Coop Evolution - Nests Iteration 4 to Front Roll Away style

[Ted Brown]

I expanded my 3+ year old flock in 2023, added 12 Chanteclers and 8 mixed coloured egg layers. I moved 5 males to an external cage but multiple males amongst other pressures arising from increased flock size required a change/expansion to my nest box arrangement.

This is what I had (actually not quite there are four red nests):



About mid-point of the new build here is where I am now:



I have an egg eating problem so the new nests are/will be roll away to the front. Bottom plywood floor panel slants 3" over 20"; nests are 12" deep behind red fascia & 12" wide 16' high.

I had only 30' of roost space with close to 30 birds; some birds were sleeping in the upper two white nests; those nests are now gone. I will add 3 nests to the right of the 4 hole fascia. I have already replaced a 36" roost with a 90" roost and wider (21") drop board that doubles as the top of the nests.

I am re-using whatever I can, consequence is new nests are "kit-like" in that it is assembled and can come apart in several sub -sections. I have yet to build a second new fascia with 3 (I hope) holes; will then build the roll away upper box with lid to sit on the front floor extension.

 

[Ted Brown]

Height of Roll Away Opening?

I found this diagram showing 4.5", seems high to me?

Diagram also shows 18" for depth of the nest (mine are 12" x 12" x 16"H).

Thoughts anyone?

 

[aart]

I found this diagram showing 4.5", seem high to me?

Agrees.
But I've never built or had rollaway nests.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have ordered this for the floor:

I had chosen 2" will now set my opening to 3.5".

Any input on slope? I have 3" down over 20" length.

 

[aart]

The thing I keep thinking is...make it adjustable, or easy to modify/adjust, both the egg opening and the slope.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Height of Roll Away Opening?

I found this diagram showing 4.5", seems high to me?

Me too but I've also never built a rollaway. I have read on here where the hens were able to get to the eggs in the rollaway portion in some designs. At 4'5" I'd be concerned that a smaller hen could get through that into the "safe" section, let alone reach through to eat an egg.

Why would you need an opening much bigger than the egg if you are not retrieving the egg through that hole and need to get your hand through?

I'd also consider that 6" horizontal dimension with a 2" thick sponge. Is that far enough out so a hen cannot reach the egg to eat it through the hole? Maybe not if that hole is 4.5" high.

The thing I keep thinking is...make it adjustable, or easy to modify/adjust, both the egg opening and the slope.

Yes, especially the slope.

 

[TexasBlues]

The flooring material will take up some of that space and some people put a curtain like material on the separator board. I’ll measure mine and see how big of a gap I used. I had to adjust mine to add more space after the initial build.

 

[TexasBlues]

So the egg gap is about 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 deep and the distance to the back wall is about 9 inches.
I didn’t want any chance of them reaching the eggs.
I’m going to replace the turf material because it has wrinkles that don’t allow the eggs to roll unimpeded.

 

[Ted Brown]

Strongly agree ease of change is important.

Floor held both sides with a 3" by 20" 3/8s plywood triangle screwed to end panels; easily replaced.

The red nest holes board is held in place with 2 screws; I will build a 2nd red nest holes front and mount same way.

I very much appreciate the various inputs!!

 

[Ted Brown]

Life interfered: along the back of my pole shed I store firewood, the top part fell onto my bachelor cage; it took most of yesterday to move the wood and repair damage.

My artificial grass rug arrived, 2' by 8' edges bound; revised nest box floor is 20" by 7'.

Began to build the egg capture box - a 3 sided flat "U" made from cedar boards temporarily in place, rug down per @TexasBlues last pic above (thank you!!). I test rolled 4 eggs with a 2 1/4" opening, 2 went through; i will trim to make the opening 3" and increase the slope.

The 24" rug width allows me to roll up the front 4" to be the egg cushion.