Nest Box 2.0 ??

[Ted Brown]

I think you could raise your roost and board higher up and stick the nest boxes underneath— one on each corner, or both together. Then you’d have a nest where they want to lay, and you would free up some floor space.

Freeing up floor space is BIG.

Raising the roosts/drop board is a good thought, I will have to take my tape measure and have a look. @aart said the same thing in a different way (what do you expect it is cozy)

 

[Henry&Friends]

Freeing up floor space is BIG.

Raising the roosts/drop board is a good thought, I will have to take my tape measure and have a look. @aart said the same thing in a different way (what do you expect it is cozy)

It is cozy, private & dark. Just bad placement for collecting those eggs... at least you know where they’re laying though, my chickens lay their eggs somewhere in the forest for their friends, the raccoons

 

[BDutch]

Did you try this one Ted?

Make it brighter and less cozy under the nest boxes. E.g. a led light on a battery. Perhaps one with a motion detector.

 

[Ted Brown]

@BDutch

I am in "think" mode. I don't have a battery powered LED and need to travel 25km twice to buy pretty much anything.

Most of the comments say make the back corner/under drop board less inviting; several have mentioned economy of floor space and/or raising the drop board & roosts.

At the moment I am favouring raising things and leave the nest boxes as is.

 

[aart]

Might want to think about how many nests you need long term,
and how best to configure them so they are all the same.
Not sure how tall your walls are, but here some height theory to take a look at.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[Ted Brown]

Might want to think about how many nests you need long term,
and how best to configure them so they are all the same.
Not sure how tall your walls are, but here some height theory to take a look at.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

Wall height was my worry (back wall is 4' 11") but roof slopes upward quickly so there is space. Current drop board is 20" off floor, roosts 12" above that, I can bring both up 10-12" I think.

Thanks for the reference.

 

[aart]

Wall height was my worry (back wall is 4' 11") but roof slopes upward quickly so there is space. Current drop board is 20" off floor, roosts 12" above that, I can bring both up 10-12" I think.

Thanks for the reference.

..and you don't have to worry about a vent back there near/above the roost.
I'd bring the board up for sure but your roosts might not need to be that far above the board, depends on how you clean them.
Since (I assume)you want to use under the board for isolation area,
might put a bank of nests against a side wall just below roost level.

 

[Ted Brown]

..and you don't have to worry about a vent back there near/above the roost.
I'd bring the board up for sure but your roosts might not need to be that far above the board, depends on how you clean them.
Since (I assume)you want to use under the board for isolation area,
might put a bank of nests against a side wall just below roost level.

My current layer flock size objective is ~12+1 roo, four nests?

I have two roost boards, access to clean the drop board is critical (every day job). I use DMZ, a small kitty litter scoop and a plastic colander, not sure how reducing distance between would impact.

As you note flexibility re nest & isolation usage is key. Going higher with roost, drop board and nests is appealing, some reconfiguration of nest boxes needed.

 

[aart]

not sure how reducing distance between would impact.

Being able to reach under roosts with whatever ever tools you use.

 

[aart]

My current layer flock size objective is ~12+1 roo, four nests?

I have 4 nests has worked fine for up to about 18 layers.