Nest box designs

[Why and Dotte]

I have a 6 chicken box and of course everyone only wants the two favorites, then they have their spots in the coop that they lay. I have 18 layers maybe 17 my rhodie is broody somewhere... I think, 13 pullets and 5 chicks I'm guessing they'll be mostly roosters.
So I need more boxes, ones that are inviting to picky hens. Mine seem to like high nests, some were laying in my garage about 6 feet off the ground on a shelf

My dad thought a predator was sneaking around knocking stuff off the shelves, turned out it was the chickens, I don't think he was very happy, his organized mess became unorganized.
How far off the ground do you all usually put yours?

 

[schmije]

Our lower boxes are about 18" off the ground, and there's a second row that sits directly on top of them. You don't want your nest boxes to be too high, because they might decide to roost (and poop) there at night.

 

[captn_rob]

I'm new to chickens. My 15 Buff Orpington chicks will arrive from Cackle Hatchery on May 17th.

I'm finishing my coop and working on nesting boxes. I've ordered 10 pullets - how many nesting boxes do I need?

buff orps are big, how big should the boxes be? 15X15X12?

how high off the floor should they be? 6 inches? 12? more?

I was originally planning on building external nesting boxes but my mom (who had chickens on her farm) said not to because it gets cold here in Maine and the external boxes would be colder than the rest of the coop.

Thanks

 

[gryeyes]

My nest boxes are 12 inches wide, 12 inches high, and 15 inches deep. My Buff Orpington fits in 'em just fine. And SHE'S not small at all, my Fluffy Buffy.

The bottom edge of the nest boxes, where there's a perch for them to jump to before they get into the boxes, is about 18 inches off the floor.

 

[schmije]

I agree with gryeyes. My boxes are 12" x 12" x 12", and that's plenty of room for a BO. I've seen two of mine squeeze into that space when they both wanted to use the same box. LOL! 18" off the floor is also good. For 15 chickens, you should be fine with 4 boxes, but it won't hurt if you have more. They'll have a favorite box and all use the same one or two anyway.

 

[teach1rusl]

My nest boxes are about 24 inches off the ground, and are larger sized...probably 16 inch opening.

captn - If you place your nest boxes at least 18 inches from the floor, you have given up NO floor space, which is good. Do place a perch in front of the boxes for the girls to hop up onto. I'd go for 5...since you never know when broodiness will hit and a box will be out of commission...

 

[captn_rob]

Thanks for all the replies. Does anyone have any input on putting the boxes on the outside in a cold climate? My coop is only 4X4X8 so space is at a premium.

 

[klf73]

Quote:
Rob, the best way to get replies is for everyone to see your question

. go to the top of the coop & run page and click on "post new topic" . Put your question there and you will get replies

as for me I have mine in my coop, was going to do it external but dh said the same thing your mom said. I am in the process of building a free standing structure outside for the summer...

 

[harewizard]

Hi Captn Rob,

From what I've read, it's the drafts that get them not necessarily the cold. I'm in Maryland and have outside nest boxes. We had the worst winter here in over 10 years- and my girls were fine. Make sure the boxes are free of any drafts and wind blowing thru. If you want or need to, you can warp them in plastic, come a cold winter or as I did, I stacked hay bales around my outside nest boxes, because of the gail winds. I think outside boxes will be fine!

Here is a pic of my coop this past winter.

HTH,
Lisa