Arizona Chickens

[Bobby Basham]

Can some of you coop builders please help me? I've been all over BYC and saw many projects and pictures with end results but...how are those external nest boxes actually attached to the coop? I have many ideas myself, but am curious as to how you all do it.

I tend to make things over-complicated when something simpler will do. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DesertChic]

Can some of you coop builders please help me? I've been all over BYC and saw many projects and pictures with end results but...how are those external nest boxes actually attached to the coop? I have many ideas myself, but am curious as to how you all do it.

I tend to make things over-complicated when something simpler will do. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I make most of my nest boxes myself, building platforms for them AND screwing them to the studs in the wall of my chicken cabin.


I also use inexpensive kitty litter boxes with the swinging door removed. They're cheap, easy to clean, and the girls definitely like them since five of them absolutely MUST lay their eggs in one box at the same time.

 

[MagicChicken]

Can some of you coop builders please help me? I've been all over BYC and saw many projects and pictures with end results but...how are those external nest boxes actually attached to the coop? I have many ideas myself, but am curious as to how you all do it.

I tend to make things over-complicated when something simpler will do. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Bobby, I don't use external nest boxes. I use plastic kitty litter boxes - the enclosed kind with a large opening, vents in the top part, and a handle. They are easy to clean, easy to disinfect, easy to add more if needed, and easy to change out if something happens. Plus I can move a broody, nest and all, to a private brooding spot (unless she's one of the birds in the hoop coop. Those girls go broody under my deck.) Cost: $12-20. Labor: 0. I got mine at PetSmart and Walmart. Not sure if Walmart still carries them. But my coops are tall enough for me to walk in comfortably. Yours aren't, so feel free to ignore my suggestion

 

[MagicChicken]

@Bobby Basham - Not sure how you are picking up your chickens, but if they are panicking when you pick them up it may be because you are grabbing them from above. When you pick up a chicken it is best to scoop it up from underneath. Slip your hand between the legs and hold onto one of the hocks (the meaty part of the leg.) Lift the bird up by supporting it from below and it should feel more secure.

If you grab a chicken from above it will tend to panic, because that is how most predators would grab it. Once one chicken panics, the rest are on high alert.

 

[Bobby Basham]

@Bobby Basham - Not sure how you are picking up your chickens, but if they are panicking when you pick them up it may be because you are grabbing them from above. When you pick up a chicken it is best to scoop it up from underneath. Slip your hand between the legs and hold onto one of the hocks (the meaty part of the leg.) Lift the bird up by supporting it from below and it should feel more secure.

If you grab a chicken from above it will tend to panic, because that is how most predators would grab it. Once one chicken panics, the rest are on high alert.

I grab the calm ones from underneath, slipping my hand right under its breast, it's the rest of the wacky ones I have to deal with.

 

[BlueBaby]

Can some of you coop builders please help me? I've been all over BYC and saw many projects and pictures with end results but...how are those external nest boxes actually attached to the coop? I have many ideas myself, but am curious as to how you all do it.

I tend to make things over-complicated when something simpler will do. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

As young as they still are, I wouldn't put the nesting boxes in there yet. They would probably try to sleep in them instead of on the perches.

 

[Jadesun6]

Well, now you have some more bantams. That chicken math got you, rather you wanted it to or not.

I didn't really want more bantam, but how can you not want them once you see them!

 

[Jadesun6]

Any luck on the remaining four eggs?

Nothing yet. I don't think I hear any peeping from them. It's hard to tell with the two that hatched. They are running around and peeping. I think they are playing tag! Mama hen growlsand puffs up even if I just walk in the room. So I try not to disturb her too much right now. We were gone all day today so maybe I'll have a nice surprise tomorrow!

 

[BlueBaby]

I didn't really want more bantam, but how can you not want them once you see them!

Well, if you like the bantams, I guess you couldn't not want them. For me, I like the bigger birds that are easier for me to see so I don't step on them by accident.

 

[Jadesun6]

It's Justin rhodes, the video that is titled something like why I drove 400 miles for chickens it's recent so if you search that channel name, Justin rhodes, you should find it easily, it's at about 4 minutes into the video to about 6 minutes in or so starts with the child pulling on the tail, to showing the stacked boxes... well judge for yourself, but breathing life shouldn't be transported like that that's why 6 died shocker any survived

Wow, I'm really surprised to hear he did that. I have watched quite a few of his sustainability videos including chicken videos. He has always been very informative and seemed very respectful of the animals. I'm so disappointed in him. He has made a lot of money off his pod cast, including going on tour!