Has anyone ever done this?

[Faverollesarefun]

So I got this nesting box secondhand and I’m curious if anyone has ever converted a nesting box like this into a roll away box. I would love a roll away box but I don’t have like $300 to drop on one. There are plates in the bottom of each box that remove so I could angle those so the eggs roll.

I’m mostly just curious if anyone has done anything like this, and if so can you share tips/tricks/pictures?

Thanks all!!

 

[DobieLover]

I have not done that but I question why you want to.
Do you have an egg eater?
If not, there is not reason to have a roll away nest box.
Hens are far more comfortable laying in a well padded, bowl shaped nest, not on a flat metal surface. I imagine that would be slippery too. It's not at all what is best for the hen.

 

[Faverollesarefun]

I have not done that but I question why you want to.
Do you have an egg eater?
If not, there is not reason to have a roll away nest box.
Hens are far more comfortable laying in a well padded, bowl shaped nest, not on a flat metal surface. I imagine that would be slippery too. It's not at all what is best for the hen.

It’s mostly for egg cleanliness and yes I do have an egg eater. She only eats the eggs when she is laying, which she isn’t at the moment, but I would prefer to have a roll away one for when she starts. At the moment, I have gray rubber pads in each box and I put straw in them as well, they kick the straw out of their favorite box and always lay in there. I’ve tried to give them a well padded nest and they don’t like it. They aren’t just laying on metal, as I have the rubber pads and I try to keep straw in there but they choose the one without the straw.

Before I got this box, I had a homemade one that they basically laid in a bowl shape and I gave them some with straw and some with pine shavings and they never liked that box. A few would lay in it, the rest would make a nest on the coop floor.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

It’s mostly for egg cleanliness and yes I do have an egg eater. She only eats the eggs when she is laying, which she isn’t at the moment, but I would prefer to have a roll away one for when she starts. At the moment, I have gray rubber pads in each box and I put straw in them as well, they kick the straw out of their favorite box and always lay in there. I’ve tried to give them a well padded nest and they don’t like it. They aren’t just laying on metal, as I have the rubber pads and I try to keep straw in there but they choose the one without the straw.

If you have an egg eater, it may be time for her to be rehomed or else. When I have so many chickens like I do, egg eaters just cost more money. They really are not worth it. But If you must keep her, try to keep the eggs well collected if possible.

Before I got this box, I had a homemade one that they basically laid in a bowl shape and I gave them some with straw and some with pine shavings and they never liked that box. A few would lay in it, the rest would make a nest on the coop floor.

Is there more privacy in other places than the nest box? Have you put curtains on them. Chickens are somewhat like humans, they need privacy sometimes.

 

[Faverollesarefun]

If you have an egg eater, it may be time for her to be rehomed or else. When I have so many chickens like I do, egg eaters just cost more money. They really are not worth it. But If you must keep her, try to keep the eggs well collected if possible.

Is there more privacy in other places than the nest box? Have you put curtains on them. Chickens are somewhat like humans, they need privacy sometimes.

No one wants her and I feel bad just culling. The problem is, I’m at work so I grab any eggs that they’ve laid before I go but the rest sit till I get home after 6. Once I got this new nesting box, they have just been laying in there, not making nests on the ground anymore. Yes, I have thought about curtains ANd that’s my next step.

 

[Appalachickens]

It’s mostly for egg cleanliness and yes I do have an egg eater. She only eats the eggs when she is laying, which she isn’t at the moment, but I would prefer to have a roll away one for when she starts. At the moment, I have gray rubber pads in each box and I put straw in them as well, they kick the straw out of their favorite box and always lay in there. I’ve tried to give them a well padded nest and they don’t like it. They aren’t just laying on metal, as I have the rubber pads and I try to keep straw in there but they choose the one without the straw.

Before I got this box, I had a homemade one that they basically laid in a bowl shape and I gave them some with straw and some with pine shavings and they never liked that box. A few would lay in it, the rest would make a nest on the coop floor.

I'm working on building a roll-out nest box. A couple of years ago, there was a thread on here about making your own that I think I'll be able to manage. Might be less expensive than converting one?

 

[aart]

I’m mostly just curious if anyone has done anything like this, and if so can you share tips/tricks/pictures?

Haven't seen one like this modified to roll out.
It could be done, would need some mad metal working skills to do so.

 

[Faverollesarefun]

I'm working on building a roll-out nest box. A couple of years ago, there was a thread on here about making your own that I think I'll be able to manage. Might be less expensive than converting one?

Maybe I should take a look. Since I just got this once it would just be really nice to convert it. Might be a good idea.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you tried fake eggs to convince your egg eater not to do that? Golf balls or something else nice and hard?

 

[Island Coppers]

What if you tilt the whole thing back just enough so the eggs roll toward the back, then cover the back except for a slot tall enough to let the eggs roll under. You'd have to extend the floor beyond the back slightly for a collection area.