how high should we put nest boxes (off ground)?

[The Lisser]

I've looked at lots of the coop design pages but haven't seen the height off the ground that nest boxes should be - just saw the dimensions of the nest boxes and the fact that they need a perch in front to help the hens get to the boxes.

Please help out newbie coop builders! Thanks!

Melissa

 

[funonahonda]

12-18"

 

[The Lisser]

Thank you!

Melissa

 

[Baymen Moe]

Quote:
Yup, mine are 18in off the floor.

 

[elmo]

Just make sure the boxes are lower than your roosts, because otherwise your chickens will want to roost on top of the nestboxes.

I put my nestboxes right on the floor; I use plastic storage bins, and I also have one that's a covered kitty litter box. It makes it very easy to clean them, and also to clean up inside the coop. And mites can't get into any crevices in plastic, either.

 

[bigoakhunter]

18 inches up works just fine!

 

[Chicken Jack]

My chickens still wanted to roost on the nest boxes even though they boxes were lower than the roosts; it was an easy hop and snooze for them I guess. What I ended up doing, after getting tired of scraping off chicken droppings off the tops of my nest boxes was I took a piece of plywood and pitched it at a 45 degree angle on top of the nest boxes. When they tried to fly up onto the nest boxes the next time, they ended up sliding off the plywood and back onto the floor. The next night I found them on the roosts with their com padres

 

[adeechickluv]

I have mine at about 8" off the ground. Is this OK?

 

[elmo]

Quote:
If your chickens are laying in 'em, I'd say that's all the proof you need!