Need external nestbox plan.... can you help me?

[patandchickens]

Don't use laminate for an exterior nestbox's floor... it is NOT wood, it is chipboard or mdf type stuff, and will start to sag and collapse Real Fast as moisture and gravity get to it. Scavenge some real wood or plywood scraps, seriously.

The best way to build an external nestbox is to, if at all possible, build it INSIDE the coop

External boxes are really impractical and an unnecessary complication (they will always be a weak point for predators and weather to get in) if you can POSSIBLY fit interior boxes into your coop. Yoiu can always have an exterior *access hatch* to interior boxes.

If your coop is super tiny, though, then yes it is sometimes necessary to have exterior boxes. In that case I would suggest you simply build yours better, out of more-appropriate materials and with no gaps anywhere, and supported *strongly* (screwing into the studs of a stud wall is good, with a cleat underneath to help support some weight if the box is large), and with rubberized flashing where the lid hinges to the wall. Make sure there is some mechanism to prevent rain that's tracking down the coop wall from getting behinc the flashing (there are various ways to achieve that). Weatherstrip the lid, and put on a seriously raccoon-proof latch.

But, it is a whole lot better to *avoid* exterior nestboxes if you can

good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[CopperCT]

Quote:
I agree...I built exterior nestboxes on my coop but I never collect the eggs from outside....always get them from the inside when I do a head count and make sure everyone is in the coop where they should be. If I had to build it again I wouldn't bother with exterior boxes. I did waterproof the hinge area with an old thick window shade and nothing leaks but spent money on extra latches for predators etc when I didn't need to. With our snowy winter this year I can't even open the boxes from outside if I wanted to because of all the snow build up on and around them. I used extra shiplap board I had around the house and built them so that I installed them from the inside out with cleats and screws to hold them in place. The girls love them but still not worth the additional effort when I don't collect the eggs from outside anyway. I can see how exterior boxes would work well for a small non-walk in coop. But for a walk in....the next coop I build will not have exterior nest boxes.

Good luck with getting your boxes weather-proofed.

 

[vtgirls]

I dont have a closer picture but we have had no leaking or dripping or draft in the box area. The roof of the coop overhangs the roof of the nest box a few inches. The roof on the coop and the nest box is made from what we had around so is "sideways". To access the eggs the back wall of the boxes flips down on hinges, the roof is stationary and overhangs the flap a bit. Nothing falls out because plastic dishpans are in each nesting spot (there are four). The flap closes tightly and is fastened at each side with an eye and spring guard hook set. All of this coop, except the live edge siding and hardware, is built from salvaged, free materials.

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