Laying box for giant breeds

[aart]

Well, this would be an excellent situation to build some larger nests and see which one the big birds use.
Would have to be in the same general location and have fake eggs in all to equalize the attractiveness.

My nests are all 14 x 14 x 16tall...and a portable floor model 14 x 16 x 16.....
...all have 10" diameter entrances centered 7" from top, leaves lots of depth for thick bedding.
I think they like a bit more room to turn around and get things just right before laying...even the slim birds and definitely the bigger birds.

 

[azygous]

When drawing up the plans for a nest box, it's much more important to make sure the nest has standing room adequate for the breed.

If you'll observe hens during laying, right before the egg gets released they stand up to let gravity facilitate the process. Height, more than anything, determines the comfort of a nest box.

When I was building a new coop, it was rather small so I designed a stack of nests from one situated right at floor level, with the succeeding nests graduating to smaller dimensions stacked above the first one. The topmost nest is the smallest, and the hens all seem to appreciate having such a wide range of choices, since all get used. All have plenty of room in which to stand up. The bottom nest has really come in handy for broodies with chicks, by the way.

 

[TalkALittle]

When drawing up the plans for a nest box, it's much more important to make sure the nest has standing room adequate for the breed.

If you'll observe hens during laying, right before the egg gets released they stand up to let gravity facilitate the process. Height, more than anything, determines the comfort of a nest box.

When I was building a new coop, it was rather small so I designed a stack of nests from one situated right at floor level, with the succeeding nests graduating to smaller dimensions stacked above the first one. The topmost nest is the smallest, and the hens all seem to appreciate having such a wide range of choices, since all get used. All have plenty of room in which to stand up. The bottom nest has really come in handy for broodies with chicks, by the way.

That's funny. My topmost nest box had the least headroom. I figured my little bantams might use it. Nope. All the big girls have decided it's their favorite and the bantams nest side by side in one of the low boxes. I guess they weren't paying attention when I was showing them all those little paper napkins with the sketches I had made.

 

[Megsswm]

Thanks everyone....I think I am going to add 2 larger boxes and put them close to the ground...as this Brahma seems to hate heights of any type.

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone....I think I am going to add 2 larger boxes and put them close to the ground...as this Brahma seems to hate heights of any type.

I had to change the nest perch from a 2x2 to a 2x4 for the brahmas......and added a ramp too.