Currently my nest boxes are on the ground. However, I am considering rearranging my coop before everyone starts laying and gets set in their ways. I'm thinking of using/ repurposing a book self to sit NY nest boxes in so I don't have to bend over/crawl on the coop floor to collect eggs. My question how high will the girls go to nest? If I put the bottom boxes 1-1.5ft off the ground, and the next row around 3ft, will the go up to that height? Sorry, no visuals.
Yes, or most chickens will -- they will if they jump that high onto anything else. They will appreciate a ledge or pole in front of the high boxes so they can stand outside and inspect the nests, to pick and choose. The only caution is, if a nest, or the roof of the nest if they can get up there, will likely become their new roost if it is higher than their present roost. They tend to choose the highest place they can get to for roosting. When I had a similar setup, I kept milk jugs half full of water on top so they couldn't get up there. An angled top will also work.
Nest boxes on the ground are fine as long as they don't scratch around in them through out the day. The book shelf idea would be great, just make sure they have plenty of room to move around a little in each nest. I used an old dresser and it worked perfectly, it gave me plenty of room to work with. You also want to make sure the nests are lower than their roost or you,ll have chickens sleeping in them and you don't want chicken poop in your nests. If you make them a little ramp going up about mid way to the book shelf you should have no problem of them laying their eggs at the top row.
Thanks! So far haven't found a book shelf, but my groups only 8-9 weeks old so I've got time. I was thinking about shoving my current nest boxes into each shelf, and fastening them down Not a great picture but my repurposed boxes.
