Nesting box, too big?

[drinkoj]

So i forgot to measure twice and remember how many you cut moments and made some super wide nesting boxes. The lip opening is 20.25+” and I’ve searched the forums about them being too small but haven’t read about too big of an opening. Also, how high of a lip should I have to keep the nesting materials inside the nest?

 

[Mamatomany123]

So, my chickens aren't laying yet and I might be wrong but I dont think it being big would be a problem. I have a community box (no dividers, one big box) and have seen others here have success with them.

As far as the lip, I did mine about 2-3" high amd havent had any problems yet. (Again. My chickens aren't laying yet)

 

[Hidrainja4]

Sometime we just fuss to much over things. A larger nesting box means more than one chicken can lay an egg in the box at the same time. Risking a broken egg with the jostling. My chickens climb in together anyway. BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MANY BOXES YOU HAVE THAT BOX IS THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO USE RIGHT NOW!!! cap lock for enfaces , I fretted over should the roosting bars be 1 and half inches wide or two inches wide. It really wasn't worth the effort I put into it.

 

[Shoshone]

Just wanted to say I really like the coop!

 

[David61]

I would trim the inside with 1x4 . Maybe a 2x6 along the bottom.

 

[drinkoj]

I would trim the inside with 1x4 . Maybe a 2x6 along the bottom.

Okay. I've got some lumber leftovers of both sizes, I'll just see which size I have the most of and use it for the entrance lip.

 

[Ridgerunner]

For fun I'll give a couple of links to threads on here that show what some of us have done as far as nest boxes. If you look through them you may understand why Hidrainja4 said we worry too much.

Nest boxes

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/41108/show-us-your-nest-boxes-ingenous-design-post-it-here/220

Nest Boxes

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/4...-your-creative-nesting-boxes/80#post_12395882

I'll include a photo of my 16" x 16" x 16" nests. If you really want you could put a face on those nests with an opening for the hens to enter. I don't know that you need to but just an idea. I generally make the openings 8" x 8", more than big enough. I've had hens use an opening 6" high. I prefer the lower lip to be about 4 to 5" so I can add a lot of bedding material and still have enough lip to make it hard for them to scratch out bedding, fake eggs, and real eggs. Many people use a shallower lip without problems. As you can see if you look through those threads there are no rules but there are a lot of personal preferences.

 

[David61]

I used a 2x6 and they step up to go in. Cleans some poop off the feet.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Yes! We do worry about the stupid stuff sometimes. I'd just throw a 2 inch lip on the front and call it a day. Chickens pick the strangest places sometimes to lay even after we spent money and labor on the best nest boxes we can make! Chickens! Who doesn't love them?

This is how waiting for the most popular nest box looks like! Out of 16 boxes, this is THE one to use!

But if you give them opportunity to lay in a strange place, believe me they will! This little shed contains my straw and wood shaving supplies. One day I left it open while working and this is what I found later:

 

[perkolator]

Any lip in the 2-4" height should work to keep bedding from spilling out and leave enough room for them to enter/exit. I think mine are 16x16 footprint, with a 3" lip. One of my hens doesn't even lay in the boxes, she lays in the corner of the coop every day. Parked my truck in the yard a week ago with a window open for a few days and a chicken decided to lay in there, lol.