Nesting Box Dilemma

[mimipeaches]

I have heard that you can use many things as a nesting box but I don't know what to use I need something cheap but reliable. I have 10 hens so I don't know how many boxes I need! Do you have nesting boxes on the ground or in the "air" please help because my hens need somewhere to lay. They are getting closer to the time when they should start! Pictures would be amazing so I can see what you did!

 

[PirateGirl]

Nest boxes can be on the ground or in the air, provided they are lower than the height of your roosts. I have an old wooden wine box, a plastic milk crate, and a wicker basket as next boxes. I have modified them slightly so that there is a lip and eggs cannot roll out. Chickens like to feel safe when nesting so a dark corner of the coop, far from the window and door tends to be a good spot for their nest boxes. For 10 hens maybe 3 or 4 boxes would be good, they will all pick their favorites and you may find some get used more than others.

 

[TheBeardie]

I have a old small shelf that was the perfect size for my bantam girls. I just screwed a board on the bottom of it to keep eggs and nesting materials in. I also have a old stove with the door removed with nesting materials in it.

I'm working on turning a old fridge into a large nesting place too. I'll be using 5 gallon buckets with half of the lid cut out, again for keeping eggs in, in the new coop im building. I think it's like 2-4 hens per nesting box, though they will most likely just lay in a couple of them.

 

[mimipeaches]

Nest boxes can be on the ground or in the air, provided they are lower than the height of your roosts. I have an old wooden wine box, a plastic milk crate, and a wicker basket as next boxes. I have modified them slightly so that there is a lip and eggs cannot roll out. Chickens like to feel safe when nesting so a dark corner of the coop, far from the window and door tends to be a good spot for their nest boxes. For 10 hens maybe 3 or 4 boxes would be good, they will all pick their favorites and you may find some get used more than others.

Thank you for your help! Do you have any pictures that I could see as to how you modified them because I tried to make one and it didn't work too well they always knocked it over!

 

[mimipeaches]

I have a old small shelf that was the perfect size for my bantam girls. I just screwed a board on the bottom of it to keep eggs and nesting materials in. I also have a old stove with the door removed with nesting materials in it.

I'm working on turning a old fridge into a large nesting place too. I'll be using 5 gallon buckets with half of the lid cut out, again for keeping eggs in, in the new coop im building. I think it's like 2-4 hens per nesting box, though they will most likely just lay in a couple of them.

Thank you! Do you have a pic?

 

[TheBeardie]

Thank you! Do you have a pic?

Let me go out and take some pictures now! I'll post them in a minute.

 

[mimipeaches]

Let me go out and take some pictures now! I'll post them in a minute.

THank you!!!!!!

 

[WindingRoad]

Nest boxes can be on the ground or in the air, provided they are lower than the height of your roosts. I have an old wooden wine box, a plastic milk crate, and a wicker basket as next boxes. I have modified them slightly so that there is a lip and eggs cannot roll out. Chickens like to feel safe when nesting so a dark corner of the coop, far from the window and door tends to be a good spot for their nest boxes. For 10 hens maybe 3 or 4 boxes would be good, they will all pick their favorites and you may find some get used more than others.

I have 4 birds . One morning I found 3 eggs in one box. I have three boxes. They do use all of them especially if they lay are different times. Mostly they lay over night. The 2 SLW ( pullets ) lay anytime they feet like. I was just out there and one SLW is in the nest box. I'll go back out in a half hour so. Darn cold out there today. 6F -11F with wind chill. I went out to move SUV and shovel doorways while my friend was snowplowing. Got most of the snow off the top on my SUV supposed to be in the 30's on Wednesday so I'll wait for that. SUN tomorrow warm up my run. Chickens are hanging in the coop a lot today. Door not closed so they can go down stairs. I'm so glad I put the clear tarp up. Has grommets so drove long screws into frame to attach it. And I didn't even have to bank today. Not with 14-16' of snow around. How long til April.

 

[50-45-1]

We build our nest boxes out of scrap lumber. They are about 20 inches off the floor. The hens can leap up into them. I have a hinged lid thaT slants so they do not roost on top. I use straw for nesting material. I have golf balls in all the nests to encourage them to lay there. There is a one inch lip to keep nesting material and eggs from falling out. I would not like to have to gather my eggs off the floor and have to bend over that far every day. Do not place your nest boxes higher than the roosts. I will try to post a picture of mine later.

 

[PirateGirl]

again... depends your coop... my coop is raised off the ground, so nest boxes on the floor of the coop are waist height for me, no bending over required