Hot weather nesting box

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello chicken friends! My question is: is there anything to do to keep their nesting boxes cooler in the hot summer? I guess i can get a small fan? Its just much hotter in the nest boxes. Maybe they will lay elsewhere if its too hot? Thanks for any feedback. Always appreciated.

 

[MarkRainbolt]

If you want the boxes cooler get rid of the galvanize roof or paint it white. Galvanize gets very hot painting it white will reflect the sun’s rays and cool the boxes. You can also put a shade cloth over it to block the sun. Also you need to divide the nesting boxes you have just one huge box and that will cause problems with your chickens.

Mark

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

If you want the boxes cooler get rid of the galvanize roof or paint it white. Galvanize gets very hot painting it white will reflect the sun’s rays and cool the boxes. You can also put a shade cloth over it to block the sun. Also you need to divide the nesting boxes you have just one huge box and that will cause problems with your chickens.

Mark

Thanks Mark. Painting it will be great. i have since added the dividers in each box. Each box has 2 nests For 5 chickens.

 

[3KillerBs]

Nests can be vented with hardware cloth inserted in at the top of the sides.

If you can SAFELY prop the door open a little without letting rain and/or predators in that would help.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Nests can be vented with hardware cloth inserted in at the top of the sides.

If you can SAFELY prop the door open a little without letting rain and/or predators in that would help.

Yea, i would hate to cut that blue part out to add hardware cloth.....but have considered it.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yea, i would hate to cut that blue part out to add hardware cloth.....but have considered it.

It would be awkward and risk the nests getting wet in blowing rain.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Is there room to construct a hardware cloth panel as the main roof, then use the metal on top so that it creates venting (like a double roof with metal ‘floating’?
I did this on my entire coop and it stays pretty cool.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Is there room to construct a hardware cloth panel as the main roof, then use the metal on top so that it creates venting (like a double roof with metal ‘floating’?
I did this on my entire coop and it stays pretty cool.

Thanks for the idea and the pic northwoods chic. Originally we had just the metal roof over nesting boxes. I discovered moisture getting into next boxes so cut plywood for roof and replaced the metal roof on top if that. I like the hardware cloth idea for the roof under the metal. I think i will have to move forward with that consideration. Thanks again for the idea. Painting the metal white is something i have to do as well. Something to repel the sun a bit more. One side of coop, (nesting boxes on each side) get direct sun all day long and its much warmer in there.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for the idea and the pic northwoods chic. Originally we had just the metal roof over nesting boxes. I discovered moisture getting into next boxes so cut plywood for roof and replaced the metal roof on top if that. I like the hardware cloth idea for the roof under the metal. I think i will have to move forward with that consideration. Thanks again for the idea. Painting the metal white is something i have to do as well. Something to repel the sun a bit more. One side of coop, (nesting boxes on each side) get direct sun all day long and its much warmer in there.

Is it possible to shade the coop itself?

I used a cheap picnic pavillion over my little coop when I couldn't put it into a shady place.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Is it possible to shade the coop itself?

I used a cheap picnic pavillion over my little coop when I couldn't put it into a shady place.

Ya got me thinkin' B's! Having a really pretty, atheistic coop versus a functional coop are 2 entirely different things, lol