2x4 Insulated Nest Box Construction - Help Please!!

[jbher]

Thanks! We've been really happy with it and the girls seem to enjoy it, too. We brought the box inside the coop by a few inches to keep it from jutting out so much in the pathway and in front of the stoop. It works well both inside and out, we've not had any problems with it. No leaks, etc. We experienced some extended frigid weather - in the single digits and below zero - and I did put a lot of extra shavings into the box for warmth. I gathered eggs from inside the coop for about a week so as to not disturb the extra amount of shavings I had in there by opening the exterior door. The box is deep enough to hold about 5 inches of shavings and they not be disturbed when the door is opened from outside. I piled about 7 or 8 inches in there.

Not sure the design keeps it any warmer but it helps if you put some door weather stripping around the edges if you find you have any gaps or cracks. We do deep litter and I think that has helped with the cold as the coop is always about 10 degrees warmer than outside. We also stored several bales of straw and bags of shavings in the coop during the winter. They warmed up a bit from the sun coming in through the windows during the day and I think helped with keeping the place a little warmer.

I love the communal box. It's easy to get all eggs at once, easy to clean, and it allows enough light so that I know what I'm putting my hand into! The only drawback is that - no matter how many nesting boxes you have or how big they are - chickens will be chickens. I'll hear all sorts of ruckus and the box will be packed full of girls, each one wanting to lay in the very same spot! However, they fought for the same box when I had individual boxes, too. They usually will settle on two at a time and rotate but it's fun to watch them fuss and fume for their favorite spots!

Question - how did you attach the plywood "roof" piece that is over the box on the outside? It's hard to tell in the photos. Also, inside the nest box is that top open to that angled piece or do you have it boxed in on top of the nest box from the inside?

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Question - how did you attach the plywood "roof" piece that is over the box on the outside? It's hard to tell in the photos. Also, inside the nest box is that top open to that angled piece or do you have it boxed in on top of the nest box from the inside?

You know, I'll have to go out and look. I'll take some extra pics and maybe that will help explain.

The inside of the box is open. With the inside and outside pieces being angled, it gives it a vaulted ceiling. The girls can easily walk around in there without bumping their heads!

I'll see if I can get a decent pic inside the nesting box as I'm not good at explaining.

 

[jbher]

You know, I'll have to go out and look. I'll take some extra pics and maybe that will help explain.

The inside of the box is open. With the inside and outside pieces being angled, it gives it a vaulted ceiling. The girls can easily walk around in there without bumping their heads!

I'll see if I can get a decent pic inside the nesting box as I'm not good at explaining.

Oh thank you so much!!!!!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Not sure how much the pics will help as we covered the top of the nesting box with tin to match the roof so you can't see the actual construction from the exterior. Here's how it looks from the side now -



Showing how the top meets the 2 x 4 that is above it. A small window is immediately above.



OOPS! Opened the box to take a pic inside and found it was occupied. Will have to come back later!



Pic taken from outside looking inside box and coop. You can see how the base and interior of the box is built. Shavings don't normally pop out but I put a lot extra in there as it was so cold last week. Minus 2, what's up with that!!??



Taken from outside looking inside. You can see the framing for the exterior nesting box roof on the left. The piece of wood in the front in the interior roof portion of the box.


The other side of the box showing the framed in portion for the exterior roof. You can also see how the interior of the box is vaulted so that the girls can stand up. Purely accidental, that's just how it turned out.



Wish I had better pics for you and hope that this helps. The window box was the hardest part. He'd be out working and I'd be in here on BYC pulling up pics of coops with exterior boxes to show him. It was pretty much "trial and error" and we're just lucky it worked out!

Good luck!

 

[jbher]

Not sure how much the pics will help as we covered the top of the nesting box with tin to match the roof so you can't see the actual construction from the exterior. Here's how it looks from the side now -



How do you like the placement of your latches? And if you could start over again, would you do two doors, instead of one long one?

Showing how the top meets the 2 x 4 that is above it. A small window is immediately above.



I wonder how I can do this as I will be siding my coop... I also will have two windows above my nest box just like you do. But I don't see how I could side around the nest box with how I see yours above... hmmm

OOPS! Opened the box to take a pic inside and found it was occupied. Will have to come back later!



Awwwww, "hi pretty girl!"

Pic taken from outside looking inside box and coop. You can see how the base and interior of the box is built. Shavings don't normally pop out but I put a lot extra in there as it was so cold last week. Minus 2, what's up with that!!??



Do those front boards remove or are they permanent?

Taken from outside looking inside. You can see the framing for the exterior nesting box roof on the left. The piece of wood in the front in the interior roof portion of the box.


The other side of the box showing the framed in portion for the exterior roof. You can also see how the interior of the box is vaulted so that the girls can stand up. Purely accidental, that's just how it turned out.



Okay I do like the idea of the vault - I bet the girls do too!!

Wish I had better pics for you and hope that this helps. The window box was the hardest part. He'd be out working and I'd be in here on BYC pulling up pics of coops with exterior boxes to show him. It was pretty much "trial and error" and we're just lucky it worked out!

Good luck!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Glad that some of the pics will be of help. On your questions -

How do you like the placement of your latches? And if you could start over again, would you do two doors, instead of one long one?

Actually, I do like the placement of the latches. At first I wasn't sure, was thinking I wanted one larger latch in the middle. But hubby pointed out that it would take a VERY industrious raccoon to get through two latches. The latches are spring loaded, you have to move a sliding section back for them to open. Now, hate to admit it, but it took me a while to get the hang of those latches. Lot's of cussing as I was trying to fetch eggs for the first few days.

I don't think I'd want two doors especially after the bitter cold we've had. We've been running around with a caulk gun trying to close gaps and cracks as it is. More doors = more cracks to let in cold. Now, we have ventilation open but it's not right at their butts or near the eggs which will freeze FAST at -2 degrees. Thankfully, only one egg froze but there were days I had to check often. I don't know how our northern friends have handled this brutal winter!

Do those front boards remove or are they permanent?
You must be psychic! I had asked hubby to make the boards removable in some fashion for easy cleaning. His answer was . . .

He was DONE. He didn't want any more trips to the hardware store. So . . . as he'd worked so hard and had done such a good job, I let it drop. I don't regret dropping it as I've found it very easy to clean even though they're built in. I use a metal dustpan. The type you'd use with a broom to sweep the floor. I use it as a shovel and it gets every piece of shavings and other "stuff" out of there. I probably make LESS mess with the dustpan than if I removed those boards and tried pulling the shavings out. Am envisioning my front covered with pine shavings . . .

The vault was an accident but I like it and I know the girls like having enough room to walk around in there. As you can see, the nesting box gets good light when opened so I know what's in there. We're in the woods and I've seen pics of people finding snakes in the nesting box and No Way am I putting my hand in a dark nesting box!

I know you'll be able to figure out the siding issue. There were times we had to step back - come in and look at BYC photos - draw sketches on the backs of envelopes - before the "how" would hit us. Keep at it, it will come to you!

Good luck and please pop a pic of your coop up when you're done!