Nest Boxes for my chicken tractor

[arsnow]

I have been working on a chicken tractor for a while now, and I am finally getting close to finishing it. I do need a little help with nest boxes though.

I'm planning to build then off the back of my tractor. Each box will be a one-foot cube with peg board used as a divider. Is this size big enough for buff orpingtons, rhode island/newhampshire reds, russian orloffs, dominiques, or barred plymoth rocks? I've haven't started on them yet, so there is plenty of time to modify the design. Sorry I have no pictures.

One last question would be what type of plywood is best: thin 1/4in. exterior or the thicker 3/4 what I'd call "standard" sheet?

 

[kla37]

I'm glad you asked that b/c I was wondering the same thing! My plans for the nest boxes is 12X12", but all my chickens are heavy breeds like BO, BPR, and Australorps, plus cochins. They are looking so big even now and I wonder if maybe they should be 14X14" instead!

 

[arsnow]

I know some large-breed chickens need nest boxes up to 16" square, but I think that may be for the giant breeds.

 

[JanetSmithery]

I'm currently raising chicks for the first time, so have no idea just how they would have done in practice...but when I went to their farm of origin and saw the Buff Orpingtons and Javas there, I couldn't imagine they'd comfortably fit in a 12 inch cube. Mine are 14 inch cubes, and I think that'll do all right.