Covering the front of the nesting box

[MarkRainbolt]

Was wondering if there is a good explanation for why you would cover the front of the nesting boxes. Was watching a video and noticed that they had cover over theirs and a hen had her head sticking out. To me it seems it would get really hot in the box in the summertime.
Mark

 

[azygous]

If it's hot in the nest, the coop lacks proper ventilation and should be fixed.

Hens like seclusion and privacy while laying. Watch a hen who likes to lay eggs outside of a coop, you'll see her hunt for a secluded spot where she can't be seen while she's vulnerable on a nest.

 

[NatJ]

Was wondering if there is a good explanation for why you would cover the front of the nesting boxes.

Reasons I have seen:
--makes the inside of the nests darker, which may discourage egg eating
--hides the inside of the nests, which may keep other hens from noticing and pestering other hens who are in the nests
--looks nice to some people (I am guessing this is the most common reason!)

To me it seems it would get really hot in the box in the summertime.

When no hen is in the nestbox, it should be the same temperature as the rest of the coop.

When a hen goes in to lay an egg, she usually does not spend very long, and then she comes out again. Since the curtain is in strips anyway, and the hen pushes them aside as she goes in and out, the nestbox probably does not get too much warmer from each hen who goes in and lays an egg.

But I agree, it could potentially be an issue in some climates.

 

[aart]

looks nice to some people (I am guessing this is the most common reason!)

Exactly!

 

[Callender Girl]

Knowing my girls, it would give them one more thing to get poopy and/or dusty, and I would have to launder chicken curtains. No thanks.

 

[Krugerrand]

I built an arched entrance into my nest boxes after reading that they'd prefer dark secluded places. I also used the brown paint I had on hand inside the nest box and the white inside the rest of the coop. I was new to chickens, and they found their nest boxes without any troubles, so it either worked or didn't matter.

 

[aart]

I built an arched entrance into my nest boxes after reading that they'd prefer dark secluded places. I also used the brown paint I had on hand inside the nest box and the white inside the rest of the coop. I was new to chickens, and they found their nest boxes without any troubles, so it either worked or didn't matter.

View attachment 3124258
View attachment 3124259

I used circles for the same reason, and to keep bedding and eggs from being scratched out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/nests.7427682/