How low should I put the nesting box?

[Firsttimehens1234]

I have 4 nesting boxes in my coop already but 2 of my hens don’t use them,
it’s ironically the biggest and the smallest hen that don’t use them. I have a theory that the smallest one can’t jump that high bc she can’t even jump up on the roost and the biggest one is just lazy I think.
But should I build a small one close to the ground they can lay in or is that a bad idea bc of animals that could get into it easily

 

[HollowOfWisps]

What breed is your largest and how high off of the ground are your nesting boxes?

 

[jreardon1918]

I have 4 nesting boxes in my coop already but 2 of my hens don’t use them,
it’s ironically the biggest and the smallest hen that don’t use them. I have a theory that the smallest one can’t jump that high bc she can’t even jump up on the roost and the biggest one is just lazy I think.
But should I build a small one close to the ground they can lay in or is that a bad idea bc of animals that could get into it easily

Can you provide a few pictures and a description of the coop?

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

What breed is your largest and how high off of the ground are your nesting boxes?

I dont know what breed my biggest one is unfortunately, I will put a picture of her and my smallest one, the nesting boxes are about 3 feet of the ground, I read somewhere that, that is a good height

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I dont know what breed my biggest one is unfortunately, I will put a picture of her and my smallest one, the nesting boxes are about 3 feet of the ground, I read somewhere that, that is a good height

Where did you get her? She looks like a Crevecoeur which are a rarer breed. As for the nesting boxes 3 ft. Is too high for larger chickens.

 

[aart]

Can you provide a few pictures and a description of the coop?

Yes, pics of nests and coop would help.

the nesting boxes are about 3 feet of the ground, I read somewhere that, that is a good height

The nests only have to be lower than the roosts(so they don't sleep in them).
Good to have landing perches in front of nests.

Here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

The nests only have to be lower than the roosts(so they don't sleep in them).
Good to have landing perches in front of nests.

Here's some tips about heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

Hello, when I go back in the coop I will take some pics. I

 

[NatJ]

But should I build a small one close to the ground they can lay in or is that a bad idea bc of animals that could get into it easily

Any animal that can get into a low nestbox can probably get into a 3 foot high one as well, so I do not think a low box would cause any new animal-related problems.

I have a theory that the smallest one can’t jump that high bc she can’t even jump up on the roost and the biggest one is just lazy I think.

Do they have to jump directly into the nest box?
Or can they fly up to a landing pad, then step in? (This usually works much better.)

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I've had boxes about 3 feet high and I've had them about 1 foot off the coop floor. What's important is that they are never as high as roosts; And lower is obviously easier for them or you do need to provide assistance like a ladder or mid-point to jump to if you stay with higher. Same for roost bar, they should have a way to get up to it if jumping all the way is not an option. When I was designing my current set up I spent alot of time just watching them get up to the roost and modified a mid point bench accordingly until it was very easy for them. This solves for so many potential future problems like Bumblefoot, poop where you dont want it, etc. etc. Just curious - what are they eating in that one photo? They're very cool, whatever the breed! I'm sure they are fun to watch.

 

[jreardon1918]

I've had boxes about 3 feet high and I've had them about 1 foot off the coop floor. What's important is that they are never as high as roosts; And lower is obviously easier for them or you do need to provide assistance like a ladder or mid-point to jump to if you stay with higher. Same for roost bar, they should have a way to get up to it if jumping all the way is not an option. When I was designing my current set up I spent alot of time just watching them get up to the roost and modified a mid point bench accordingly until it was very easy for them. This solves for so many potential future problems like Bumblefoot, poop where you dont want it, etc. etc. Just curious - what are they eating in that one photo? They're very cool, whatever the breed! I'm sure they are fun to watch.

Our net boxes are just a few inches off the floor. There is also enough of a lip to prevent the nest pine shavings from being scraped out. As to the roosts. We have a couple logs in the coop which give the bigger girls a midway to get up to the roost. That helps as the coop is kind of narrow.