Nesting box height

[IowaCHKN]

Hello all new here. Building a coop. Going to build on side the nesting boxes/hutch. My question is. I'm planing on having them elevated from coop floor. I have seen others floor level of coop. Obviously easier during build. Thoughts on this subject. Thanks all.

 

[cavemanrich]

Many peeps elevate their nest boxes,, so there is floor/walking space for the chickens to use. Comes in handy when chickens are locked in for foul weather, and such. 12 inches high above floor should be fine.
Then build your roosts above the nest boxes. Many peeps also opt for poop trays below roosts,. easier to clean out.
Ask anything you are not sure of. Soo many here that will help with answers.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I had floor level nesting boxes in my last coop. Would not recommend without a substantial lip on the edge of the box because poop had a way of finding it’s way into the nesting box more than I would like. This problem is easily mitigated by not putting a roosting bar above the nesting boxes. I think another pro to having higher nesting boxes is less bending for egg collection. But that is just personal preference. Probably depends on your back. Or how tall the kids you’re sending to collect eggs are

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

We have silkies who have to have ramps, so we went with 4' high on ours. There is a 4" walkway in front of the row of nest boxes with a ledge on both sides, making that sort of a poop board idea, as that's where most roost. Some roost on top of the nest boxes, some in them. These silkies didn't like roosts, so this works for us.

This height presents issues when we used to let them hatch their eggs. I would put a cardboard box on its side on the floor of the coop, make a nest of straw inside of it, set a feeder and waterer in front of it, then put the hen and her eggs in there when they were about to hatch. They never minded. Once I missed the opportunity, and she brought them down the ramp.

This is one pen in the breeding coop. They poop in that walkway, so I put stall refresher/PDZ there.


This is the main coop when it was new, and missing the board on the outside of the walkway where most perch. There's stall refresher/PDZ on that walkway and ramp too.

 

[Jener8or]

Hello! My nesting boxes are on the floor of the coop, but the coop floor is elevated, if that makes any sense, so you don't have to bend over to clean them out or look for eggs and chicks can't fall out. It works well. Our boxes have lids and lips on the front like @Debbie292d's.

We're glad to have you here! Have fun with the coop build!

Thanks for joining and welcome to BackYard Chickens!

 

[BoundlessLove]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens!
Happy to have you here!!

 

[Bsmac]

Hello! Welcome to BYC! I have ours at 18 inches with a walk way / roost in front of the boxes. I also installed a lip at the box openings. Works well! Poop boards will extend the life of your coop bedding! Good luck with your coop build!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

Mine are elevated so I don't have to stoop to get the eggs. The door drops down into the maternity ward room so I can collect eggs without entering the coop. I have a perch in front of the boxes so hens can walk along to find a box that is empty or that they want to force the occupant from.

There is a 5" lip at the front of the box so I could keep a thick layer of nest material in them and they are tall enough so the hen has plenty of room to stand when the egg comes out. I used sheets of laminate for dividers but plywood would work just as well.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC. I have both, on/near the floor and 18" above the floor. My bantams generally prefer the floor boxes, the standards don't seem to have a preference. Well, except the one girl, who likes to lay on the coop roof.

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC. Do not elevate the nest boxes higher than the roosts, or the birds may decide to sleep in them.