Nestbox question

[Stephine]

Does the outside part open for outside access to the eggs?

He's doing a beautiful job but I would try to close them in somehow. They are quite open and I think 4 boxes is on the low end for the amount of chickens.[/quote]

Thanks! Yes, the top opens from the outside. Yes 4 boxes is a bit tight (though I have read so many people saying that their chickens all use the same nest or two, even if they have more) - chicken math, though a tad different: We wanted 12 hens and ordered 14 just in case one chick didn't make it or we had an accidental rooster... but so far they are all alive and well and still look like hens. Didn't think we'd be so lucky!

 

[Stephine]

That's a nice looking coop, very interesting construction.
Is that cupola open for ventilation?

The nests....could work fine, might want to wait and see and modify later if you have the skills.
They are kind of open, but many folks have open nests like that.
Hard to know the size of each 'nest' from the pics.......is this being built at your place or off site and will be delivered when done?

Yes, the coupola or clerestory is open on the long sides for ventilation (and to look pretty!) - it gets hot in Sonoma!
The nests are 14x 14 because we have 4 Brahmas in the mix and I wanted them to have enough space. It's all being built right here on our property. That thing is so massive there'd be no way it could be moved to a different location )

I thought of just waiting to see what my chickens think of it and make changes as needed. On the other hand it would be easier to make changes right now...
Probably it would be good to at least close the top part off to the coop so the entrance is lower, no? Not sure why he did it like that...

 

[Stephine]

Here's some of ours. We also recycled a covered kitty litter box, two large wash tubs, two recycling bins and the girls claimed a bag of shavings

as nesting boxes. We have 44 hens and 17 nesting boxes(including the bag of shavings..)

Wow! That is a lot of nests! Shows you they are flexible... or maybe just that they are particular? We'll see what ours like...

 

[ramsburgchicken]

Wow! That is a lot of nests! Shows you they are flexible... or maybe just that they are particular? We'll see what ours like...

Our girls are persnickety! We throw chicken tantrums if we don't get the box we want and heaven forbid.. There's a line!

Sounds like a flock of seagulls down in the coop in the morning with the girls going back and forth at each other. I never would have thought chickens were so picky!

 

[aart]

Quote: That'll be great ventilation!

My nests are 14x14 also, I think they appreciate the extra room to turn around, both the slimmer girls and the Brahmas.
I have 4 nests for 14 layers and it works out OK, there's some squabbling once in a while but I so have fake eggs/golf balls in all the nests all the time and I think that helps some. Most eggs are laid in 2 of the nests, but the other 2 also get used regularly, I think it depends on their individual cycles as on busier days I hear more squabbling.

One thing good about the open nests is good ventilation.
My nests are all boxed in(16" high) except for the 10" diameter entrance and it gets hot in them.
I crack open the back access door to give some relief.
I'd leave them as is for now, but maybe have a plan to close them up.
The only problem I see is that they may perch/roost on the edges of front and dividers and poop in nests.
Hopefully the roosts will be higher than the nests.
Are you sure he doesn't have a plan to close off the front of nests?
Maybe he wanted to leave them open to show off the sexy curves in the nest roof rafters?

 

[Stephine]

That'll be great ventilation!

My nests are 14x14 also, I think they appreciate the extra room to turn around, both the slimmer girls and the Brahmas.
I have 4 nests for 14 layers and it works out OK, there's some squabbling once in a while but I so have fake eggs/golf balls in all the nests all the time and I think that helps some. Most eggs are laid in 2 of the nests, but the other 2 also get used regularly, I think it depends on their individual cycles as on busier days I hear more squabbling.

One thing good about the open nests is good ventilation.
My nests are all boxed in(16" high) except for the 10" diameter entrance and it gets hot in them.
I crack open the back access door to give some relief.
I'd leave them as is for now, but maybe have a plan to close them up.
The only problem I see is that they may perch/roost on the edges of front and dividers and poop in nests.
Hopefully the roosts will be higher than the nests.
Are you sure he doesn't have a plan to close off the front of nests?
Maybe he wanted to leave them open to show off the sexy curves in the nest roof rafters?

Hahaha! The curves happened from him trying to lighten the weight of the top so we don't kill ourselves when we get eggs....

Better ventilation is a very good point, I haven't even thought of that - though the nest boxes are on the shady north side of the coop... But perching on the dividers might be an issue...
the roosts will be higher, though not by a lot - My Brahmas already make a loud bonk just coming down from their 1 foot high chick perch in the brooder....

 

[aart]

Quote: LOL...they look cool tho.

Brahmas are why I use 2x4 roost and perches and ramps to roost an nests.
2x2 nest perch on left was changed out to a 2x4 not long after pic was taken.

 

[farmgirllvo]

I think this will work just fine for your birds, they will usally each pick a nesting box they like and stick to just that one. Lol silly birds but they will wait till their nesting box is open and then lay their egg.

 

[Stephine]

LOL...they look cool tho. Brahmas are why I use 2x4 roost and perches and ramps to roost an nests. 2x2 nest perch on left was changed out to a 2x4 not long after pic was taken.

Oh, this is so funny! Your picture - this one - is the one I just showed my coop builder to explain how I wanted the roosts and droppings boards! I just found it when I googled for pictures! Obviously I like your setup... Our roosts will go wall to wall though, so I can clean more easily the boards underneath. We're getting closer! I cannot wait to get the gang out of here! They are getting stir crazy! And I am going just plain crazy with all that dust! I think we'll leave the neats as is for bow and see what they think. Who knows...

 

[Stephine]

I think this will work just fine for your birds, they will usally each pick a nesting box they like and stick to just that one. Lol silly birds but they will wait till their nesting box is open and then lay their egg.

Thank you! Yes, we'll try it out like this for now and see what they think once they actually start laying...