External Nest Box with Split Lid

[PupsNHens]

I'm building a 6x10 coop from plans I bought online. I'm very new at building anything like this and I'm pretty much building it on my own. Currently, I have it framed out with siding attached and plywood on the roof. I have metal roof panels for the roof (this is a part of the build I'll probably get some help with). Still to go are to roof it, install windows, doors, trim, paint, interior, etc. I'm currently building the external nest box and this is where my question is.

Per the plans, I've framed out the 8ft external nest box. If I do this again, I won't make them longer than 6ft to give me more room inside, and I'd likely make access doors that fold down rather than lids that lift up, but that is what I'm working with on this build. There are two lids, which makes sense as a 8ft+ lid would be unwieldy, which meet at the mid-way point and there is a support for the lids to rest on there. My question is how do I waterproof the split? I have purchased some shower pan liner that I intend to use between the siding and the lids where they connect to the coop, but I'm not sure how to protect the split.

I thought I could either overlap the metal roofing so that one lid has to be opened first and held open (perhaps a catch rope or chain) for the second lid to be opened or the other thought was if I could try to make a single piece of roofing on its own hinge that overlapped both, so either could be opened, but I've not seen anything like this. Any other ideas? Has anyone dealt with this before? How did you solve the problem? Pictures would be great if you have a solution that works for you. Thanks!

 

[kwhites634]

I'm building a 6x10 coop from plans I bought online. I'm very new at building anything like this and I'm pretty much building it on my own. Currently, I have it framed out with siding attached and plywood on the roof. I have metal roof panels for the roof (this is a part of the build I'll probably get some help with). Still to go are to roof it, install windows, doors, trim, paint, interior, etc. I'm currently building the external nest box and this is where my question is.

Per the plans, I've framed out the 8ft external nest box. If I do this again, I won't make them longer than 6ft to give me more room inside, and I'd likely make access doors that fold down rather than lids that lift up, but that is what I'm working with on this build. There are two lids, which makes sense as a 8ft+ lid would be unwieldy, which meet at the mid-way point and there is a support for the lids to rest on there. My question is how do I waterproof the split? I have purchased some shower pan liner that I intend to use between the siding and the lids where they connect to the coop, but I'm not sure how to protect the split.

I thought I could either overlap the metal roofing so that one lid has to be opened first and held open (perhaps a catch rope or chain) for the second lid to be opened or the other thought was if I could try to make a single piece of roofing on its own hinge that overlapped both, so either could be opened, but I've not seen anything like this. Any other ideas? Has anyone dealt with this before? How did you solve the problem? Pictures would be great if you have a solution that works for you. Thanks!

 

[kwhites634]

Given the fact that 2-3 hens, maybe more, can share the same nest, do you really need them that long? Shorter, one piece lid = less weight=end of problem

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

Drop down access doors are especially great when it's raining. I hate lifting my lids and having water poor in.

Also.. you can expect the metal roof to sweat quite a bit. Some mornings my pole barn and covered run are sweating so bad it might as well be raining inside.

Mind you my covered run is fully ventilated and no amount will alter this. It similar to an ice drink sweating on a hot day. The warm side is wear the sweat develops. And on cold mornings when the sun starts shining, I guess it gets warmer directly under the roof than the outside chilly air.

So with that being said... I know a LOT of commercial building are made with the same stuff and have no issues with sweating. I think there is a felt paper or other roof insulator that prevents the sweating for people who aren't trying to go cheap. My pole barn was here when we bought the place, so it's been a learning process for me for sure. I didn't even know what a pole barn was.

One door opening first is how the doors on my Suburban work. Figuring out these things is part of the fun. I designed my own tractor coop in the shape of a cow, but have to add the finishing touches before fully sharing. Finishing projects goes slow here though, I've already taken almost 2 years.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Given the fact that 2-3 hens, maybe more, can share the same nest, do you really need them that long? Shorter, one piece lid = less weight=end of problem

I didn't catch that info... I wouldn't do more than 2 boxes for 3 ladies. They usually lay in the same box anyways while most go unused.

 

[PupsNHens]

I'm building the roof with a plywood base and will apply roof felt prior to putting on the metal panels, so hopefully that will lessen any chance of sweating or the coop heating up too much in the summer.

 

[PupsNHens]

I didn't catch that info... I wouldn't do more than 2 boxes for 3 ladies. They usually lay in the same box anyways while most go unused.

I have a "few" more than 3 hens

And the nest box is already framed out, so that part is a done deal. Now I'm trying to figure out the lids. Thanks!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm building the roof with a plywood base and will apply roof felt prior to putting on the metal panels, so hopefully that will lessen any chance of sweating or the coop heating up too much in the summer.

That should work well I think.