Nesting box question

[s6bee]

My boxes are built so they jut out from the main coop. They have no place to roost on top of them. So I just have to put a board up for now.

Thanks guys!

 

[Galaxie_Man]

Quote:
My nesting boxes are similar to ArkyBird's

When I first mounted them to the inside back wall of my coop, they were perching and pooping on top. I closed in the top with some extra 2" X 2" fence I had on a steep angle that keeps them off. Then they moved into the nesting boxes, and they aren't old enough to lay, so they slept and pooped in the boxes. I closed off the boxes temporarily with some plywood, and now they sleep on the roosts. When the time comes, I'll remove the plywood and we'll see what happens. So far, I am amazed at what they know how to do. They may be dumb, but they certainly aren't stupid!

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Ok I need plans for both of these nestboxes!!! I'm am hammer and nail challenged! My girls have a 2 milk crate and a 5 gallon bucket!

 

[Galaxie_Man]

Quote:
I'll have to measure them. I don't remember all the dimensions. They work out to just shy of 1 cubic foot per box. They all seemed to pile into only a couple of boxes, but that will probably change when they finally start laying. If I don't get back to you in a couple of days, shoot me an e-mail as a reminder for the plans.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Hey Galaxie_Man! Got those plans?!!!

 

[peeps7]

SCRAP WOOD!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Those are beautiful!!!!

 

[Galaxie_Man]

Quote:
Sorry, as usual too busy doing the stuff I have to do, not the stuff I want to do.

Here you go.

The lumber required if purchased for each unit is as follows:
(1) 1"X12"X8' Pine Board (straight with minimal knots)
(2) 1"X12"X6' Pine Boards (straight with minimal knots)
(1) 2"X4"X8'
(2) 1"X3"X8'
Put together with 2" finish nails and exterior grade screws

OK......51 3/4" overall length. Cut all three 1 X 12' s, one 1 X 3 and the 2 X 4 to this length and set aside. Cut the leftover pieces of the 1 X 12 (total of 5) to the width of your 1 X 12 minus the thickness of the same board. In my case my 1 X 12 was 11 1/4" wide by 3/4" thick, so my partition/end boards were cut to 10 1/2". Be sure to make nice clean straight cuts so that it all fits together easy. Start assembly by nailing together the ends, top, bottom, and back to form a long open box. The back piece fits in between the top and bottom, and the end pieces should be oriented so that the planed factory edge meets the top and bottom, and your cut edges are against the back and out to the front. Mark the inside back 12" on center for the proper spacing of the partitions, set the partitions the same way as the ends, and nail from the outside on all three edges. So now you should have the basic 4 unit nesting box. The 1 X 3 you cut to 51 3/4" will go across the bottom of all four nests to keep eggs and litter in. Be sure to round off the top edge with a sander to protect the birds' feet. If you mount your boxes like I did, through the back wall and into the structural studs of my coop, put that on last so you have room to get the screw gun into the nesting boxes. On mine I just happened to have a piece of leftover T-111 siding to use in place of the 1 X 3.
To construct the roost, I ripped (cut lengthwise) the 2 X 4 and mounted cut side down. The boards it mounts to are three pieces of 1 X 3 cut to 21" in length, and mounted evenly spaced to the underside of the nesting boxes with 1 1/4" galvanized sheetrock screws. The roost bar is then attached to those supports from underneath using the same screws. A word of caution, pre-drill the 1 X 3's for the screws or the wood may split. The completed boxes are hefty and cumbersome, so make sure you have a helper to level and hang them. I used three 3" deck screws right through the back of the nesting boxes, through my interior wall panels and into each stud. I hit three studs, so those boxes aren't going anywhere. After they are hung, nail on the lip across the bottom of the boxes and you're done. Good luck and have fun!

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Very nice boxes and very good description, Very considerate of you to take the time to make the directions. One of the reasons I like this site....you chikn folk are allright I dont care what the beef people say.

 

[Galaxie_Man]

I haven't had time to finish working on the whole chicken coop construction website, but for a sneak peek at a bunch of the photos, go to http://www.geocities.com/galaxie_man/Chickens/ and click on the individual photo links to view. I need to re-size and re-upload some of the photos, but they are in chronological order and you'll get the idea.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

TYTYTYTYTY!!!!! I'm going to work on boxes this weekend.