Inside or Outside Nest Box?

[Jhuff8181]

Hi,

I live in a cold climate, New Hampshire. My ladies are about 17 weeks old so I am going to ad nest boxes to my coop. I see some that hang on the outside of the coop while others are completly inside. Will I have a better chance of getting eggs in the winter if the nest box is completly inside and warmer?

Thanks

 

[faykokoWV]

I'm in WV and our climate isn't as cold as yours, but I put my nesting boxes inside the coop rather than haning out. I think the key to winter laying is light as much as heat, but i could be wrong

 

[CityChook]

Do a search - blue bar up above. There are several threads covering this exact information.

If it really freezes where you are, you might want to consider an inside box. The eggs will be more apt to freeze and break in an exterior box and it is somewhat cumbersome to insulate.

Having chickens that lay in the depths of winter is a matter of breed (and then light).

 

[Chicken Ninja]

Most people put in the outside nesting boxes for easier access to the eggs. If you don't really need this kind of convenience, I'm sure your chickens would appreciate having nesting boxes inside the coop, keeping them warmer and safer.

Just my opinion

 

[007Dawn]

Where you live I would put them inside but my great aunt and uncle's lived in KY, still not as cold as you but they had inside nesting boxes that were used to an extent but they also have these small teepee looking things in the yard so that when their girls decieded the nesting boxes weren't what they were looking for he knew where to look for the eggs. it worked. Just a thought.

 

[MIKE555444]

I live in WV also and I am getting ready to do the nest for my small 13 week old flock. If temps are the issue then you can always insulate. I want to make my nest outside for the purpose of providing more inside living space for the chickens. Several nest can take up alot of space in your chicken house.

 

[007Dawn]

Quote:
You can take small plastic bins, from walmart about $4 with a lid, and cut a hole out of the side then place hay and or bed shavings, for warmth in side and this will help to keep them warm.

 

[davidr]

I built my nest boxes inside. I wanted to eliminate any additional drafts in winter, The boxes are mounted about 18" off the floor so no floor space is used up.

Besides, I'm in the coop every morning and evening anyway, playing with the chickens.

David

 

[patandchickens]

There are really two separate issues here: 1) where is the nestbox built (within the coop vs protruding from the outside) and 2) can you collect eggs from outdoors or do you need to go into the coop.

The two things really are totally separate. You can perfectly well have inside nestboxes with hatches that make them accessible to you from outside the coop. (Or, if you really wanted, outside nestboxes with no outside access).

The only reason to EVER build exterior nestboxes is if you have a teeny tiny low-ceilinged chickens-are-already-squished coop.

In any other situation -- a more ample sized coop, or even a small squished coop if it is tall enough that the nestboxes can be mounted on the walls with room for chickens to walk underneath -- it is really a lot better to have interior nestboxes. Easier to build, plus it avoids a major weak point for weatherstripping and leaks and predator vulnerability, plus in cold climates the eggs won't freeze as fast in an interior box.

In a really cold winter climate I'd suggest skipping outside acccess -- it is hard to weatherstrip *so* well that no cold air seeps in and causes frost/humidity problems, and anyhow it is more comfortable to be collecting eggs from indoors. And going into the coop to collect eggs is a valuable opportunity to check up on things, and IMO really shouldn't be skipped if you have a choice.

Anywhere else, if you have a good reason to want a hatch from outside through which you can collect eggs without encountering chickens or chicken poo, it is very easy to build

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Jhuff8181]

Thanks everyone, Pat made up my mind for me - inside.

John