Makes Great Nesting Boxes

[cajunlizz]

I have several , BUT just put 1 in the coop and 6 others are the red coke liter carriers . Guess which one THE 3 LAYERS ARE all USING ? yep , YOU GUESSED IT . so , i AM GOING TO ATTACH THE RED ONES ON THE WALL , AND bring in the rest of the black Milk grates and assemble accordingly . One day SOON we will have ALL 45 chickens laying , and they can PICK their favorite style and color . LOL.... If they don't like RED or BLACK , I will paint them PURPLE .

 

[okiehen]

Very good nest boxes I have 2 that are used every day.

 

[Davaroo]

They do make great nesting boxes. Ive used these things for years, for all sorts of storage. Chicken nests are just another in a long line of uses.

 

[ChickPeas]

The holes don't affect anything? What do you use in it for bedding?

SO you just turn that thing on it's side, fill it and that's it? Do you put anything on top? Can you post a pic of how you have yours sittuated? (gosh that was alot of questions!-Sorry!)

thanks!

 

[cajunlizz]

I have the inter wall to the coop FILLED with nesting boxes and 1/2 way along the back wall . On the opposite side of the coop , hubby built a ladder type roosting area . He explained that he did NOT want the chickens roosting and POOPING anywhere close to the nesting boxes , and IT IS WORKING out great . Whole floor is covered with pine shavings , including our nest boxes . NO , I do not lay the boxes on their side , STRAIGHT UP and fill 1/2 with pine shavings ....

READ where HAY and or straw will attract mites , Flies , fleas , ETC. SO , we went with the pine shavings .....


Sorry , I can NOT get the digital camera right now , BUT maybe after we get the 2nd. coat of paint down and enlargement on RUN , I could arrange it .

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Id like to respond by saying you dont gotta worry so much over this. The average hen will lay anywhere she takes a mind to, sometimes in the most unorthodox of places. Usually against our better judgement. A plastic crate? - thats a piece of cake.
Yes turn it on its side, and No, the holes dont cause a problem - well, my hens have never mentioned it.
I put a sloped "roof" over the nest boxes, or else the dummies will get on top of them and doo all the things they are want to do. The sloped top is hinged so I can store things inside the compartment it creates.
I fill mine with pine straw since it is abundant here. If you are ot using a rollaway design, you need several inches of cushioning material. Whatever is clean, non toxic, and handy is just fine.

 

[ChickPeas]

Cool! Thanks for the info! I worry about whether I'm doing things right or not...I just want happy, healthy chickens!

 

[fivebigreds]

They do make good nest but, we cut the opening in the side a little to low and they roll the eggs out sometime. That is why we did not just turn them on their side. I put a square of short nap carpet in the bottom and then added a little straw.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
I will repeat . We did not do anything to these milk crates except place them inside the coop , UPRIGHT , and put 1/4 to 1/2 fill with PINE SHAVINGS .

 

[Tamidon]

do the red coke crates not work well? I was about to put 3 in my coop(once I start building it,haven't started beyond collecting wood and chicks arrive in a week)