Nest Box---To top them or not

[CloggingChicken]

Getting closer to completion of the coop and wanted some input on nest box design. I was thinking of building them with a slanted top to prevent roosting and while browsing the internet and stores found some designed without a top at all. Some of the ones that I have seen are basically three sides with bottom and front lip to prevent any eggs from rolling out. They do not have a top to them at all, just open air. This would have the advantage of both using less material and keeping the birds off the top, since there is none. Seems like egg gathering would be easier as well since you could reach around any setting birds or snakes that may have climbed in.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[DarkWolf]

They will end up roosting on them if there is no top. Even with roosts, some will want to use them instead.

 

[CityChook]

I don't know - I don't have a top on my nest box. The girls lay in it just fine. No problems with poopy eggs either. It has worked out fine for me - super easy to collect eggs and clean out when necessary, which is next to never. I think that chickens like tighter, darker, private spaces to lay their eggs, but I liked the look of this better, so they had to adjust... Because I'm the mommy, that's why....

 

[Lobzi]

Mine have tops because the roost is above. They use the top as a step up to the roost and the top makes it easy to clean the droppings that fall over night, keeping poo out of the box.
Here is Mama sitting. You might be able to see the way the nest box looks.

There are four in a row under the top. The roost are above her and out of the pic, unfortunately.