Nest box location

[WildBillHicks]

Might seem silly but what's the best place, if any, for nest boxes? I share a coop with my dad. He hangs the nest boxes up high near the roosts. We have 14 adult hens but we only get about 2-6 eggs a day. I think it's because the nest boxes are up too high but what do I know. I would rather them be closer to the ground.

p.s. there's a ladder that leads up the nest boxes so they aren't having to jump/fly up there but most of the boxes I see are closer to ground level.

Two boxes they basically won't even go in. I mean they RARELY go in them. The boxes are clean and have fresh hay but they just will not go in there to lay. It's very odd to me. I will try to take pics today.

p.p.s I bought some plastic buckets to make some nest boxes but that went over like a lead balloon. You know what it's like getting an old man to try something different.

 

[darkmatter]

Might seem silly but what's the best place, if any, for nest boxes? I share a coop with my dad. He hangs the nest boxes up high near the roosts. We have 14 adult hens but we only get about 2-6 eggs a day. I think it's because the nest boxes are up too high but what do I know. I would rather them be closer to the ground.

Dad is always right, even if he's not. Build your own coop the way you want on your property---I did.

P.S. my nest boxes are to the side of my coop and about the same height as the roost ladder, some roost higher, some lower.

 

[WildBillHicks]

Outside boxes, the ones they never use. It's under a roof so it doesn't get wet. Have no idea why they won't even go in there let alone lay in there.




Inside box. Very top of the coop. He just put it in there so I have no idea if they will use it.

 

[darkmatter]

Outside boxes, the ones they never use. It's under a roof so it doesn't get wet. Have no idea why they won't even go in there let alone lay in there.




Inside box. Very top of the coop. He just put it in there so I have no idea if they will use it.

I see the problem with the outside boxes------too bright, the hens prefer a darker area to lay their eggs.
My nest boxes are opposite of the windows and in the dimmest area in the Coop.
The problem with nest boxes higher then the roosting area is that the chickens will prefer to roost in the highest spot, if that is the nest boxes, then you get poo in the boxes overnight.

 

[WildBillHicks]

OK thanks. I will try to convince him to do something about it, maybe cover it some how to make it darker. Like I said, he's an older man set in his ways and he really doesn't like me telling him anything about the coop/run/chickens. He's never used a computer, he has no idea what backyardchickens is so it can be difficult.

And if I had the land I would make my own coop but I don't so it's out of the question.

p.s. that inside box looks 10x brighter than it actually is. The camera flash did that. It's actually pretty dark in there until the sun sets behind that window. Other than that it's really quite dark in there. I'm hoping they like it in there. I really wish there was enough room in there to put my buckets. Oh the buckets would really work in there. Sigh.