lockable exterior-access nest box design?

[Caju]

I am currently designing and building my first chicken coop. Actually, we've already built some of it and I thought I had it designed, but realized there are little things I haven't figured out.

I want to have a pushed-out nest box off the side of my elevated henhouse. I'm picturing it with an angled, liftable lid, like I've seen in lots of the pictures. The thing I don't see in the pictures is how the lid is secured. There are raccoons in our area and I know how clever and dextrous they can be.

I planned on making the nestbox area 12" deep, 36" wide, and 12" going up to 14" tall, the tall side being at the attachment to the house so that the roof angled down away from the house. I thought the lid should hang over the back about an inch to avoid rain getting in, etc. What type of latch can I put on that will hold the lid down and be raccoon proof?

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Imp]

I think a lot of people use a hasp with a carbiner. If you think a raccoon can get through that then maybe a padlock.

Imp

 

[chookchick]

I have a nest box as you describe, and I really like it! It sits half in and half out of the coop. If you click on the thumbnail below, you should be able to see how it is fastened--with a hasp and caribeaner as Imp describes. My area is just crawling with raccoons, all my doors are fastened this way and I've never had a problem.

 

[Caju]

I couldn't really picture if a hasp would work over the edge of the lid if the lid hangs over a bit. Chookchick--I like your coop a lot! I can't get the picture resolution big enough to actually see how the hasp works, but I'm glad to know if should. I'll just get one and experiment.

Thanks!

 

[tnchickenut]

I have these nests... LOVE IT.
My first coop I built had the nest on the inside and the door available from outside the run... but putting a nest like a suspended room outside the coop saves floor space, and really isn't hard to build. I put a little door there, hinge it, latch it, lock it. Never had a problem with them... I would not hinge the slanted roof, though... unless it is under roof and there is no chance of rain getting in. I have a door on the "back" wall of the nest.
It's not hard to mount. Just cut the hole in the coop wall for the nest smaller than the nest itself... use some 2x2's and screws to attach the nest wall to the coop wall, caulk (my recommendation) it, stain or paint it, and go! Make sure to make the hole into the nest smaller than the nest and remember to make it deep enough for straw! Don't be like me and build two of everything... one that won't work and one that does. lol

 

[Billjr]

The hasp cover/latch can be bent to work in the over hang.

 

[Chieftain]

That nest box is going to get a hasp on it today, so that I can put a carabiner or a padlock through it to secure it. It's not too tricky, and it will be secure from preds.

 

[patandchickens]

If you attach the hasp (er, I am not sure I'm using the terms right here -- the hinged part that has the hole in it, yes?) to the edge of the LID, and the rigid protruding loop thing (that goes *through* the hasp and can accept a carabiner or lock) to the top of the nestbox SIDE, no bending should be necessary.

If you are paranoid of raccoons I would suggest a lock, not a carabiner which raccoons have been known to open. You can hang the key right there on the coop where it's handy, no raccoon will figure THAT out

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[BlackBart]

We use spring hooks, even the humans (sometimes) have trouble opening them.

 

[AmCanyonStables]

Here is mine - I attached a latch to the underside of the lid, and the loop to the box. Then I put a clip though it (you can see it with a rope attached) - never have had any problems. I know it is hard to see - but just picture it upside down

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