Individual nest boxes v communal box

[rosemarythyme]

My nestboxes are entirely internal to coop and just above floor height so I hinge the lid up for access. I think if I went external I'd give most consideration to making sure rain can't get into the box, so I think having access door hinge down would provide the best weatherproofing.

As far as a communal or split box, I've had it both ways and I don't know if the chickens have a strong preference. I guess I like the look of the individual stalls, but depending on how many hens you need to accommodate, a communal box might be better. Recommended is about 1 box for 4 hens, so if you have 8, 2 stalls should be fine, but 9 or 10 would probably be able to fit 3 to a communal box if needed.

 

[jthornton]

My nestboxes are entirely internal to coop and just above floor height so I hinge the lid up for access. I think if I went external I'd give most consideration to making sure rain can't get into the box, so I think having access door hinge down would provide the best weatherproofing.

As far as a communal or split box, I've had it both ways and I don't know if the chickens have a strong preference. I guess I like the look of the individual stalls, but depending on how many hens you need to accommodate, a communal box might be better. Recommended is about 1 box for 4 hens, so if you have 8, 2 stalls should be fine, but 9 or 10 would probably be able to fit 3 to a communal box if needed.

I have 9 RIR's and have seen 5 in my nest box at a time with plenty of room for all. One communal box large enough will be fine for 10 hens maybe more.

JT

 

[PouleChick]

I've only got 5 that are old enough to lay but the silkies are living in a small coop (their choice!) and tend to lay in there so until my others start laying there is really only 3 layers - I'm hoping the big coop will be built before all the chicks start laying!

I am still torn which way to go, I think I'll go with the communal one but perhaps make the opening to one side rather than central as then I can put a 2nd hole in the coop later if I do want to split it. Or wil that then be a pain for them as they may step on eggs. Arrggh I'm so rubbish at decision making

 

[Labradors]

We only had one nesting box (one of those plastic bins that contained kitty litter) for four hens in the previous coop which was rather small. I would often find three of them squished inside. The new coop has two nesting boxes which is very fortunate because one hen decided to sleep in one of them for a while and it was all poopy by the morning . I added a small step stool and a big block of wood in the hopes that she might prefer those to the box, and now I get eggs in both boxes .

 

[lazy gardener]

I would put in a divider which is removable. This can be easily accomplished by placing 2 pieces of quarter round or other molding on the floor of the box for the divider to "stand up between them. That way, you will not be locked into either plan.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have hinged my outside access boxes to open from the back. I particularly like this option with the current boxes b/c the door drops down. I can then add a little mini run to the back of the nest boxes to create an instant private broody area. In the morning, I open the nest box door, and mama and babies come pouring out of that opening. A lot depends on how high these boxes are in relation to the ground. If they are close to the ground, top hinge makes the most sense.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

I have three nest boxes for 3 hens, they all use only one, unless two decide to lay at the same time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would put in a divider which is removable. This can be easily accomplished by placing 2 pieces of quarter round or other molding on the floor of the box for the divider to "stand up between them. That way, you will not be locked into either plan.

This sounds like the way to go if you're undecided! Even if you do screw/nail in dividers, if you build it with the thought of maybe removing them later, it shouldn't be hard. For example my nest boxes look built in but are actually free standing and can be removed if needed for cleaning or maintenance - I could also unscrew the dividers and remove them that way. The lid is built in to the coop, the weight and slope of it keeps the nest box right where it needs to be.

 

[AmyJ29]

I have one large nest box for my 9 Rhode Island Red soon to be hens next week. Roll Out Nest Box Plans.

JT

hi there

RR makes a good point that I forgot to mention. I always open the coop/clean out door and make sure there is no hen in the nest box before I drop down the nest box door. They don't mind me opening the coop/clean out door to look in when they're in the nest box, but they sure don't like it when they're in the nest box and the drop down door is opened.

love your plans for the roll out nest boxes! how does the lifting pin part work?? I'm building one for a chicken tractor so sometimes the tractor will be be on a bit of a lean so the lifting pin idea is just fantastic to be able to flatten out the board while on a lean and then lift it when the tractor is on the flat

I have one large nest box for my 9 Rhode Island Red soon to be hens next week. Roll Out Nest Box Plans.

JT

great idea