Cheryl's Hen House...

[TerryH]

Today was a fun day. I've had the whole poop tray, roosts and nest boxes deal going around and around in my head for weeks. Today was the day all of that became reality. I took heed of some sound advice that I got from @aart and made the entire assembly easily removable just in case I doesn't work out the way I have it. I hope and pray that is not the situation but just in case. I planned ahead.

I put a couple of 2x4 ledger boards screwed to the studs with 4" screws on the east and west walls under the south windows to hold the poop tray assembly. The poop tray is 36 3/4" wide and 93" long. I cut dadoes for a piece of 1/2" exterior plywood in the 2x4 framing members for the tray. The groove captures the plywood. This is the same basic technique that I use to build drawers on a much smaller scale. The groove is situated so there will be 2" of PDZ.

Once the poop tray was done I made the nest boxes. They are made from 3/4" plywood I had left over from other projects. Each nest is 14"x14"x14". Here's the basic assembly.

The plan was to have the nest boxes hang under the poop tray and slide back to the wall so the girls can have a dark private spot to do their business so the next step was to fab the sliding mechanism. I machined some 2x4's to be super flat and square to make the tracks. They mount to the bottom of the poop tray. Here's how those look.

Here's the completed nest box with the hardwood runner for the slide and the perches. All the sliding surfaces will be covered with UMHW tape so they will slide smoothly. I considered using full extension drawer slides but I was concerned tht they might not work well over the long haul in the coop environment. This simple slide mechanism will hopefully work well for a very long time.

And here is the assembly in the coop with the roosts and nest box installed.

Nest box slid out for easy egg retrieval.

Super simple roosts are easily removable to aid in scooping the poop. The 2 roosts are screwed to 2 horizontal 2x4's.

Starting to see the light at end of the tunnel on the inside of the coop!!! Now to get a good coat of paint on all these new goodies.

 

[aart]

Is the roost assembly just sitting on the edges of poop board?

Sliding nests<headthunk> awesome.

 

[TerryH]

Is the roost assembly just sitting on the edges of poop board?

Sliding nests<headthunk> awesome.

Yes. It's a really tight fit and seems quite secure. I'll drill a couple of holes and use some quick pins like we use on the wheelie bars on the dragster to keep it from moving if it's necessary. I do want to retain the easy removeability ...is that a word??? of the roosts so they can be cleaned and so Cheryl has full access to the poop tray for cleaning. I had contemplated making the poop tray slide out from under the roosts but decided that was too much trouble vs the removable roosts.

I've been dying to build the sliding nest box for weeks.

I'm kinda proud of it.

 

[aart]

Yes. It's a really tight fit and seems quite secure. .....

Is it too tight to remove easily?
It's probably heavy enough to stay put.

I prefer them a bit higher so I can reach underneath with the hoe instead of removing roost every other day.

 

[beautifulpirate]

*bows before the awesomeness of sliding nest boxes*

 

[TerryH]

Is it too tight to remove easily?
It's probably heavy enough to stay put.

I prefer them a bit higher so I can reach underneath with the hoe instead of removing roost every other day.

Snug but not too tight. Just have to tap up on the bottom of one end with your hand to get it out. I had several factors in play on the height. Trying to give myself 18" nest boxes to floor and still be able to open the HC doors on the windows with everything in place. The doors clear the roosts by 1/4".

 

[aart]

Quote: Ah, yes the windows.

 

[TerryH]

*bows before the awesomeness of sliding nest boxes*

Ahhh shucks. Weren't nuffin.

 

[TerryH]

Ah, yes the windows.

Interesting process to get all the things that a dozen chickens need into the space and still have space and have it all function as a cohesive unit.

 

[kharmon320]

@TerryH
Just spent the last 20 minutes perusing this thread. I've been up since 3 am because I keep dreaming about my chicks hatching under the broody hen. I had 3 babies when I last checked late yesterday, but everytime I close my eyes I dream about chicks.

I LOVE the sliding nest boxes. Ingenious! The entire coop is lovely. I must say I was a bit disappointed to get to the last page and realize now it's happening in real time. My BLRW is my broody hen sitting on 9 eggs (well 3 babies and 6 eggs at this point). It's been an amazing experience to allow her to sit and hatch out the chicks. She seems like she will be a great momma chicken. Once they start growing, my hubby needs to get to hopping on the bigger coop. He will definitely look at this thread.

Thanks for the journey and the inspiration for our new coop.