Need Nest Box In Run/Tractor?

[nancypo]

We have just started building our first chicken coop! Since we do organic gardening/some permaculture on our city lot in Boise, I really have wanted to do this for a while. Finally talked my husband Dave into it. My goal was to recycle and buy as little as possible. We had a "garage" for our previous recycling bins outside, but the city changed and now we can mix it all. We will also build a seperate "tractor/run" to move around the yard. We'll build a pvc hoop or rectangle area with netting.

My question- if you have a regular "coop w/run" and a seperate tractor/run for daytime, non frozen ground use (we're in Boise) do you need a nesting box in the tractor/run? I was going to add a perch, shaded area, food/water. Not sure if that's needed? We're going to build something like this-

 

[Soaring Chicks]

I would put one in there if you want your eggs clean.
When they start laying there would be egg on the ground and they could brake them or they could get dirty. Plus they will try to hide them from you. If you had a nest box they would lay there and the eggs would stay cleaner and safe. Hope this helps.

 

[nancypo]

Good idea, I can go either way. Most of the area they will use in the run will be backyard turf... possibly veggie bads....

 

[elmo]

Nesting box, yes. I use plastic lidded bins that I move around between the permanent coop and the tractor, but one day I forgot to put the bin in the tractor. One of my hens laid her egg right on the ground, but Martha held hers in and ran like the dickens to the coop when I opened up the tractor. We got to see her lay her egg right there in front of us the moment she got into the nestbox. I felt guilty for being absent minded...

Perch, probably not essential. Chickens tend not to do much perching during the day.

Shaded area, food and water, certainly. It would be nice if whatever you use to provide shade would also provide shelter from rain so that you wouldn't have to worry about running out to move your birds if there's a sudden rainstorm.

 

[cracked1]

Hello from Nampa!

I very recently finished my first coop along with a detachable run/tractor. Now it's on to expanding the garden by another 60' x 15'...

Here's my coop/run when attached:

My girls in their run. I did put a roost in which they use now without needing the ladder so that will be removed soon. I will also be adding a shaded area to the run for when it's detached from the coop.

It's nice to see some more locals on the board... This site has been a GREAT place for info. Good luck to you! Feel free to p.m. or email me if you need anything.

 

[nancypo]

Nice coop and run! Since we have a smaller back area, I decided to keep it more low profile, plus that way we have a flexible plan. We could actually move the coop later if needed. I'm keeping a buffwer zone between our coop and back fence since the house behind us is a rental and has 2 unruly dogs....

Our coop in progress...

The open L shaped area will be netted, upper right is nesting area/roost...

 

[nancypo]

I'll be re-painting and decorating it, planting around it too, it'll be CUTE!

 

[shopchicks]

I don't have anything to add, just wanted to say hello, since I'm in Boise, too!

 

[nancypo]

Hey!

 

[nancypo]

Cracked, so is your tractor mostly 2x2's and 2x4's? Going to seal the wood or? I'm afraid with the heat and cold here it would really warp and twist?