Do you lock your nestboxes? (external access door style)

[Going Quackers]

We built a nestbox for our coop with outside access now the lid is fairly heavy, i can add pics if it would help. Anyways, i am leaning towards adding some sort of hasp/lock.. but perhaps i am being overly cautious?

If you did this can i see what you used? any that we have looked at didn't so i am unsure how i would do it.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Some places have predators that are smarter (or more desperate) than others so that a locking latch of some sort is a good idea. I originally built all of mine that way, but gradually moved away from it. Should a smarter or more determined coon show up I may go back to doing it.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

raccoons can and will lift a next box lid.

 

[Going Quackers]

Thanks for the feedback. I was fairly sure they could, now i just need to devise a way to attach one.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Our egg boxes are not locked...there is a heavy lid that is accessable from outside the coop. We live in town, so our predator issues are pimarily limited to neighborhood cats and dogs.



I painted the inside of the egg boxes chocolate brown to make them appear darked and more inviting for the pullets to lay their eggs.

 

[KathyJB]

Better to be safe than sorry.

I agree with that. Raccoons are pretty smart.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

raccoons can and will lift a next box lid.

Very True.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

you would be very surprised what is around even "in town". Even big cities have raccoons and some have coyotes too.

we have a lovely collection of predators here on our island: bob cats, gators, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, possum, oh and rats. (yep rats are predators to small birds) LGD outside full time and rat traps keeps everything in check.

 

[LittleSticks]

I have locks or a locking carabiner (?) on all access points into the coop. We have a lot of critters out here and I would rather spend the money up front than be consumed by guilt if the ladies were attacked and/or killed.

There are a few other things to consider. One is a spring loaded gate hasp. You have to pull the guard down and simultaneously maneuver the hook out of the eye bolt. I use these in combination with a padlock to secure some doors, e.g., a long, skinny nest box door that needs to be attached to the coop at more than one point.

Raccoons and opossums exist in most cities. Food sources are plentiful so they do not need to be out searching for hours like they do in the wild. You may never see them but since you are going to be offering a chicken buffet you may start to notice them!

Good luck.