Bantam Roost and Nest Box Questions

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

Well, the work began this weekend on the coop! I am pretty excited. I have a couple of questions though -

1. How big of a nest box does a bantam hen need?

2. How far off the ground should I make the roost for bantams?

Thanks in advance for the answers!

 

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

Well after being on here for several days asking newbie questions, I finally noticed the search feature and guess what? It works!

I see roost height does not matter so much as width. Good to know, I had no idea chickens did not grip the roost and had planned to use a broom stick, now I will use something wider.

As for the nest box size, I see that is not so important either just so long as it feels secure to the hen. Done. I think I'm ready to get back to work now!

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Lea,
You might want to consider a dropping board under your roost. It appears that the chickens seem to deposit their fertilizer mostly during the night.

If you clean off the dropping board each day, then your coop will stay much cleaner.

Good luck with your coop. Will you please post photos when you're through?

Carla

 

[Smitty's Farm]

You may want to consider putting the roosts higher than your nest boxes
to discourage them sleeping in the nest boxes.

You can supply one nest box for every 4 chicks. We placed our nest boxes about 2 ft off the ground, but that was for standard breeds.

What kind of bantams are you getting? My daughter wants to hatch some Ameraucana Bantams soon.

 

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

Thanks for the input. I will definitely post pictures when I'm done. There will be a dropping board of sorts. I am actually using my daughters old playhouse and just modifying it a bit. It has a little table that swings out from the wall that I have decided to leave in there. I know it sounds strange but my nest boxes will be under the table, but off the ground and the roost will be above it sitting roughly 2 1/2 feet off the ground.

As for what kind of banties, I can't exactly say right now. I live where we have a city ordinance of only 4 chickens allowed and no roosters. I had looked online at the hatcheries and such that would send just a few and picked out a lovely little red frizzle, a buff, a mottled hen and perhaps a blue silkie from Ideal which is at least here in Texas, but still a 2 1/2 hour drive from me. But, after reading all the horror stories of having so few shipped and really not wanting males added in for warmth I talked to my local feedstore and they said they will order in some bantam pullets for me before Easter. I thought I may be pressing my luck to ask for certain ones so it will be the luck of the draw I guess.
It's okay, I've seen lots of little banties and I have yet to see one who I thought was ugly! Besides it will be fun to post their pictures on here and let you guys try and guess what they may be. I hope to pick the little peeps up sometime the week before Easter.

 

[Smitty's Farm]

Your Playhouse actually sounds like it will be a great coop for your future Bantams. My daughter actually wants to modify a play house for her future ones. She has big plans to paint it wild! LOL! I tried to talk her into turning her exisiting old playhouse that her dad built for her when she was little into her coop, but she doesn't want to give it up even though she hasn't played in it for years. She wants the one at Lowe's that everyone has been fighting to get a good price. I'm waiting for the price to drop.

The dropping boards will help tremendously. I just scoop the poop off mine every day and add new pine shavings.

Your feed store may order the breeds you want.....can't hurt to ask them. I think all banties are cute! My daughter can't wait to have dwarf chickens.

Can't wait to see your pics. Have fun!