Nesting box that opens from the back vs top?

[ERRJRDN]

I have my egg boxes on the outside of my coop. You can see pictures of how I built them on my bio coop link. I like the door to open from the side down, it doesn't disturb the chickens when I open the door to check for eggs.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Ever have them jump out quickly when you open it? Mine opens from the top and I have never had them jump out but sometimes they act like they want to. Most of the time I don't care but if I getting ready to leave for work and don't want them running around I don't want them darting out.....

 

[ERRJRDN]

Ever have them jump out quickly when you open it? Mine opens from the top and I have never had them jump out but sometimes they act like they want to. Most of the time I don't care but if I getting ready to leave for work and don't want them running around I don't want them darting out.....

 

[ERRJRDN]

I've never had one jump out of the nesting box when I open it. In my research when I was building the coop, I heard that if your egg boxes open from the top, it can disturb the chickens because the instinct of being attacked from above, like from hawks is strong. Usually they just sit there and when I check for eggs, they will get up and go into the inner coop, and come out the regular door. I let my chickens free range from morning to dusk, and I close up the coop when all are in.

 

[jubgulia]

I used a window as a back door so that I don't have to open it to check on things.

 

[jthornton]

My plans for the Roll Out Nest Box Mk3 show a rear opening door.



JT

 

[aart]

Ever have them jump out quickly when you open it? Mine opens from the top and I have never had them jump out but sometimes they act like they want to. Most of the time I don't care but if I getting ready to leave for work and don't want them running around I don't want them darting out.....

Mine tend to bolt back into coop if it disturbs them when I open the back access.
But it's rare, they are used to it. If I need to get and egg from under a bird I go thru the front entrance.
I also have a carbineer on a chain that I can use to only open the back enough for my arm and not enough for chicken egress. Thought I had a pic, but don't.

 

[ERRJRDN]

Ever have them jump out quickly when you open it? Mine opens from the top and I have never had them jump out but sometimes they act like they want to. Most of the time I don't care but if I getting ready to leave for work and don't want them running around I don't want them darting out.....

Here's me opening the door on the hutch for a picture. They just looked at me and went on about their business.

 

[feathermania]

It all depends on your taste. We had a coop with a back opening. The former owner/builder did not put a lip at the bottom of the nesting boxes. The straw and pine chips all fell out and I actually caught a couple of eggs before they rolled out onto the ground. When my hubby added a lip, the opening was much smaller. I am short, but had to almost get down on my knees to clean the nesting boxes out. When we designed and built our new coop, we added nesting boxes that has a top opening lid that latches to the wall of the coop to keep it open to the end of the coop. Much easier for me to clean and gather eggs from, but a smaller child would need a step to see in the nesting boxes and to gather eggs.

 

[aart]

Mine tend to bolt back into coop if it disturbs them when I open the back access.
But it's rare, they are used to it. If I need to get and egg from under a bird I go thru the front entrance.
I also have a carabineer on a chain that I can use to only open the back enough for my arm and not enough for chicken egress. Thought I had a pic, but don't.

Had the camera out there today so took some pics.
Hasp with carabineer to lock nest access...added a screw to crack open access for hot weather venting, tho I always leave it like this during day for visibility.

Carabineers are on chains so I don't lose them useful in opening access enough for my arm but not far enough for bird to get out.

They are used to me peeking in and grabbing eggs that most have no problem with it.