Nesting boxes placement

[Gazelle03]

Hi,

I was just wondering, do the nesting boxes have to be in/connected to the coop? Can they be placed in the run as long as they are protected from the elements?

 

[aart]

Yep, they sure can....protected from predators too of course.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I do not believe there is any written rule but better if they are in the coop
as birds like a bit of privacy most often..
Welcome to BYC what breed of hens do you have? is there somewhere in
your run that would be protected from the elements.. I use rubbermade tubs
with the front cut out that way sitting on cement blocks I do not have to bend and look
I just take the tops off

 

[Gazelle03]

I do not believe there is any written rule but better if they are in the coop
as birds like a bit of privacy most often..
Welcome to BYC what breed of hens do you have? is there somewhere in
your run that would be protected from the elements.. I use rubbermade tubs
with the front cut out that way sitting on cement blocks I do not have to bend and look
I just take the tops off

I don't have any birds yet, but I'm getting them in the spring.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Quote: You are very smart to plan all of this before you have them may I ask where
you live as to the weather patterns of where you are

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'm a huge fan of outside access to nesting boxes. Some have nests in coop and access from outside through latched small door. I attach a long box with dividers and one hinged lid to side of coop. Cut holes in coop wall for access. My coop is on stilts so there is no bending over. The birds naturally want a dark small sense of protected dark space to lay. Little cubbies they are naturally attracted to so usually the first eggs are laid in them.


Attaching some photos to show how easy it is to construct: Bottom and three sides with nailers to screw to coop wall then lid with hinge to coop wall and a long narrow hole that is divided by nailers to tack the dividers to. Sounds more complicated than it is. The hole is 9 to 10 inches high and between nailers is 10 inches. Nice cozy area they will be drawn to lay in. This is three nests box.

 

[aart]

I do not believe there is any written rule but better if they are in the coop
as birds like a bit of privacy most often..

They don't want 'privacy' per se...that's a human issue.
They do want safety tho, as long as they feel safe there, they'll be fine.
Using 'bait' (fake) eggs helps convince (fool them?) them 'this is a safe place to lay'.

 

[Gazelle03]

You are very smart to plan all of this before you have them may I ask where
you live as to the weather patterns of where you are

I live in middle TN. This summer we had a drought and the temperatures were in the 80F through the 90F, with little cloud cover on most days. Winters are under 40 most of the time, however, it was snowing a week before Christmas but Christmas day was 71F

, so the temperature can fluctuate a lot. Last year was really wet and stormy, but I've only lived here for about a year and a half so I don't what is more normal, dry or wet.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Quote: I understand we moved to where we are from another part of our state
although the western side always gets rain

 

[aart]

Quote: Deciduous shade will be very important in your area, especially those nests.