How did you build your exterior nesting boxes?

[sreihart]

Todd, thanks for your help! All of these ideas are great and I'll use parts of all of them. I really like the holes that you cut for the chickens to go through. I wasn't sure how to do that because I know that some of them like privacy when they lay eggs. I didn't want to put curtains on the fronts because they would need cleaned regularly. And I've been holding off putting the plywood on the inside of that wall because I don't know yet where the cutouts are going to be. With your plan I can measure the areas for the nest boxes and cover the wall and the boxes all at the same time!

It looks like you used a router to round over the edges. That really looks nice and gives it a finished look, almost like furniture. I may have to do that too. I got a router about a year ago and only got to use it once so far. I'll have to do something about that!

Again, thanks for your help.

Sharon

 

[cknhobbiest]

Just determine what pitch you want the roof on the nest boxes and cut the angles on the tops to match that ie( if it is a 5/12 pitch that means 5 in of run for every 12 in so if you are making a 12 in nest box that would be 12 on back and 7 on front.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote:
Hi Sharon, I didn't really use a router on the cut-outs (I have one though). I just drew the cirles, drilled a 1/2" hole or so on the inside edge of each circle and then used a jigsaw to cut it out. I did, however, sand the heck out of the inside cut edge--didn't want my girls getting splinters. Now that you point it out, it would have been faster to use the router.

BTW, I just cut out a cardboard pattern for the end pieces so that I could determine a good pitch. However, I see that cknhobbiest has it down to a science

 

[moetrout]

Remember...your building a chicken coup....not a NASA launch pad. Don't over think it and keep it simple. On my first coup I didn't even cut any angles. I left the 2x4's with 90 degree cuts and just used screws to hold in place. Once the top is on you don't see it anyway. My chickens haven't complained yet. Looks like your doing a great job!

 

[sreihart]

Quote:
Thanks for the advice! I always over-do things like this and it's the challenge that really keeps me interested. I want to put up a 2-car garage after I retire in three years and the coop is one way of learning how to do some of the work myself. So if I mess it up, like you said, the chickens won't complain, but I will have learned something in the process. But I do need to remember "KISS" (keep it simple, stupid).