Nest box ok on floor?

[hockeygirl56]

I'm finishing my coop and was planning on putting my nest boxes on the floor under my roost/poop board (picture as of tonight below). I just feel like most pictures I've seen of nest boxes on here show them elevated. I just want to make sure there's no problems I could run into by leaving it right on the floor. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Sure, lots of folks use the covered kitty litter boxes on the floor. Looks great

 

[Chick Charm]

Some hens prefer it.

 

[Judy]

One reason people elevate them is to give the chickens more floor space. Mine prefer the raised ones right now, but next month they may switch back to the ones at floor level.

 

[triplepurpose]

Looks nice! I would also add that depending on what kind of litter you are using, you may find it helpful to have the nest boxes slightly more elevated, for the simple reason that dirty straw or whatever might tend to get pushed or kicked into the boxes as the chickens stratch around. This is particularly true if you are using the deep litter method--a box on the floor can get buried pretty quick the way the mounds of straw get moved around like sand dunes.

That said though, chickens are ground-nesting birds, so it makes total sense to have the nest boxes down low. The only reason really to elevate them would be to conserve floor space, like ddawn said. Mine are just set up on wooden blocks or logs about six inches or so--basically, just high enough that they stay above the straw-drifts...

 

[hockeygirl56]

Good point sky...the hubby suggested putting them up on 2x4's so I think I will take him up on that.