Adding a nesting box to the coop

[woodlandd]

I haven't been on here since my girls were chicks, but they're starting to lay now!

We haven't had the time to make a nesting box until a few days ago, so we've let them lay their eggs in the coop for the past couple of weeks wherever they saw fit since we've only got three chickens and it's a fairly small area.

We're planning on adding the nesting box to the coop we've built by removing some of the planks on the side of the coop and fitting the box in the gap. The only issue is that the nesting box would then be about 4x1x1.5 feet. Would this be alright, or would it be too big? I've got buff orps, if that makes any difference to it.

My father suggested dividing it into three separate boxes but I've heard that chickens tend to fight over the favourite box if you have too many, and you only need one box per every three chickens.

We would technically be able to make a smaller box—it would just take much more time, so we would prefer to have a way around it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[CoopintheWoods]

They'll probably be fine. In the portable run my chickens range in during the summer, the nesting box is long and narrow, like you're describing. Just make sure its not too closed off (i.e. make sure there's two entrances to the box) so nobody can get cornered.

Best wishes!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

one box per every three chickens.

I have a community box, no dividers about 40" wide and 14 chickens, they can go in 3 or more at a time.

 

[Percheron chick]

A covered litter pan works great as a nesting box.

 

[gtaus]

I haven't been on here since my girls were chicks, but they're starting to lay now!

That was a very exciting time for me. All that work and finally some eggs!

FWIW, I use plastic Dollar Tree dish bins mounted on a rail system as my nest boxes. The dish bins are plenty big enough for my chickens. I have seen as many as 2 chickens in a bin at a time, because, as you will find out, they have their favorite nest boxes even though all of my boxes are the same. Instead of laying their egg in an empty nest box, they will insist on going into an occupied nest box if they are laying. I don't understand chickens. But they seem to work it out without fighting, so no harm done.

Anyway, using plastic dish bins was a good decision for me because they are a good size for the chicken, I did not have to spend time building them (other than the rail system), the dish bins can easily be removed for cleaning, and are easily (and cheaply) replaceable if needed. My dish bin nest boxes are 3 years old and still as good as new.

Picture of my nest box setup during initial build before the chickens were in the coop. I later filled a small layer of pine shaving for each nest box. The setup is inside the coop with an access on the outside wall. So, I don't have to go inside the coop to collect eggs. In addition to the rails that the dish bins sit on, I have a couple boards on the bottom to prevent the bin from tipping, and when my hens got older and heavier, I also drove a screw through the bin lip in the back and into the wood rail to secure it. If I have to take out a nest box, I simply remove that one screw and lift the bin out. It works good for me.

Notice the slanted top. If you have a flat top, the chickens will sit and poo on it. You don't want your chickens sleeping in the next boxes, so make sure that your roosting bar is good distance higher than your nest boxes. My nest boxes are about 12 inches off the floor and their main roosting bar is 48 inches off the floor. I seldom catch a chicken sleeping in a nest box. They prefer the higher roosting bar. That's just chicken nature.