Laying boxes under roost?

[UrbanHenBilly]

Hello all,
Is there any reason why I couldn't but the laying boxes under the roost if I have a poop deck in between?
Roost --> Poop shelf --> Laying boxes.

Just looking to save space.
Thanks!

 

[patandchickens]

I have my nestboxes under the roost, with the top of the nestboxes acting as a droppings board. It works great for me.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[UrbanHenBilly]

Perfect, thank you, Pat!

 

[elmo]

It's a good, efficient use of space, and also means you don't have to stoop way down to the floor to clean out the droppings board. The older I get, the more I think about things like that.

 

[svalentine]

That leads into my question. Do the nesting boxes need to be up any or can they be level with the coop floor? Also I am thinking of adding them to the back of the coop so they don't take up valuable floor space. The coop is "shrinking". Any thoughts on that design would be appreciated. Unfortunately under the roosting bar isn't an option as it is only 8" high. Which leads to another question. There are 2 roosting bars with a space in between. They are identical. But for some reason 10 chickens will stuff themselves on one bar while 3 lay in the floor. None of them on the second bar. Can anyone get into the mind of a chicken?
Who knew chickens could teach so much.