Nest box question

[tberggren]

My girls are almost to the point of lay, I was planning to just use a milk crate with a board across the front, but someone (not sure if it's the roosters (have several) or the girls) keeps kicking all the shavings out!! I am concerned about what will happen to the poor eggs once they start to lay.

Any idea's of what I could do differently??
I did read about using 5 gal. buckets instead. I do have big girls (especially the Black Orpington) so maybe something bigger is the answer??

Love to hear your thoughts?

I have to keep it simply though because my hubby always gets irritated if I need to ask him for help.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Chickenaddict]

Anything with a lip on it so they cant kick the shavings out. I made my nesting boxes out of a cheap partical board desk. we reinforced the top with boards to make it sort of a box on the top for roosting then below where there was a door, we took the door off and added another divider to make 3 nests under the roost and another 2 under the 3. All was materials we had laying around so it didn't cost a dime. In a brooder i made for in the house i used these unfinished crates i got at michaels craft store for $10 a piece, i lined the bottom with cardboard so the pine shavings stayed in the crates.

 

[EliteTempleton]

I've got a nesting box I built out of scrap lumber, at first I put shavings in it, then I got tired of them scratching it out, so I quit, have not had a cracked egg yet:



This is mostly because my hens give me a much better shell then I would get from a store bought egg.

So... I wouldn't worry about it unless you get some cracked eggs. I read here once too though you can put down a piece of cardboard, and then simply replace as needed.

 

[krcote]

I agree with EliteTempleton, sometimes my girls kick everything out even WITH the large lip built in and I have never had a cracked egg. Their shells are just so much tougher than store bought eggs!

 

[al6517]

This is how I solved that problem.



Seems to be working great so far.