How do exterior nest boxes hold up?

[Knock Kneed Hen]

A previous post has me wondering how well exterior nest boxes do under extreme wind and rain conditions. I love the salt box style of coop but seems to me that you'd eventually have water coming into your nest boxes.
For those of you that have coops built this way have you had problems? If you haven't had problems, how have you made sure that rain stays out? Thanks!

 

[HighNDryFarm]

We have a rain gutter on the upper part so the rain doesn't drain into the nesting boxes.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Knock Kneed Hen -- No problem with ours, although ours opened differently--the top is fixed and the nest's door opens downward!

The rose colored door opens downward--the top is shingled to match the roof. You can see the childproof hooks on the side near the top of the door.

Side view during the building phase.

 

[Unclebean]

Quote:
chickerdoodle's method would probably work better than a hinged lid. I hinged my lid and had a few leaks. I had to use a rubber seal along the joint at the hinge which does help. The other problem with my hinged lid, my kids are not tall enough to see inside the nest boxes. Hope this helps!

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have a hinged top lid on my bantam coop. I have a rubber piece covering the hinge area. I have had no leaks in 2 years.

 

[elmo]

I've also wondered whether there's much difference between exterior nestboxes vs. interior nestboxes in extreme heat or cold.

 

[chickerdoodle]

If you make your nest box like ours--be sure to have an over hang so when you pull the door downwards it stays dry.

We did it on ours and we live in the PNW which has very wet winters and we love it. It also helps kids and short people (lI'm--4'11") to see easily in the nest boxes.

In the warmer summer months we put a small rubber object (like a door stop) between the door and top of the box so it stays open about 1/4" which allows air to flow in the back of the nestbox. We have magnets on the door too so it fits tightly in the winter so no breeze to chill the girls.

This type also has another bonus. When we open it and no one is in the nest all the chickens come over and stick their heads out to say "hello"--its darn cute.

 

[babyrnlc]

we have not had any problems with ours. It is hinged and then we have weather stripping at the latch area. Also the roof hanges out a little over the nest boxes. The girls love them and have not had any wettness in the boxes, even through the blizzard.

 

[Dogfish]

I just built the overhang out further.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Dogfish, how many nest boxes inside of yours and do you mind giving the dimensions?