I want to install one of those nest boxes with the lift-up lid that can be accessed from outside the coop. Since I don't have a lot of room for error I need some pics/blueprints. How do you keep rain out? How to you put roofing on it??? Thanks!
OK, I don't have blueprints, and my nesting box doesn't open on top, but it was added after-the-fact so I thought it might be useful to someone else. Here's the box, it was made from OSB screwed onto a frame made from 1" x 2" boards. I have banties so the interior footprint is 12" x 11". To control water leakage, I applied a bead of caulk where the roof contacts the outside of the coop. Side view. From here you can see where I put the door on the outside, the door just barely clears the bottom of the sloped roof. Here I left a small gap above the door frame to allow air circulation. Here's the view from the inside. I built the box first, then cut a hole in the side of the coop and attached it with the four screws you can see in the wall. (Don't ya love the golfball that's painted like a baseball? )
wow, that's so nice looking! I definately got the idea now, but I still have one question: for boxes that open on the top, how do you keep water out? I'm picturing the seam between the box and the wall, and the box roof would seem to conflict with sealing against water....unless I'm just missing something....Thanks for the pics!!!!
MicMoo, thanks for posting the pics, I'm a visual person and needed to see a pic so I have a plan to follow. I have a couple of months before I need to have my boxes ready but I want to get them ready now. I really like the side opening door.
Jarhead had really neat pictures and diagrams of the nestbox on his post "My coop build". I'm subscribed to it and waiting for him to post his finished project.
To the question of making the upward lifting roof. You could hinge the roof section at the top with piano hinge (or any hinges)and use any kind of rubber sheet like rubber roofing, a old door sweep rubber,old tire tube you get the idea.You could even use flexable plastic like a large tupperware lid cut to size "just dont tell your wife what your doing with her lid. Put a bead of silicone rubber along the length of the upper back side and use a wood strip and screws to hold the rubber, plastic above and over the hinge onto wall just above where the roof meets the wall . This would give you a waterproof transition drip edge over your hinge. Just make sure your rubber, plastic is a few inches over the hinge so the water, snow, ice can't get under it to the hinge.
Quote:That's what I did. I used an intertube, so the rubber strip came out a little "wavy", but it works fine so far.