Nesting boxes outside NO COOP??? PICS ON PG2

[WriterofWords]

I was thinking about this,, surely there must be somewhere more secure than hanging on a fence he could put their nest boxes. I have three hens who don't like to lay their eggs in the little playhouse coop so they have 3 milk crates on my front porch. I'd rather wash a little chicken poop off the porch than have them be coyote snacks.
If he is unable to do it right now, maybe they have some friends that could pitch in some labor or BYC people near enough they could help out with construction?
I just can't get the idea of those poor hens hanging on a fence like a buffet for local predators.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

She oked me to post a picture of the nest box area...this may help understand what I'm talking about.

Any other ideas on a cheap way to house this in quick and cheap are welcome

The hens are about a year old and it's their first attempt at this.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
this yard is it all fenced in ?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Yes totally fenced in like this I think the door may have some wire on it...I have to look again.

 

[cajunlizz]

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she will have 5 ? So , the way you are saying this , they don't have the hens YET ?


I can not stress enough to go ahead and build that COOP and RUN NOW ......

The nest boxes look good , but they need to be inside a coop . OR you will have snakes eating the eggs , and predators eating the chickens .

 

[WriterofWords]

If that is all they can do right now, tell them to put a top on it and have access from the front. Any cat can walk that fence and some dogs too, and just drop in for "snack and visit". Or put that on posts in the middle of the yard with a top and front access where the predators at least know they are near a residence. That looks like the buffet I was picturing.
Thier hearts are in the right spot, no one is questioning that, but they do need to make a bit more effort for security with what they do have. They look like nice boxes.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
well , if the yard is totally fenced in , should not be hard for him to secure an area with WIRE on top an area so they can NOT get out , and nothing can get to them . LOOK thru this forum and see how ppl have made small runs that are secure and temporary

 

[purr]

Are they open on the top?
If so what's going to keep the rain out never mind egg sucking possums and chicken feasting raccoons?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

No they may have the hens this week sometime. But they don't have them yet. They do have a metal roof from what I can see on another pic she had sent.

 

[joebryant]

Which came first, the eggs or the nest box?
Evidently the chickens came last!