Nest Boxes, Im a Visual person...

[2txmedics]

I have read in here about all this talk on how to make/built a nest box, mine are pretty simple...4 in the coop...2 on each side of the coop with large doors that open onto both nest boxes...my question is this...I had problems with my chickens roosting in 2 of the nest boxes on the left side of the coop, one nest box on the top right for laying, and the bottom right...just empty.

I found out that my roost were leveled with my nest boxes and this didnt help, also my nest boxes are not enclosed ontly the bottom ones as they have the top ones above. So can someone PLEASE post some nest box pics so I can get an idea of what would work really good for me? Im a visual person I can read all day long...and still go hmmmm, ahhh ok, I think.

you can see open nest boxes this one is not leveled with the perches so they lay in the top one of these, but no privacy. and behind these nest boxes, are doors that open to both nest boxes all the way, so I reach into the nest boxes and can stick my body in there if I need too. I think I should have honey put chicken wire across the inside of this door way, so they dont fly out...????

The other side those nest have off the corner of the nest boxes, the perches are connected to them...guess this is why they cram into these nest boxes, its leveled.

perches to right side, picture taken from other side nest box. as you can see from this side, the nest box doesnt have the ladder perches connected to it, its way to the right side.

also can someone explain this shaving thingy on the bottom of the coop inside? I find I clean out my coop daily several times a day...and its dirty, smudged I had hay at first and it lasted only a few days and I got alot of flies..I was going to hang fly tape, but Im sure they will pick at it and eat it...and then I read that HAY makes it hotter for the chickens so I took it out, and have nothing on the floor of the coop.

I read somewhere that someone puts a tarp?...and on that tarp some shavings??? how can you keep the shavings so long and only clean once a year??? REMEMBER: VISUAL PERSON....lol....dummy here...thanks all!!!!
Im so loving this community...so helpful and learning alot.

THANKS!!!!!

 

[wombat]

If your nesting boxes are higher than your perches, they may get used for roosting.

Try closing off the ones that are being used for roosting for a few days, see if they keep using the ones they lay in for that, and don't roost in them. You might get them to change their roosting habits and can then open the other boxes back up. Worth a try ...

I put vinyl flooring onto the floor of my coop, and put pine shavings on top of that. Hay can tend to get damp and smelly in some seasons, if you have a wet climate.

 

[Booswalia]

Here is a thread from last year with lots of pictures...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=79543

 

[WitksChicks]

My nesting boxes are 12" w x 12" deep by 18" high in front and 24" high towards the back with a slanted roof. And a 2" board across the bottom front. My roosting bars (ladder style) are at 12", 24" and 36" off the floor. They now only use the 12" roost to hop up to the other two bars. The perch in front of my nesting boxes is 18" off the floor. The 3 nesting boxes are just to the right of the roost. So the 24" roost bar and the nesting box perch are very close in height. The only space separating them is the support for the roost 2" wide and 6" in height. The girls were roosting on makeshift roosts in their brooder. When they were 7 weeks old we moved the girls to their coop, they started roosting in the nesting boxes. I have covered all 3 boxes, as the sight of their nightly "mosh pit" (5 in one box) gave me visions of them soffocating or hurting each other. My 6 girls are now 12 1/2 weeks old, and I know I will soon have to uncover the boxes. How soon do I need to uncover them? I have 2 RIR, 2 Silver Laces Wynadottes and 2 Black Star.

 

[WitksChicks]

Ok, here is a pic of my covered nest boxes. This is the first time for me to post a pic in a post so I hope it works.

 

[Sissy]

one coop I have is 4x8 with a run 4x14 attached..
i have not cleaned out the coop since last sept . so this fall will be clean up time have a wood floor and when i mix in a g Lime with the wood shaving or Permectrin dust.. everyso often the wood floor is good as new. i use the deep litter method. and have no flies or odor i dont have time to clean a coop every day or 2.
.have 8 hens in this one and my other coops are odor free. just stir once a week. and toss in a handfull of AG lime or permectrin dust once a month in the nest box but stir them up also..use gloves..