5 gallon bucket nest box??

[bill3607]

Loads of people use them as boxes- you're good to go! Make sure to seal it properly around the boxes.

Thank you! It does seem that I am good to go! On the sealing I want to have the hole I cut to be really tight on the bucket. It is an interior wall that is made out 2" x 4" and OSB plywood (what people commonly call wafer board. The real name is Oriental Strand Board. So, my coop is a goat barn that I had built a few years ago. I no longer have the goats so I built a wall down the middle on the inside making 2 rooms. The coop is 1 side. I use the non coop part for supplies, feed etc.. I built a door in the wall that I built for entrance into the coop from the supply room. It is a walk-in coop. So, the buckets would protrude into the supply room with the door for entrance from the outside being in the supply room. Just extra protection from predators. I think most buckets are tapered a little so I should be able to cut the hole with a saber saw good and neat with the bucket being tightly fit. Could run a bead of caulking around the bucket also.

 

[bill3607]

I don't think I have any pictures either. I have had chickens that didn't like the bucket. I've also had 2-3 chickens at one time (crushed the eggs) as well. My CLBs LOVE it! I get lots of blue eggs in their bucket nest.

I got the perch portion from Fowl Stuff (actually from Fleming Outdoors) and put that on the buckets. Then they are strapped up in our coops. Here is a pic from Fowl Stuff's page (& video I think?)

I found a pic from the back on one of my coops. It would be more stable if put in like you described, but it's worked.

View attachment 2473444

I just now clicked on the link. I really like the perch! I was going to build some of perch. I normally prefer to build stuff but do not always have the time. Thanks for the link!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Here are a couple of old threads that show what people use for nest boxes. One of my favorites is a kitchen sink. But if you scroll through these you'll see many people use buckets.

Nest boxes

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41108/show-us-your-nest-boxes-ingenous-design-post-it-here/220

Nest Boxes

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/4...-your-creative-nesting-boxes/80#post_12395882

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Actually, its "Oriented Strand Board", not Oriental. As in, when you look at the wood chips pressed, glued, and oven baked together, they have directionality. Its stronger than Plywood in sheer, otherwise very similar characteristics

Some claim its superior to plywood in exterior/high moisture applications due to the use of heat-cured waterproof adhesives in the manufacture, but its been my consistent experience that the wood usually fails, not the glue - in either product.

As alternative to a saber saw or a jig saw, you could also use a rotary tool with a circle jig. (Essentially a flat stick to which the rotary tool is attached, secured at the correct radius by way of nail or screw to the object being cut)

 

[bill3607]

Here are a couple of old threads that show what people use for nest boxes. One of my favorites is a kitchen sink. But if you scroll through these you'll see many people use buckets.

Nest boxes

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41108/show-us-your-nest-boxes-ingenous-design-post-it-here/220

Nest Boxes

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/4...-your-creative-nesting-boxes/80#post_12395882

Ok, that done it. Now I will be scrolling and thinking of 100 different ideas that I want to do instead of just building these boxes. I just scrolled for a few minutes and seen some really cool nesting boxes. Shows how new I am at this and how little I know. I actually thought my idea was unique and pretty cool with these buckets. I was just not sure if there was enough room. I still think it is cool but certainly not unique! lol Thanks for the link to the threads..... I think lol

 

[sdm111]

 

[bill3607]

Actually, its "Oriented Strand Board", not Oriental. As in, when you look at the wood chips pressed, glued, and oven baked together, they have directionality. Its stronger than Plywood in sheer, otherwise very similar characteristics

Some claim its superior to plywood in exterior/high moisture applications due to the use of heat-cured waterproof adhesives in the manufacture, but its been my consistent experience that the wood usually fails, not the glue - in either product.

As alternative to a saber saw or a jig saw, you could also use a rotary tool with a circle jig. (Essentially a flat stick to which the rotary tool is attached, secured at the correct radius by way of nail or screw to the object being cut)

You are very correct. My bad typo. And, some people call a jig saw a saber saw. I do from time to time myself as you see. Goes back to when I was a kid. I actually grew up building houses and apartment complexes on one of my Dad's crews and then was in business for myself for several years as a framing contractor. Then, moved on to other things but still build from time to time. But, yes there are all kinds of saws now days to do the job. And, yes it is very superior to normal plywood. You can leave it unpainted in the weather for years if you had a notion to. I am not sure why anyone would but I have just to see how long it will last. It will last a long time. And, most of the time you can get it cheaper than other plywoods. Right now the price is up as with most building materials.

 

[aart]

I actually grew up building houses and apartment complexes on one of my Dad's crews and then was in business for myself for several years as a framing contractor.

Then you could go way better than a bucket nest.
I've found them to be rather small and the birds didn't really like the 'curved' bottom.
I was enamored of the old round hole metal nest banks that my brother used,
so I built this:

 

[bill3607]

Then you could go way better than a bucket nest.
I've found them to be rather small and the birds didn't really like the 'curved' bottom.
I was enamored of the old round hole metal nest banks that my brother used,
so I built this:

Yes, I could. I actually thought the buckets would be something different, but I see it is not lol. I like to try to think "out of the box" so to speak. I get tired of just doing the norm. So, when the bucket idea hit I thought that is probably different, but I was concerned if it was enough space. I may try them for the heck of it and if they do not work well enough I can always go another route. I have 17 that should be ready this spring to start laying. I may try a couple of buckets and couple of something different and see what happens. I am not new to building but am very new to chickens. I have been around them all my years but never had any myself. The only reason I have them now is my teenage daughter that I had later in life than you normally do wanted some because one of hers friends has some. I knew when it all started that they would end of being "my" chickens because she would probably lose interest because she has so many other things going on at that age. But, I will still try to keep her interested in them if at all possible, Anyway, thanks for all the info!

 

[bill3607]

Then you could go way better than a bucket nest.
I've found them to be rather small and the birds didn't really like the 'curved' bottom.
I was enamored of the old round hole metal nest banks that my brother used,
so I built this:

Also, if I remember correctly when I was getting the coop ready, you were the one that told me about the deep liter system as well as the poop catcher under the roost. Both of those have worked like a charm. I appreciate you knowledge there greatly as well.