Galvanized nesting boxes???

[DLCShark]

I have a question concerning galvanized nesting boxes.

Do the need to be inside of henhouse for the girls to use them? I was thinking of putting one on the wall of the enclosure(exposed) and possibly taking the nesting boxes out of the coupe/henhouse to make room for more bird.

What do you think?

 

[Michael Apple]

I have a question concerning galvanized nesting boxes.

Do the need to be inside of henhouse for the girls to use them? I was thinking of putting one on the wall of the enclosure(exposed) and possibly taking the nesting boxes out of the coupe/henhouse to make room for more bird.

What do you think?

You'll find that hens prefer a peaceful, dim area to lay eggs. Not providing an area like that free from drafts and excess noise leads to stress. More stress means agitation and no eggs.

 

[DLCShark]

You'll find that hens prefer a peaceful, dim area to lay eggs. Not providing an area like that free from drafts and excess noise leads to stress. More stress means agitation and no eggs.

Which is why the usually go in one at a time to lay I take it?

 

[Michael Apple]

Which is why the usually go in one at a time to lay I take it?

It depends how many nests there are, and how much space exists. Also, some hens can become quite territorial with the wrong ratio of nests to the number of hens. I prefer at least one nest for every 3 hens in a group of 12. Even if a few hens choose the same nest to lay in, and one becomes possessive over it, the others have more nests to choose from.

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have a question concerning galvanized nesting boxes.

Do the need to be inside of henhouse for the girls to use them? I was thinking of putting one on the wall of the enclosure(exposed) and possibly taking the nesting boxes out of the coupe/henhouse to make room for more bird.

What do you think?

It may work for you keeping in mind chickens like dark areas to lay there eggs in. There is really only one way to find out and that is try it good luck DLCShark.

 

[DallasCriftins]

I have 10 galvanized boxes in two rows of 5 they are inside the barn in a darkened area.
The hens rarely use them and they have never been succesfull
The Orpingtons are too big to use them and some of the smaller birds can get toes trapped in the plastic roll out baskets.
So I am not a great fan of them

I now have three plastic communal boxes each can hold 4-5 hens at a time easily
I also have a dog kennel in one of the field shelters which the Geese and some of the more broody hens use

All the hens prefer the larger boxes they like to share a pre warmed nest when laying and we typically collect 4-5 eggs at a time from each of them

This is one of them on the side of the plastic shed we use as one of our coops it has a curtain on the inside as they like being in the dark when laying.

 

[aart]

I have a question concerning galvanized nesting boxes.

Do the need to be inside of henhouse for the girls to use them? I was thinking of putting one on the wall of the enclosure(exposed) and possibly taking the nesting boxes out of the coupe/henhouse to make room for more bird.

What do you think?

Depends on your climate and if the area you propose to install them is predator proof and available to the hens from first light.
I know of one guy who has nests outside the coops but inside predator proof runs.

 

[DLCShark]

Well I currently have three 5 gallon buckets serving as nesting boxes. The work perfectly. When I had 6 hens all three boxes where being used. Now with just three(after a vicious dog attack during free range time) they only use one box. I have three White Leghorns that will be added to the mix in about another month. I was thinking of maybe getting rid in the me ting boxes inside for the outside galvanized boxes. I have one Black sex link that's on the bigger side all the rest should fit no problem.

In short what I have is working no problem just looking to modify and hopefully improve the setup.

 

[RonP]

I have 3 boxes for about a dozen hens.

I rarely get eggs in all 3, usually only in 2.

 

[Michael Apple]

Well I currently have three 5 gallon buckets serving as nesting boxes. The work perfectly. When I had 6 hens all three boxes where being used. Now with just three(after a vicious dog attack during free range time) they only use one box. I have three White Leghorns that will be added to the mix in about another month. I was thinking of maybe getting rid in the me ting boxes inside for the outside galvanized boxes. I have one Black sex link that's on the bigger side all the rest should fit no problem.

In short what I have is working no problem just looking to modify and hopefully improve the setup.

5 gallon buckets are to small and slippery. Box nests are best of at least 12 x 12. Hot wire around perimeter property keeps dogs and terrestrial predators out. Eliminate stress upon the flock by any means necessary. I've never used galvanized nest boxes, only wood.