Nesting box height

[bawkbawkbawk]

Lots of threads on this yet every case seems to be individual so I'm posting the question.

Due to health limitations, I can't bend very much, so we're trying to arrange the coop with things up a little higher so I can access the chickens and especially the eggs when they start to arrive. I see that many people put their nesting boxes a foot off the ground, but we're thinking of putting them higher than that and with an outside door so I can reach in without bending. The thought was to place some kind of ladder for the chickens to use to get up to the nesting boxes. Will they use it?

We're planning to have the nesting boxes on a flat surface, which I see may be a problem as they'll want to roost on them. And I see that people put roosts over their nesting boxes. I'm going to talk to DH about making some kind of incline under them. If they're four feet off the ground, would we still build roosts above them? And if we build roosts over nesting boxes, won't they end up pooping into the nesting boxes?

 

[Imp]

Bawk...
I put in a second floor in my coop about 4 ft off the ground, with a ramp up to the second floor. I have roosts and bucket nests both on the floor, of the second floor. I use 5 gal buckets so the chickens don't roost on them. Not a problem. I did it this way because I was trying to maximize floorspace. Good luck.

Imp

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

The thought was to place some kind of ladder for the chickens to use to get up to the nesting boxes. Will they use it?

Yes that will work just fine​

 

[Judy]

Trick is to make the roosts higher than the nesting boxes, as they want to roost in the highest spot.

Nest boxes at floor level are fine if this works better for you.

You can put roosts over nesting boxes and use the tops of the nesting boxes as poop boards, if you wish. Poop boards are great, collect about half the day's poop, making removal simple. A 45 degree angle top to the nest boxes is also a way to avoid the chickens pooping on top of them.

Look here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642

 

[cmom]

I have my roosts higher than my highest nest boxes. If you do put roosts over the top of the nest boxes they will poop there. I have my nest boxes out side my coop. These are older pictures and I have modified the roosts in the coop since they were taken and the roosts are now higher. Also I have moved the coop to another location and raised it off the ground.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are correct. Nest boxes are individual. There is probably more variation in nesting boxes than anything else, except maybe coops.

What you are describing should work fine. With nesting boxes four feet up and your breeds, they should have some help getting up. A ramp, a ladder, or just a perch about one foot below the opening should work.

Chickens are liable to nest anywhere. They normally like darker, cozy places where they think they are hiding their nest from predators. That doesn't mean some won't lay out in the middle of nothing where it is wide open, but normally they like to think they are hiding their nest. So I'd suggest a solid top to them and a solid front with an opening for them to enter to make it a little darker and cozier. I made my opening 12" square which should be plenty big enough for your brahma.

ddawn has some good comments on the roosts. Normally, not always but normally, chickens like to roost on the highest spot available. The roosts need to be clearly higher than the top of the nesting boxes. 12" should be enough. If you put a lip on the solid covering of your nesting boxes, say extend the top out a few inches, that should stop them from pooping into the nesting boxes. Exactly how far would be enough will depend on your set-up. They can project a bit horizontally at times.

I've seen comments on the heavy breeds possibly injuring themselves when they are getting down from high roosts. Your brahma and orpington would qualify as heavy breeds. Depending on your space and set-up, I'd consider giving them a ladder or a couple of intermediate perches for them to use to get up to and down from the perches. They will probably need them to get up and may use them to get down.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Thanks for this guidance! I guess the "roost above nesting box" sounded odd to me because DH ordered nesting boxes from mypetchicken.com that are open. The shelf above them will be too high, I think, for the chickens to get up there. DH and our carpenter built two "chicken ladders" yesterday, of which DH is inordinately proud

Hope they work:

Here is the counter, which is at my waist level; nesting boxes above it - I'm hoping they'll climb the ladder to get up there.

Appreciate hearing any yays/nays...

 

[Yukonchick]

Just curious about the little windows in the nest. boxes. Apparently chickens like it dark in the nesting area. How is it working for your hens?? Do they still lay well.