Nesting boxes for huge hens?

[floralace]

I bought an enormous black Orpington hen (~9 months old) last December, and she seemed like she had taken a break from laying until recently. I’ve been finding eggs on the ground in her run. I’m pretty sure she’s too big to fit into the nest boxes I have now. Anyone have any recommendations for pre-made or easy-to-build DIY nest boxes for my plus-sized gal? I’m not super handy and don’t have access to power tools, but I want to make sure she has a safe place to lay. Thanks!

Here she is!

 

[azygous]

You could repurpose an enclosed cat litter box, fill it with shavings, and place it in the coop just in front of the other nest boxes. Be forewarned. It could become an instant hit with all the hens who will squabble over who gets to use it.

 

[kerbotx]

Got a photo of your nest boxes? Maybe the issue isn't the boxes themselves, but the access to them - maybe she can't fly up, maybe the other hens harass her away, etc. These look to have a small opening, but even my largest hens can use these:
Little Giant Plastic Nesting Box

 

[floralace]

You could repurpose an enclosed cat litter box, fill it with shavings, and place it in the coop just in front of the other nest boxes. Be forewarned. It could become an instant hit with all the hens who will squabble over who gets to use it.

I’m just not sure that the opening on most litter boxes I’ve seen would be big enough for her, but maybe if I check out a pet store I can look for the biggest litter box they have haha

 

[floralace]

Got a photo of your nest boxes? Maybe the issue isn't the boxes themselves, but the access to them - maybe she can't fly up, maybe the other hens harass her away, etc. These look to have a small opening, but even my largest hens can use these:
Little Giant Plastic Nesting Box

She’s a surprisingly decent flyer, she can jump up on roosts with no problem. I have one of those prefab coops inside an indoor run (a converted garage) so the hens don’t have to sleep inside it and can use roosts. I think the opening of the coop is too small for her, so I’m looking to get a separate nest box for her. It’s also possible that the other hens harass her away, she’s on the bottom of the pecking order. Another good reason to get more nest boxes - I’ll look into the one you recommended! Thanks so much!

 

[21hens-incharge]

A word of caution using enclosed litter boxes as nest boxes.

Even with ventilation holes that come with them they can be tipped onto the front opening trapping a hen inside. The panic that ensues can be deadly.

I lost a hen to a tipped dishpan. Yup a dishpan. She tipped it and was trapped behind it in the wooden frame that held them. Plenty of gaps for air flow. It was very clear she had panicked in that space.

Secure it to a large heavy piece of plywood on the bottom or to a wall in some way.

 

[Shezadandy]

I’m just not sure that the opening on most litter boxes I’ve seen would be big enough for her, but maybe if I check out a pet store I can look for the biggest litter box they have haha

My bigger hens like the boxes just barely up off the ground. If you go the cat litter box route, you can ALWAYS cut the opening bigger. Aviation snips work pretty well on plastic.

BUT you can also just use a rubbermaid storage container and turn it upside down, and use aviation snips to cut the custom sized opening for a lot less money. I would also cut "windows" for ventilation- and drill lots of holes to make sure there's plenty of air going through.

Edited to consider 21 hens in charge post above --- Agree completely. It would have to be secured. With a heavy bottom like 3/4" plywood -- or build a "deck" with 2x4s and/or 2x6s. Then you could screw the container down into the "deck" pretty easily through the 'lip' of the container.

 

[Acre4Me]

Cardboard box…cut down one side for entry. . Open top or closed-up to you. But, can get a new one when cleaning coop, etc. our big girls (BJG) use our larger boxes. We built a 2 level nest box with 3 on top and 2 on the bottom, so the two are floor level and very roomy. I’ll guess 16” wide (without going out there to measure). We’ve also used cat litter boxes, but a big girl may not like those either, they tend to be narrow, but the regular chickens love them!