nest box

[baby chick chick]

could somebody give me the demintions for a nest box for silkies?actualy i what i realy need is just complete plans.thanks!

 

[baby chick chick]

hello? could SOMEBODY reply?

 

[BarredBuff]

I would make them 1 ft by 1 ft thats what we made for our Barred Rocks.....

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I went to Dollar General and Walmart and even Lowes and bought plastic bins. Easy to place on the floor of the coop since my Silkies don't like to have to jump up. Easy to clean out, wash with vinegar between hatches and I can move them around easily when cleaning the coop. I also have used cardboard boxes.
If you want to put them up off the floor, they can be set on a milk crate or larger box.
Some people put 5 gal. plastic buckets on the floor for their chickens to lay in and lay a 2x4 up against the front to keep the bedding from being scooted out.
Tons of ideas if you search the archives, too.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I'm no expert, by ANY means, but I have noticed that some hens are just not that choosy about their nest boxes. I've had 1 hen that used a plastic storage box. right on the floor. Sure was easy to clean & disinfect!

 

[sjarreau]

I just started a little over a month ago raising chickens. I have some silkies that lay under a stand in the corner on the ground. I kinda made a tunnel in there. I also have one silkie that lays in a big dog crate. there is the other pen they lay in a milk crate box and one in the corner on the ground and some lay ontop of an old cage I put in there. I don't think any of our chicks for too picky. I am constanely out there changing thing trying to make it better and better! i've even added some old broken clay pots and a basket over the weekend. haven't seen any chicks in there yet.

 

[pacetruckguy]

Mine are 12X12 inches. work just fine. There are 3 boxes, and 8 hens. They use the same box most of the time. Sometimes they will use two. So far never all three. I'm getting 5 eggs a day. I don't think they are all laying yet.

 

[comp6512]

When you guys saying "plastic storage bin" - what do you mean? Is that like a kitty litter box? With no roof?

I thought chickens needed privacy

P.S. Mine are not laying yet, but getting ready.

 

[Chickiemama1010]

i think what they mean is like a rubbermaid tub, no lid. you can get them at the dollar store for around $5. Thats what I used! easy to clean, etc. I screwed a 2x4 to the wall and then screwed the tub to the wall with the bottom of it against the 2x4 to give it a slight tilt backwards so the eggs dont roll out. Then we screwed a large dowel rod to the tub on the inside/bottom for a perch and to help the bedding to stay put. My hens will lay anywhere, and seemed to prefer the floor. But they took to these boxes well.

 

[pacetruckguy]

I hung my nestboes on the outside of the coop. Got an egg a couple of days later. Probably a coincident. But it's nice to just open the top and scoop out the eggs. Here's a picture