how high off ground should nest boxes go?

[BKVT]

Hi all -- am still in the continuing saga of building my coop. Chicks are already in it, but in a brooder box for another few days till they get too tall. I am partitioning the interior at this time and planning for the nest boxes and my question is - how high off the ground should the nest boxes be? Thanks! Bill

 

[PeeperKeeper]

It depends.
We have 3 levels, 3 ft. to 5,5 ft. some hens prefer 3 ft off the ground and others like 4 ft. No one has used the upper boxes...yet. Just make sure they have some footing to get into the nest if you put it very high. The heavier the hen, the more likely she is to "sprain" her leg joints when jumping out of the nest.
Personally; I'd just as soon they were all about 3 foot off the ground. It's easier for me to collect the eggs.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I keep mine about a foot off the floor an my dads has his on the floor but Ive seen them up to 5 feet. The main thing is to have them lower that your roosts so they don't wont to roost in them. Some breeds don't jump very high ether.

 

[BKVT]

thanks -- that gives me a good sense of the flexibility I have (or better yet...the flexibilty that the hens will need

 

[newchickmom]

Mine are about 1 1/2 feet off the floor. I have 2 rows of 5 nests. I also have a little ramp that mama uses to get her chicks in the nest for the night. (they are still to small to get up to the roosts) I have heavy breeds so the nest boxes need to be lower.

 

[patandchickens]

Key thing is, put 'em distinctly LOWER THAN the roosts, otherwise you get chickens trying to sleep in the nestboxes and pooing there and causing pooey eggs.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[redoak]

I have my nest boxes just high enough off the floor so the space under them is still usable for the chickens. I also have a 45 degree slope top for the nest boxes so the chickens don't try to roost on top of them.

 

[AllChookUp]

patandchickens wrote:
Key thing is, put 'em distinctly LOWER THAN the roosts, otherwise you get chickens trying to sleep in the nestboxes and pooing there and causing pooey eggs.

Sage advice. I'd strongly reccomend what she says. I built a second tier of nest boxes that are higher than the others, and the hens just want to stay in there and poop.

I beileve it kicks in something having to do with the pecking order. Every chicken is trying to get higher up on the roost ladder, and if you provide another place to sit that's higher up, they will take advantage of it as more of another roost.

Just my $.02.


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[scooter147]

Mine are three feet off the ground, it's easier on my back to collect the eggs.
All sound advice here, make sure you put a slanted top on them so they don't perch on the sides and poo in the boxes.