California - Northern

[HighStreetCoop]

Is it a problem for nesting boxes to be near the pop door?

My brain is already afire with ideas to improve my store-bought coop ... one thing I KNOW I want is external nesting boxes. I really do not like the idea of having to open the barn doors to get eggs every morning and I'd like to maximize the interior space for roosting. So, the question is exactly where to add said nesting boxes? I have two options and I'd like some advice:

Option One: I can add a large double (21" each) or triple (14" each) nesting box to the back side of the coop near the pop door and move the roosts toward the barn doors (which would also eliminate their walking over roosting poo to get to the nesting boxes). The downside is that the roof is angled that direction so when it's raining, the runoff will be falling onto you as you collect eggs.

Option Two: If having the nesting boxes near the pop door is a problem (or the runoff just seems like an insurmountable issue), I can add one large box to the far side near the barn doors. I won't have more than 5 hens, so this seems like it might work. I could also move this to directly opposite the pop door, or add a second box opposite the pop door.

Either way I'll probably end up reconfiguring the roosts as they just don't seem to be ideally located where they are.

Thoughts?

 

[Kaylish]

Is it a problem for nesting boxes to be near the pop door?

My brain is already afire with ideas to improve my store-bought coop ... one thing I KNOW I want is external nesting boxes. I really do not like the idea of having to open the barn doors to get eggs every morning and I'd like to maximize the interior space for roosting. So, the question is exactly where to add said nesting boxes? I have two options and I'd like some advice:

Option One: I can add a large double (21" each) or triple (14" each) nesting box to the back side of the coop near the pop door and move the roosts toward the barn doors (which would also eliminate their walking over roosting poo to get to the nesting boxes). The downside is that the roof is angled that direction so when it's raining, the runoff will be falling onto you as you collect eggs.

Option Two: If having the nesting boxes near the pop door is a problem (or the runoff just seems like an insurmountable issue), I can add one large box to the far side near the barn doors. I won't have more than 5 hens, so this seems like it might work. I could also move this to directly opposite the pop door, or add a second box opposite the pop door.

Either way I'll probably end up reconfiguring the roosts as they just don't seem to be ideally located where they are.

Thoughts?

Where are the roosts located now?

For me I would go with option 1 as long as you can make the nest box roof waterproof. I like the nesting box(s) and roosts on opposite side of the coop. Depending on your girls they might appreciate the privacy of mulitple boxes and I like the idea of having the roosts where you can easily reach the birds at night if necessary.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Where are the roosts located now?

For me I would go with option 1 as long as you can make the nest box roof waterproof. I like the nesting box(s) and roosts on opposite side of the coop. Depending on your girls they might appreciate the privacy of mulitple boxes and I like the idea of having the roosts where you can easily reach the birds at night if necessary.

This is the current layout. I don't like it at all.


This is what I'm thinking of doing (but the runoff issue when I'm getting eggs seems like it might be a deal breaker; and as it's the short side of the coop and I'm nearly 6' tall, a roof extension won't work):

 

[attimus]

Have you though of putting up a rain gutter to divert the runoff?

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Have you though of putting up a rain gutter to divert the runoff?

That's a brilliant idea. Problem solved!!! And then I could even route the runoff to a rain barrel.

 

[tommysgirl]

I have done processing with a friend in the past but I may be doing processing on my own for the first time this weekend.

The friend who has hosted processing before has a plucker and an outdoor propane burner. I have neither so I am looking for advice and what to substitute.

Also what do you think is the best youtube video to watch to help me.

Thanks!

http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html what do you think of this method...I don't have a cone either but was thinking about just buying a traffic cone and modifying it but this method seems more humane, at least in the way she describes it.

 

[ronott1]

I have done processing with a friend in the past but I may be doing processing on my own for the first time this weekend.

The friend who has hosted processing before has a plucker and an outdoor propane burner. I have neither so I am looking for advice and what to substitute.

Also what do you think is the best youtube video to watch to help me.

Thanks!

http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html what do you think of this method...I don't have a cone either but was thinking about just buying a traffic cone and modifying it but this method seems more humane, at least in the way she describes it.

Ho many are you processing?

 

[tommysgirl]

Ho many are you processing?

4 cockerels. They should have been done weeks ago but the weather was bad throughout December then It is so busy around here with birthdays and Christmas. They hatched 7/21.

 

[ronott1]

I have done processing with a friend in the past but I may be doing processing on my own for the first time this weekend.

The friend who has hosted processing before has a plucker and an outdoor propane burner. I have neither so I am looking for advice and what to substitute.

Also what do you think is the best youtube video to watch to help me.

Thanks!

http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html what do you think of this method...I don't have a cone either but was thinking about just buying a traffic cone and modifying it but this method seems more humane, at least in the way she describes it.

It is a good tutorial for processing. Kill can be done with a broom stick and then hub to bleed. Breaking the neck close to the skull is the fastest way to kill them.

4 cockerels. They should have been done weeks ago but the weather was bad throughout December then It is so busy around here with birthdays and Christmas. They hatched 7/21.

I process inside so I do not have to deal with weather and meat bees....

I forgot to say: Four is fairly easy for one person but is better if you can get someone to pluck for you.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Is it a problem for nesting boxes to be near the pop door?

My brain is already afire with ideas to improve my store-bought coop ... one thing I KNOW I want is external nesting boxes. I really do not like the idea of having to open the barn doors to get eggs every morning and I'd like to maximize the interior space for roosting. So, the question is exactly where to add said nesting boxes? I have two options and I'd like some advice:

Option One: I can add a large double (21" each) or triple (14" each) nesting box to the back side of the coop near the pop door and move the roosts toward the barn doors (which would also eliminate their walking over roosting poo to get to the nesting boxes). The downside is that the roof is angled that direction so when it's raining, the runoff will be falling onto you as you collect eggs.

Option Two: If having the nesting boxes near the pop door is a problem (or the runoff just seems like an insurmountable issue), I can add one large box to the far side near the barn doors. I won't have more than 5 hens, so this seems like it might work. I could also move this to directly opposite the pop door, or add a second box opposite the pop door.

Either way I'll probably end up reconfiguring the roosts as they just don't seem to be ideally located where they are.

Thoughts?

I would go with option #2. The traffic in and out of the pop door might disturb those laying. Option 2 is more out of the way of the general traffic.

I have done processing with a friend in the past but I may be doing processing on my own for the first time this weekend.

The friend who has hosted processing before has a plucker and an outdoor propane burner. I have neither so I am looking for advice and what to substitute.

Also what do you think is the best youtube video to watch to help me.

Thanks!

http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html what do you think of this method...I don't have a cone either but was thinking about just buying a traffic cone and modifying it but this method seems more humane, at least in the way she describes it.

I can do 4 by myself (DH usually kills them for me) and it takes about 3 hours. (plus cleanup) I use an extra water bath pot that my MIL gave me for scalding. Put a squirt of dishsoap in the water and bring it to boiling. (then I take it off the heat) I heat it on the side burner of my BBQ, but I have also done it in the house. Dunk and swirl the bird. If the wing/tail feathers don't come out easily, your temperature of the water is off, or you didn't scald long enough.