Nest box/ teepee?

[Birdielee]

I'm building my coop and run now, as my first pullet is living in the shed and causing general destruction in the garden during the day as i watch her and build.
I made a nest box today, but it looks so BIG. I was going by measurements i found somewhere here that said 14" square, bigger for larger breeds. I'd like to have buff orpingtons especially. So i made it 16". Then later i read another post that said 12" is standard. Mine looks huge, and i think it's not even 16" because i didn't use the last board. The box is just a wall and a roof. It's against the corner of the coop. Now I turned it on its side and it looks like a tent. Much more cozy looking. And triangular . Anybody have a triangle nest box that works? Or useful info for me at this stage? I Also need door latch info, and egg collecting door info. My egg door, if i make one, will be part of the wall of the coop, with the nest box inside.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any photos?

My nest boxes are 14.5" cubed inside. I'm not trying to make them cozy, I want the chickens to have space to turn around and stand up (which they do right when they lay).

 

[Birdielee]

Ok thanks. One post said cozy was good

 

[Birdielee]

Are they biggish hens or small?

 

[Birdielee]

This is from 2 days ago. No "nest box" photo. I worked on the coop today but it was raining and I've been ignoring my phone. So no photos yet.

 

[Birdielee]

I'm thinking about making a mesh covered section in the floor so i can open it in the summer and get more ventilation. Any opinions? It would be inside the run, and the mesh is 14 gauge.. 1/2"? squares. My staples are the weak point. How long are good staples?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have average sized chickens, no bantams or giants.

I'm thinking about making a mesh covered section in the floor so i can open it in the summer and get more ventilation. Any opinions? It would be inside the run, and the mesh is 14 gauge.. 1/2"? squares. My staples are the weak point. How long are good staples?

Why ventilation in the floor? Ideally ventilation should be up high. What's your location/general climate?

If you're using staples it's best to sandwich the edge of the wire with more wood and screw it in place, for added security.

 

[Birdielee]

I probably will sandwich the edges, then. But is there another option that's better than staples? I have a horrible hand stapler that I'm shooting galvanized staples with. I have a compressor, too, and have a gun and up to 5"8 x 5/8" staples for upholstery. Fresh out of stainless steel, though. The pneumatic stapler uses thin staples.

 

[Birdielee]

I'm in NJ. Central. Zone 6 for plants. Down to about -3F. Up to about 108F. Very Humid. Rains a lot. I made a vent door with mesh behind it on the right wall, up high. But i figured in the summer, it might be nice for cool air to come in from under the coop and go out up top. The up high vents are usually open- and closeable?

 

[Birdielee]

This coop is very small. 6 x 2-1/2 feet. And up on legs. The hens will be able to go under the coop and scratch around as part of their run.