Nest box question?

[americanchicks]

My flock is growing! Im sure almost everyone here has had that happen. Well I am planning on turning my duck coop, its very large and the ducks dont use it, into a chicken coop. Well Im tring to decide how to build the nest boxes. My question is can you build nest boxes away from the coop? I was thinking about building like a nest box trough a few feet away from the coop. Was thinking 4 nest box compartments about 1 foot off the ground. Do you think that would work? Or should I just build it onto the coop?
Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hens like to feel safe when laying. Generally a darkened area is preferred. Nestboxes are generally put in the coop to keep nests dry, and hens safe.

Perhaps sharing some pictures would help, but I personally would always put nestboxes inside the coop, or at least attached to them.

 

[jthornton]

My nest box is in the run and not where they sleep. It is 36" wide 14" tall and 15" deep with no dividers.

JT

 

[DobieLover]

My nest box is in the run and not where they sleep. It is 36" wide 14" tall and 15" deep with no dividers.

JT

How many hens do you have, JT? I currently have a 60" wide, 18" tall (with 4" deep chopped straw bedding) and 15" deep community box too. I know you have a roll out design. Just curious how yours works as a community box with ?? hens. I will eventually have 24 layers sharing this box.

@americanchicks, as @oldhenlikesdogs mentioned, chickens like a dark secure place to lay. The other issues to take into consideration are the security of the eggs from predation as well as how clean it is for the hens to get to the boxes so they don't make a mess in their nest boxes and of the eggs with dirty feet.

 

[jthornton]

I have 8 RIR hens, had 9 but one was an egg eater so I gave her to my neighbor and then she got a boyfriend and is now very happy and so is her boyfriend!

When they were pullets I saw 5 at a time in there, now usually no more than 3 at a time.

JT

 

[DobieLover]

I have 8 RIR hens, had 9 but one was an egg eater so I gave her to my neighbor and then she got a boyfriend and is now very happy and so is her boyfriend!

When they were pullets I saw 5 at a time in there, now usually no more than 3 at a time.

JT

I bet they are! So egg eating is really just a symptom of a frustrated hen looking for love?

Thank you! I'll stick with the community nest box and wait until the pullets come into lay to see how 24 layers work things out.

 

[jthornton]

I bet they are! So egg eating is really just a symptom of a frustrated hen looking for love?

My neighbor kept her in a cage for a few days until she could be home to supervise the release and all the while she was talking to the rooster Britches. As soon as she let Side Kick out she checked out the place and sided up with Britches. We both were wondering where she would roost that night and to our amazement she hopped up on the big girl roost right next to Britches and basically told the top hen that was her place now.

She no longer eats eggs and has started to be more friendly to my neighbor.

JT