High stocking density in laying nests is a cause for floor eggs. To reduce the risk of floor eggs, the nesting space should be enough to allow birds to find comfortable nest space, also in the period of peak production. 

The criteria for nest space in breeders is more related to the length of the nest, so the number of birds per meter of nest, than to the available space of nest per bird in cm2. This is because breeders do not prefer to sit behind eachother, so extra nesting space in deeper nests is not fully utilized. Layers are more easy in these respect, as they seem to have less problems with sharing nesting space.  

The maximum number of breeders per m1 of nest space is approx 40-45 birds. This means that the nesting space also limits the width of the house. As breeders are normally housed at 6.5-7 females per m2, with a nest that can hold 45 birds on one side, the maximum width of the house should not be more than 2 x 45 / 6,5 = 14 m. Wider houses than 14 to a maximum of 15 m gives too much density in the laying nests and increase the risk on floor eggs