Nesting box placement

[Daniellelyn]

Hi Ya’ll,

We inherited this wonderful coop from my friends father and I’m wondering if the nesting boxes are too high or will work just fine? I haven’t seen a set up like this and I am new to chickens.

We have 3 hens and 2 roosters 18 weeks old and 2 silkies 5 weeks old (kept separate). The older bunch sleep in the pen the ladies on the bars in the roof and the roosters on top of the boxes in the back or on the roosting bar. In the morning I let them out to free range all day until they put themselves to bed at sunset. They are also fed snacks throughout the day in there pen. This week I ordered ceramic eggs and added two per nesting box. Previously they had never gone in the nesting boxes. This morning when I opened the pen the ladies were in the boxes. I believe they went in after they woke up this morning.

After some research today I realized my roosting bar was too low, I have since moved it up. I also read the nesting boxes should be about 18” high. Ours are 44”.

Is this set up sufficient? Should add additional nesting boxes below?

 

[Flockincrazy]

That is a very odd set up but no I have up and down nesting boxes my heavyweight birds use the lower and the lightweights use the uppers i just rebuilt mine this yr they used to be on the inside

 

[Daniellelyn]

That is a very odd set up but no I have up and down nesting boxes my heavyweight birds use the lower and the lightweights use the uppers i just rebuilt mine this yr they used to be on the inside

Thanks, I would like to have our nesting boxes outside, but we have bears. One broke into our last coop and ate one of our bantam ladies. I just cut a larger window in the lower area box. I think that is where they are supposed to go in the winter to sleep?

Maybe it would be smart to get a row of nesting boxes for the bottom as well??

 

[Flockincrazy]

Thanks, I would like to have our nesting boxes outside, but we have bears. One broke into our last coop and ate one of our bantam ladies. I just cut a larger window in the lower area box. I think that is where they are supposed to go in the winter to sleep?View attachment 2294580 Maybe it would be smart to get a row of nesting boxes for the bottom as well??

I would make the bottom where they go in inclose it and turn the part they go in into nestboxes

 

[Mamatomany123]

If the nesting boxes are higher than the roosts then they may end up sleeping in them.

 

[Flockincrazy]

If the nesting boxes are higher than the roosts then they may end up sleeping in them.

Yes they will mine are not

 

[Flockincrazy]

maybe I didn't explain correctly i would inclose the ground level and make it winterized make the middle nesting boxes and leave the top the way it is

 

[Daniellelyn]

Thanks! I gottcha That’s a great idea.

maybe I didn't explain correctly i would inclose the ground level and make it winterized make the middle nesting boxes and leave the top the way it is

 

[Flockincrazy]

Thanks! I gottcha ☺ That’s a great idea.

I reread the other comment and I was confused so I figured I'd clarify

 

[Daniellelyn]

The roost is higher than the nesting boxes. There are also ceiling joists that the hens have been using as there roost. They have never slept in the nesting boxes. In fact today was the first time they checked them out and I’m thinking that may be because I put the false egg in there? I added a camera today so I can keep a closer eye on them.

I’m also worried that since they are free range around the yard all day they may just lay their eggs under a bush somewhere. Yesterday and today I heard one of the ladies making all kinds of noise, but didn’t find an egg.

If the nesting boxes are higher than the roosts then they may end up sleeping in them.

If the nesting boxes are higher than the roosts then they may end up sleeping in them.

If the nesting boxes are higher than the roosts then they may end up sleeping in them.