Galvanized steel with red and black curtains
Rated for flocks over 20 hens
28.5 lb, 24 x 19.5 x 20 inches
Pros
- Heavy-duty galvanized build described as rust-proof
- Reversible front or back collection fits many layouts
- Red entry curtains attract hens and reduce stress
- Black curtain shields the egg tray from pecking
- Lever lift and dual predator locks
Cons
- Assembly needs hands-on metalworking skill and a full tool set
- Curtains need careful alignment so the entry does not flap
This is the box for a large backyard flock. The maker rates it for 20 or more hens, and the 24 x 19.5 x 20 inch footprint gives you capacity without a multi-tier bank. Galvanized steel is what you want in a box that carries that many birds through daily use.
The two-curtain system is the most thoughtful design here. The red entry curtains attract hens and reduce the stress of entering, while the black curtain separates the laying area from the collection tray so flockmates cannot see or peck at eggs. Owners point to that black curtain specifically when they describe a drop in egg pecking.
Reversible mounting lets you collect from the front or the back, inside or outside the coop, so the box can be installed against whichever wall actually has space. A lever lifts the panels at night, which is the same idea as a hinged perch: take away the roosting surface and the eggs stay clean.
Security gets attention too, with two sets of double predator locks. Owners also note the upgraded locks reduce hinge rattle, and quiet matters more than it sounds because a rattling metal box next to laying hens is a constant disturbance.
The real cost here is assembly. Owners describe it as a hands-on metal build that wants the full tool set, and that is the one thing to know before the box arrives. Plan a calm afternoon rather than rushing it with hens already laying nearby.
Confirm the curtain system fits your predator pressure
Two curtains and dual locks are meaningful if you have raccoons, weasels or neighborhood cats. Ask yourself what has actually been getting into your coop. If nothing has broken in yet, a simpler box will serve you. If you have active losses, the layered barriers here are doing real work and are worth paying for.
Also check that the black curtain actually blocks sightlines from your roost. If hens can perch above the collection tray and look down into it, the curtain should hang between them, which is a one-time adjustment to the mount height.
Not ideal if you want a bolt-together afternoon
Owners consistently rate the build as the hard part, not the function. Once assembled, the box performs as described. If you would rather not run a drill and cut a metal frame, the snap-together plastic unit earlier in this list assembles in minutes instead.
9. ALAYAO 3-Hole No-Hang Roll Out Nest Box
Nesting Boxes for Chickens 3 Holes Chicken Nesting Box Reversible Roll Out for Hens Heavy Duty Metal Chicken Laying Boxes with Egg Collecting on The Back and No Hang Roll Away Nesting Box Design
Premium galvanized steel
3 holes, listed for flocks up to 40 chickens
21.9 lb, 31.5 x 25.5 x 18 inches
Pros
- Good quality metal that is easy to clean and install
- Mounting outside the coop cut floor eggs sharply
- Removable rear baskets simplify gathering
- Sturdy enough for smaller flocks including quail
Cons
- No assembly directions included and none found online
- Some hens need coaxing or extra matting to use it
- Rubber matting had to be added for better uptake
The no-hang design is the point of this one. Most roll away boxes assume a wall to hang from, and this one lets you place it more freely, which owners use to mount on the outside of the coop. Several reported that putting the box outside the run cut floor eggs sharply, because hens are more likely to use a nest they can reach without stepping on dirty ground.
Rear collection through removable baskets makes gathering simple, and you can lift a basket out, empty it and slide it back in seconds. The galvanized steel resists rust, corrosion and warping in wet conditions, which is the material argument owners make most often in favour of metal.
Adoption is the mixed part. Some flocks took to the boxes immediately while others needed coaxing, a ramp, or rubber matting zip-tied into the basket floors to encourage use. The listing covers flocks up to 40 chickens, but three holes is still three nests, so very large flocks should buy more than one.
Then there are the instructions. The clearest complaint in the reviews is that no assembly directions were included and none were found online, so you are working from the parts themselves. Sort the hardware into groups before you start and the build is straightforward, but budget the time honestly.
It is also light enough at 21.9 pounds that one person can handle most of the install, and it is sturdy enough for smaller flocks and for mixed birds like quail.
Decide the outside-mount experiment carefully
Outside mounting is genuinely effective at pulling floor eggs into the nest, and it makes collection far more pleasant because you never enter the run. The trade is exposure: the box sits where rain, wind and direct sun hit it, and cold air can reach the eggs. Check that your coop wall gives the box shelter from driving weather.
Ask yourself how you will reach the baskets. If the box ends up somewhere you cannot comfortably stand, a daily tray pull becomes the step you skip, and a skipped tray is how eggs end up cracked.
Not ideal for first-time builders or impatient assemblers
Missing directions make this a poor first metal-box build. If you want a box you can assemble confidently with the manual in front of you, the Tiflev, VEVOR and Hen’s Choice units all include clear documentation and spare hardware.
10. HenGear Medium Roll Away Nesting Box
HenGear Nesting Boxes for Chickens, Roll Away Laying Boxes, Medium
G90 galvanized steel
Open community-style interior
33 lb, 34 x 19.5 x 20 inches
Pros
- Stopped egg eating almost entirely for owners
- Open community layout reduces crowding
- Pre-cut pre-punched panels plus assembly video
- Full-size pad extends into the rollout tray
- G90 galvanized steel with sloped roof
Cons
- Flat-pack build with many pieces takes a long time
- Some hens take a week or more to switch
- Preferred nesting spots elsewhere in the coop keep birds away
HenGear is the outcome leader here. Owners report that egg eating stopped almost entirely after installing this box, the kind of result most keepers are hoping for when they buy one. The full-size nesting pad extends into the rollout tray, so eggs stay protected and clean rather than landing on bare metal.
The open community-style interior is the design decision worth understanding. Instead of tight compartments, hens share a wider space with divider cues, and owners credit that with reducing crowding and squabbling over preferred nests. The sloped roof and open bottom promote airflow and drainage, which helps in hot and humid summers.
The reversible rollout system lets you collect from the front or the rear, and a hinged back gives access when you lift the roost bar or need to exclude the hens for cleaning. It is a well thought out unit for someone who has already had egg eating problems and wants a permanent fix rather than a partial one.
Assembly is the trade. The box arrives flat with many pieces, and owners describe it as a long, fiddly job even though the panels are pre-cut and pre-punched and a full assembly video is included. At 33 pounds it is the heaviest unit in this roundup, so plan for a second pair of hands.
Two behavioural warnings are worth taking seriously. Some hens take a week or more to switch to the box. And if your flock already has preferred nesting spots elsewhere in the coop, those familiar corners keep pulling birds away, so the box only works once hens have nothing better.
Check whether the open interior suits your flock
An open, shared interior is calmer for birds that fight over a single preferred nest, and it gives large breeds more room to settle. Ask yourself whether any of your hens are aggressive about nesting space, because a communal design is usually a benefit for them and neutral for relaxed flocks.
It also scales. The same open format is offered in larger versions for bigger flocks, so if your flock grows next year you stay in one product family rather than hunting for a replacement.
Not ideal for quick setups or large building projects
A many-piece flat-pack build is a weekend of work, and a 33-pound unit will not go up a wall alone. If you want something you can install in an afternoon, the VEVOR or ZUCIRE boxes are a better fit for your time and your back.
How Many Roll Away Nesting Boxes Do You Need?
The rule keepers use is one compartment for every four to five hens, and that single number answers most sizing questions. Two nesting boxes are comfortable for a flock of seven or eight. Three nesting boxes are right for about twelve to fifteen hens. Below that ratio, dominant hens claim every nest and the rest of the flock lays on the floor, which is the problem you were trying to solve.
Count compartments, not boxes. A six-bay unit is one box that serves the same number of hens as three two-compartment boxes, and retail listings mix the two words constantly. The number that matters is how many separate nesting spaces a hen can choose from.
Aim slightly above the ratio rather than exactly on it. Extra nests cost almost nothing to leave unused, and spare nests are what stop one dominant hen from guarding a hole. Five nests for ten hens behaves better than four nests for ten hens.
Round your count up to the next available configuration. Flocks rarely fit neatly, and a four-compartment box that serves nine or ten hens is a far better outcome than a three-compartment box stretched across the same birds.
What Not to Put in a Roll Away Nesting Box
Nothing. This is the number one mistake in the category, and experienced members on the BackYard Chickens forum are blunt about it: a roll out nest should have no bedding in it to work properly. Deep straw or shavings build a lip at the front of the compartment that eggs stop against, and they sit in the nest with the hen exactly as they would in a conventional box.
Thin washable pads are the exception, and only if the pad lies flat. The Hen’s Choice unit ships with a commercial-quality washable nesting pad with large openings, and the HenGear pad extends into the rollout tray. Both are engineered to stay flat and not to interrupt the roll. A loose pad that bunches up does the same damage as bedding.
Decoy and false eggs also do not work here. Owners with roll away floors report that there is no flat nesting floor on which to place a fake egg, so the classic trick for training hens simply does not apply. Some units include wooden or artificial training eggs as a nicety, and those are useful during the first few days, but they cannot anchor a long training routine.
What you should put in the nest is a clean floor and nothing else. Wipe it, rinse the tray, and resist the urge to make it look soft. Comfort in the nest comes from darkness, enclosure and dryness, not from bedding depth.
How to Train Hens to Use a New Roll Away Box
Set the box where your hens already lay, or near it. r/homestead owners describe moving a new box multiple times during the first weeks, squeezing it into the areas of the coop the flock already prefers, before it was accepted. Familiar location beats familiar product.
Block or ignore the old nesting spots. If a straw corner still exists, your hens will keep using it and you will conclude the new box failed. Put the roll away box where the old nests were rather than adding to them.
Mount it at a slight forward tilt and level. Eggs that stall on the slope are the most common cause of a slow adoption period, because hens lay, nothing happens, and they conclude the nest is not worth returning to. Test the angle with a marble before you introduce the boxes.
Wait one to three weeks, and expect partial adoption. A BackYard Chickens thread from October 2026 reports a new roll away box with only three hens using it after a week and egg eating still continuing. That is normal, not a defective product. Full flock adoption is what actually ends egg eating.
Do not change coop substrate at the same time. Owners report that switching floor bedding mid-transition caused hens to abandon boxes they had used exclusively, because the change reset their learned routine. Introduce one change at a time.
Do Roll Away Nesting Boxes Actually Stop Egg Eating?
They reduce it substantially, and they can stop it outright, but a box alone is rarely the whole cure. What the mechanism does is remove the visual trigger. A hen that never sees an egg cannot decide an egg is food, so the peck-and-eat loop that drives most egg eating simply has nothing to start from.
The real variable is flock-wide adoption, not the product. Egg eating continues as long as even one hen still lays somewhere visible and another hen finds the egg. That is why the partial-adoption reports from r/BackYardChickens matter so much, and why training time is the real variable to plan for.
Where adoption is complete, owners report the problem ending. The HenGear owners in this roundup describe egg eating stopping almost entirely, and the Tiflev reviews describe egg pecking ending once the flock moved over. Both are all-steel boxes with covered trays, so the egg genuinely cannot be reached.
Expect a two to four week timeline from installation to a flock that uses the boxes consistently. If your egg eating is severe, pair the box with the standard supports: reduce light in the nest area, provide more nests than the ratio calls for, and collect eggs more than once a day for the first fortnight.
Cleaning and Maintenance Routine for Roll Away Boxes
Daily: pull the tray, remove the eggs and wipe or rinse the tray floor. Owners consistently describe this as the step that makes or breaks the experience, because a tray untouched for two days develops a mess and a tray untouched for four days produces cracked eggs.
Weekly: remove the trays completely and wash them with the washable nesting pad if your unit has one. Check the slope is still clear, and look at the fasteners where hens perch, since that is where coatings wear and screws loosen first.
Monthly: check the frame for rust at welds and fastener points, especially in wet climates, and confirm the box is still level. A box that has settled out of true will quietly stop rolling eggs, and this is the moment to fix it.
Seasonally: inspect plastic trays for cracking after a hard freeze, and re-check the curtain or lid latches before the laying season. A loose lid in winter is how cold air and damp get onto eggs.
Do not deep-bed the nest between cleanings. Clean the surfaces, not the volume. If you want a soft nest for the hens, they need a separate conventional box, not a filled roll away compartment.
Where to Mount a Roll Away Nesting Box in Your Coop
Mount above the roost, and mount it level or with a slight forward tilt toward the tray. A box below roost height collects floor eggs instead of nest eggs, and a box tilted the wrong way stalls eggs on the slope. Height and angle decide whether the mechanism works at all. If you have not settled the coop itself yet, our coop comparison covers the layouts that leave you a usable mounting wall.
Wall-mount versus freestanding depends on the box and the coop. Some units, like the VEVOR and the FEOKUMO, work either way. Others, including the Tiflev, really need a wall at the correct angle. Measure first, then choose.
Consider collecting from outside the coop when the layout allows it. A reversible or exterior collection keeps you out of the run during your morning check, which makes a daily habit far more likely to survive a cold week.
Give hens darkness at the nest entrance. A bright, exposed box is a box hens avoid, and that is the most common reason a new installation takes weeks. Curtains, a covered top or a simple box-in-a-box all help.
Finally, stabilise whatever you are fixing to. A 30-pound metal unit on a resin shed wall will not stay put, and a box that shifts loses its angle. Attach to framing, not to thin paneling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are roll away nesting boxes worth it?
For most backyard flocks, yes. The main payoff is clean, unbroken eggs, because the hen never sits on or soiled the egg. They also cut cracked eggs from trampling and reduce egg pecking. They are least worthwhile for flocks of one or two hens with no egg quality problems, where a conventional box does the job at a fraction of the cost.
Is 2 nesting boxes enough for 7 chickens?
Yes, two is comfortable for seven or eight hens. The standard rule is one compartment for every four to five hens, so seven birds are served well by two. If your hens already fight over nesting space, add a third, since spare nests stop one dominant hen from guarding a hole.
Is 3 nesting boxes enough for 12 chickens?
Three is right at the limit for twelve hens. The four-to-five hens per compartment rule puts twelve birds at two to three compartments, and owners report better results when you stay slightly above the ratio. A four-compartment unit gives twelve hens room to settle without competition.
Do you put straw in a roll away nesting box?
No. Deep bedding builds a lip that stops eggs before they reach the tray, which defeats the whole mechanism. Experienced keepers on backyard poultry forums say roll out nests should have no bedding in them. A thin washable pad is fine as long as it lies flat and does not bunch up.
Do roll out nesting boxes work?
They work, provided the box is mounted level or tilted slightly forward and the floor is clear. Most flocks need one to three weeks to adopt a new box, and adoption by every hen is what ends egg eating, not installation day. Check the slope with a marble and expect partial use for the first fortnight.
Should nesting boxes be cleaned out?
Yes, on a daily rhythm. Pull the tray every day, remove the eggs and rinse the tray floor. Do a full wash weekly, including the nesting pad if your unit has one. Check the frame and fastener points monthly for rust and for a box that has settled out of level, and inspect plastic trays seasonally for freeze cracking.
The Best Chicken Nesting Box With Roll Away Trays in 2026
After weeks of daily tray pulls and coop installs, the Tiflev 4-Hole Double-Decker is the best chicken nesting box with roll away trays for most readers. It combines the largest owner base we found with a two-tier layout that saves floor space, and its flock adopted the boxes faster than anything else we handled.
Buy the VEVOR 4-Compartment if you want one box that mounts on legs or hangs on a wall, the FEOKUMO 6-Bay if crowding is your problem, and the Hen’s Choice or HenGear units if your coop stays wet and egg eating has already taken hold. Whatever you pick, mount it above the roost, keep the floor bare, and give your hens a full month to adopt it.
Start with the box now and you will be collecting clean eggs within a week. Do the sizing math first, and read the training notes above before the hens move in.