Are egg gathering exterior door/hatches worth doing?

[kiwiegg]

Citychook that is my thinking. If I lived in a more temperate climate I would definately include it in plan.

 

[boykin2010]

SO MUCH EASIER!!! unless u want to get poop on u while collecting eggs

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Quote:
you must have dirty chickens

when i collect my eggs my floor is clean where i walk from the door to the nest boxes.

 

[knjinnm]

Hi,
Egg doors sound nice but it also another opportunity for predators to gain access to the coop if the egg door is exposed.
Joe

 

[jenjscott]

Quote:
you must have dirty chickens

when i collect my eggs my floor is clean where i walk from the door to the nest boxes.

my birds poop anywhere they want to, I can guarantee the floor won't be clean. Especially first thing in the morning.

 

[CCFarms9559]

My coop is a room in the barn and I have an egg door. It's really nice. I can get to the eggs without walking in the coop. Also, I put a Fulcrum Light It battery powered motion sensitive light so it comes on when I get ready to check the eggs. It will soon be dark in there when I come home.

 

[sunflowerenvy]

my feeders are inside and near the nest boxes i thought the floor would be dirty too. i have 13 chicken where the poop is where they roost. when i open the coop door they run out and do it. i have the chicken house since late june and i have not real have clean that area yet maybe i am a lucky one.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Brings up a good point. I walk by the feeders but not the roosts or chicken door to get to the nests. Don't worry about poo on my shoes, they are my chicken shoes, but just collecting eggs does not have me walking through a very poopy area.

I guess if you gather eggs in work clothes then go to work, it makes more sense than the way things are here.

 

[kiwiegg]

Comments bring up more good points! When planning layout of the coop having nest boxes near door and roost away from door might be a good idea. But...in your experiences do the girls like to be in a more secluded area for laying or does it not matter?

 

[joemwm]

I have a 8x12 coop the door is on one end of the 12' wall and my nestboxes are directly across from the door so you dont have too walk through the whole coop. too make it feel more safe and protected I have them on a28" wide shelf and have plywood peices too shade from the main souces of light. I also think the exterior egg door is another draft/predator entrance.