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Chicken nest box plans

post #1 of 5
9/6/10 at 7:37pm
Thread Starter 

Recently we modified two small buildings (each about 8x12) into chicken coops, and I'm looking for nest box plans for 6 hole nest boxes for each coop. We have about 45 chickens--Rhode Island REds, Wyandottes, Rocks, New Hampshire reds, --and are looking for best egg production.

Anyone have easy to follow 6 hole nest box plans for installation inside the coop?

Also, being in Michigan, should we consider insulating the coops? We will have lights on a timer in fall/winter.
Thanks for your help. We are new to this forum--

Gary

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post #2 of 5
9/7/10 at 6:14am

frow Welcome to the forum! frow Glad you are here! frow

I don't have plans for the nest boxes, but this might help you on your insulation question.  I'll add the ventilation one too since I think  they kind of go together.

Pats Winter Coop Temperatures
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-winter-coop-temperatures

Pats Ventilation
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought....Abraham Lincoln (Freedom carries responsibility)

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.....Judge Learned Hand  (The more sure your are that your way is the only right way, the more likely you are wrong.)
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Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought....Abraham Lincoln (Freedom carries responsibility)

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.....Judge Learned Hand  (The more sure your are that your way is the only right way, the more likely you are wrong.)
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post #3 of 5
9/7/10 at 6:22am

No plans needed, just get ahold of some cat litter boxes.  My girls use them without fail!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/63900_100_0713.jpg

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post #4 of 5
9/7/10 at 6:39am

I just used that cheap plywood they use on roofs. It's about 5.99 at HD. Make the boxes 4 ft wide about 15" deep and the opening in front about 12" with a 3" lip in the front like those cat litter buckets have. Make the back around 18" high so the top is slanted. Use some furring strips in the corners to screw too. I also used 1/4 x 1/4 hardware cloth for the bottom. Screw to the wall and fill with shavings.

Be sure you have ventilation. I left my eaves open and put light plywood in as a ceiling with some holes in it. That allows the wind to blow through the eaves and suck the bad air out. The boards keep the snow out of the coop. Windows on 3 sides covered with hardware cloth.

By the way. We tried 5 gallon round buckets and they didn't use them. The cat litter buckets look doable though.

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post #5 of 5
9/13/10 at 10:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZombieChickens 

No plans needed, just get ahold of some cat litter boxes.  My girls use them without fail!


And you have standard-sized chickens? Your girl looks like one of mine.  I have a couple of litter pails lying around, but they seemed  smallish to me.

Free and plenty easy to clean, too!

Maryland
Land of Industrialized Chickens
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Maryland
Land of Industrialized Chickens
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