Nesting boxes in both coop and run?

[Catie1212]

Thanks in advance for the chicken wisdom!

My one hen has officially started laying. The others are soon to follow any day now. We have nesting boxes in the coop, but she tends to lay mid-morning so I am having to run her from the run to coop to lay. They are not connected, so it is a manual process.

I would like to add a nesting box or two in the run so I don’t have to do this as they all start laying but also don’t want to confuse them.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[sourland]

What are you going to do in the winter? Sounds as if a connection to the run is your best option.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Here's the thing about laying eggs: It takes about 26 hrs (for many birds) from the time one egg is laid to the time the next egg is laid, which means that each day, the time of egg laying will get a little later until it gets too late in the day and they skip it to start over the next morning.

All of this is to say that if your run isn't connected to the coop, it's probably best to have nest boxes in the run, as each hen will lay at a different time each day depending on when they laid the day before. Is there any way at all to connect the run to the coop? A chunnel perhaps?

 

[Catie1212]

What are you going to do in the winter? Sounds as if a connection to the run is your best option.

The ladies will stay in their coop in the winter, so this will not be an issue then, but is now

 

[Catie1212]

Here's the thing about laying eggs: It takes about 26 hrs (for many birds) from the time one egg is laid to the time the next egg is laid, which means that each day, the time of egg laying will get a little later until it gets too late in the day and they skip it to start over the next morning.

All of this is to say that if your run isn't connected to the coop, it's probably best to have nest boxes in the run, as each hen will lay at a different time each day depending on when they laid the day before. Is there any way at all to connect the run to the coop? A chunnel perhaps?

Thank you, that is good information! Yes, I am working with hubby on a long term connection plan but it probably won’t be ready till fall.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

The ladies will stay in their coop in the winter, so this will not be an issue then, but is now

How many chickens in how big a coop?? Do you have LOTS of ventilation? Do you have pics of your setup?

 

[Little Tala Bug]

Put a nestbox in the run. As long as it feels safe and private and "nesty", the chickens will use it. My chickens make nests in all sorts of places outside the coop.

 

[Catie1212]

How many chickens in how big a coop?? Do you have LOTS of ventilation? Do you have pics of your setup?

6 chickens in a 4x6x6 "shed" - homemade. Looking into all things winter right now. I am not happy with light and ventilation for winter lockdown so we are still building / experimenting.

 

[rosemarythyme]

6 chickens in a 4x6x6 "shed" - homemade. Looking into all things winter right now. I am not happy with light and ventilation for winter lockdown so we are still building / experimenting.

You're planning on locking them in all winter? You really don't have space for it. You'd want at least double that space or half the number of birds. If the cold is a concern, weather proofing the run is the better option. There's members here in Canada, Alaska, etc. and most of their flocks still get some outside time.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

If your coop and run are two different places, please do a chunnel and save your back and their peace of mind.