Marital debate: exterior egg door or not?

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
DH and I had the same discussion where I wanted an outside collection and he wanted inside. The only argument I had was the poop. Well, if it is outside, it is still within the run, so either way there is poop. We decided (jointly) that having the nests inside the coop near the door allowed us to check on the chickens and keep the coop better weather-proofed. Because we use the deep litter method with DE and Dry Stall in the coop (and chickens tend to poop under the roosts more than anywhere) we don't have a big problem with chicken poop anymore than we do walking in the run. Our old coop is an outside collection while the new on is an inside collection. Both are fine, but the outside one is drafty regardless of what we try to do.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

And the verdict is :RUM ROLL::

Yes, we will have an exterior egg door.

Wish I had a photo of his face when I made the "walking in slimy chicken poop" argument. Our door will not be in the chicken run itself so it's not a six of one, half dozen question.

The predator issue is of concern, however so thanks for the info on that.

Should I worry about insulation in southern CA? Coldest it ever gets here is maybe in the high 20's on a very cold winter night.

 

[consdrs]

Congratulations! you won't regret it. now you just need to convince hubby to install a storage box either above the nest box or below it for "stuff". The top part is a storage shelf and the bottom part is the community nest box. (we'll see how that goes) this second coop is almost done. on the shelf is the car antenna to open and close the pop hole.

Connie

 

[ChickieNikki]

We had the same debate, and I wanted an exterior door to the nest box (got it!)...in the winter, I wanted to be able to dash out the basement door, snatch eggs, take a quick peek inside, and go back in without hanging the big giant door door open. I also wanted the kids to be able to do it, and they can't reach the latch on the big door.

 

[ChickieNikki]

Quote:
Connie, that's what I have! I have 2 community nest boxes and a storage shelf underneath! It was an accident--DH accidentally framed the nest boxes in too low (floor level), so he closed it up and gave me storage! And I can't wait to see how the community box goes, too--are you going to put a little cover or curtain over part of it for privacy?

 

[imtc]

my argument would be to keep it because if your hens are pretty tame and love to see you there are times you'd want to just get eggs and NOT have them all rush you at once or try to get passed you out of the hen house. (I have that problem with mine...lol)

 

[consdrs]

Quote:
I am gonna put curtains over it! Going to see what kind of dark "chickeny" pattern I can find to put up curtains in my coop and over the nest box.
I hope the community nest box works out. my 9 older hens in the first coop all want to lay in the same box and sit and yell at each other to hurry up! some times I find 2 in the same 12x12 box! yelling at each other!! When there are 2 empty ones!! its crazy. I have left the option open to put in 3 dividers, hope it works out. Don't know what I would do without a storage spot. oh no, I do know... haul stuff back and forth...

Connie