Nest box designs

[Cierrascoop]

What has been your favorite nest box set up?
Do you prefer the typical, or have you gone non-conventional? Inside set up or outside set up? I'm looking for some inspiration for a different set up for my nest boxes. I like to re-purpose things and love seeing other people's cool ideas and set ups.

Also, if you have a mixed flock, do your bantams lay where your big girls lay? My oegb pixie isn't having it. I believe it's just too big for her to feel secure, so if you have run into this issue, what have you used for your smaller ladies?

 

[Lillith37]

I use milk crates turned on their side with woven baskets inside. The baskets are nice and cosy and the crates stop the baskets from being moved about when the hens go in to lay. For my broody hen I dispensed with the basket - it crumpled her tail feathers because she spent so much time in there. I just put the crate on a piece of thick rubber on the floor in the corner of the coop and filled it with pine shavings. I put another piece of rubber on top of the crate so she felt secure.

 

[RubelliteRose]

We have 2 coops. In the smaller raised coop, we have wooden nest boxes accessed by a drop down door on the outside. This is nice for getting to eggs without disturbing anyone and it is easy to clean by sweeping everything out the back door.
In our larger walk-in coop, we built a slightly raised platform out of spare plywood and screwed plastic dishpans to it. We also added a divider between each nest with a small piece of plywood. These are nice when it is raining so I don't have to stand outside to collect eggs. To clean them, we unscrew the dishpan and rinse it out.
The girls regularly rotate their favorite nests between the coops. Currently the favorite spot is in the second most inconvenient corner of the large coop

 

[rosemarythyme]

No experience with bantams, so can't help with that.

My nest boxes are internal and just above ground height, so I added extra space to the coop's sq footage to compensate for it. It's plywood, with the lid sloped 45 degrees to prevent birds from sitting on it. Lid is hinged to the wall and can be latched to the window sill above to keep it up and out of the way for cleaning/access. The body of the nest box is actually free standing (the lid holds it very securely to the wall), so the nests can be turned upside down for a easy, full clean out.

 

[3KillerBs]

The nests in Neuchickenstein are mounted on the inside but accessible from the outside. Since this is a hugely-oversized coop that works without being inconvenient.

They're also VERY well ventilated, since they're located on the west(ish) wall.

You can see them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

 

[aart]

I designed my nests to emulate the old metal nest banks my brother used 50 years ago.
They work great, especially after I added a wider perch and a hinged cover.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/nests.7427682/

There are a couple long threads with lots of nests.
I don't have the links, but I think @Ridgerunner might.

 

[Cierrascoop]

I designed my nests to emulate the old metal nest banks my brother used 50 years ago.
They work great, especially after I added a wider perch and a hinged cover.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/nests.7427682/

There are a couple long threads with lots of nests.
I don't have the links, but I think @Ridgerunner might.

I really love the idea of circular ones. These seem pretty cozy!

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

I have larger chicken breeds. Nests on the inside, about 12 inches off ground. Initially I tried large milk crates but my ladies would sit sideways in the nest making for cramped conditions with a 12 in sq box. I ended up using @aart ‘s design but enlarged the box sizes to accommodate the side-setters. Each box is 16w x18d x 16h sloping up to 20 inches tall in the back. The I will eventually allow the hens to hatch chicks and wanted plenty of space in the nest for that, too.
Sorry for the B&W pic but shows the set up fairly well. The round entry (another @aart idea ) keeps nesting material in so much better than square with a lip, IMHO.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Upcycled worlds ugliest armoire' Things I've learned over the years: they don't like sun shining in thier faces so I moved from a wall that was getting southern facing sun to opposite; I keep a supply of alfalfa just in front of the box because they enjoy pulling it to hide behind; inside set up for dryness, privacy; made sure roosts are higher than boxes so they don't want to sleep in them. Sorry no experience with Bantams. Good luck, I love upcycling and creativity so I hope you post pics!

 

[CKfarm22]

We have 2 coops. In the smaller raised coop, we have wooden nest boxes accessed by a drop down door on the outside. This is nice for getting to eggs without disturbing anyone and it is easy to clean by sweeping everything out the back door.
In our larger walk-in coop, we built a slightly raised platform out of spare plywood and screwed plastic dishpans to it. We also added a divider between each nest with a small piece of plywood. These are nice when it is raining so I don't have to stand outside to collect eggs. To clean them, we unscrew the dishpan and rinse it out.
The girls regularly rotate their favorite nests between the coops. Currently the favorite spot is in the second most inconvenient corner of the large coop

Can relate to the most inconvenient spot under the poop board