I am in the midst of designing the end-all-be-all of small/medium chicken coops. I am not trying to shirk my homework, but have a slightly odd question. Are there any problems to be had with providing oversized nesting boxes. My intention is to have 7-9 bantam chickens, but allow for the possibility that the current plan may not be the permanent one.
The most useful information that have found list nesting box size requirements as such:
12" wide x 14" high x 12" deep for "Leghorn-type layers"
14" wide x 14" high x 14" deep for heavier breeds
10" wide x 12" high x 10" deep for bantams
The information is clear enough, but I was planning to do 14"x14"x14" nesting boxes. The logic was twofold. I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that roomier was better. Moreover, larger nesting boxes allowed for the possibility that I might change my mind at a later date and prefer standard sized chickens.
The current design would still be appropriate. Here is the question: are there any problems with providing too MUCH space in a nesting box? As to the coop: I like to overbuild things, My current footprint entails a 6' square interior coop with a floor that is 18" off the ground and a pitched roof from 3.25' above the "floor" (not ground) at the edges to 4.25' in the center. EIGHT 14" cube exterior next boxes will be stacked in double rows from the floor to the roof edge.
Not including the nest boxes, there will be 36 sqft of area within the enclosed hen house. The attached run is 12'l x6'w x5.75'h. There is an additional 6'l x 6'w x 1.5'h space underneath the henhouse. This gives a total square footage of 108 square feet of solidly- roofed, predator-proof surface area.
There will be WAY more the 12" of roost space per chicken. I intend to add a chicken "tunnel" of sorts that is 3'w x 2' h along the perimeter of the yard with an indeterminate length. I will start with 5' and continue to add length to it as time allows. Eventually, it may encircle the yard: adding 3 square feet for each linear foot of tunnel. This addition will be constructed of hardware cloth in which the top is enclosed.
I understand that free-ranging may not be advisably with flight-capable bantams in an urban yard. This seemed like a good compromise. The tunnel would not be predator-proof, but merely for daytime exploration. Any concerns thus far?
The most useful information that have found list nesting box size requirements as such:
12" wide x 14" high x 12" deep for "Leghorn-type layers"
14" wide x 14" high x 14" deep for heavier breeds
10" wide x 12" high x 10" deep for bantams
The information is clear enough, but I was planning to do 14"x14"x14" nesting boxes. The logic was twofold. I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that roomier was better. Moreover, larger nesting boxes allowed for the possibility that I might change my mind at a later date and prefer standard sized chickens.
The current design would still be appropriate. Here is the question: are there any problems with providing too MUCH space in a nesting box? As to the coop: I like to overbuild things, My current footprint entails a 6' square interior coop with a floor that is 18" off the ground and a pitched roof from 3.25' above the "floor" (not ground) at the edges to 4.25' in the center. EIGHT 14" cube exterior next boxes will be stacked in double rows from the floor to the roof edge.
Not including the nest boxes, there will be 36 sqft of area within the enclosed hen house. The attached run is 12'l x6'w x5.75'h. There is an additional 6'l x 6'w x 1.5'h space underneath the henhouse. This gives a total square footage of 108 square feet of solidly- roofed, predator-proof surface area.
There will be WAY more the 12" of roost space per chicken. I intend to add a chicken "tunnel" of sorts that is 3'w x 2' h along the perimeter of the yard with an indeterminate length. I will start with 5' and continue to add length to it as time allows. Eventually, it may encircle the yard: adding 3 square feet for each linear foot of tunnel. This addition will be constructed of hardware cloth in which the top is enclosed.
I understand that free-ranging may not be advisably with flight-capable bantams in an urban yard. This seemed like a good compromise. The tunnel would not be predator-proof, but merely for daytime exploration. Any concerns thus far?
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