Nesting boxes

[frank29399]

Hello everyone and thanks for any help. Iam in process of building a bigger hutch for my 5 chickens.( had 6 but dog got one :-( ) iam in boston so worried about cold. Was wondering if internal nest boxes are better idea to keep warm in cold, Or do birds like a protruding boxes witch I would think would be a bit cooler for them?
And that is again for any advice

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I don't think it matters as long as you build it to be draft free. Internal v external is based on the preference of the human, not the bird.

When it is cold out (ie the days are very short) they aren't usually in the nest box as much anyway.

 

[daxigait]

Birds can handle the cold quiet well, it's just the heat or where I live the cold with humidity that gives us frostbite issues. @BantyChooks You have real cold. What do you think?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I don't think it matters as long as you build it to be draft free. Internal v external is based on the preference of the human, not the bird.

When it is cold out (ie the days are very short) they aren't usually in the nest box as much anyway.

X2, I've had both and notice no difference with regards to your concern/ question...... for me the external is handy to preserve space inside the coop in those with close quarters

 

[BantyChooks]

Boston temperatures won't be an issue. As for internal vs external, it's really just a space or ease of access thing. I prefer internal, but I have walk in coops.

I live farther north than you do, and my chickens are fine with the door wide open for most of the winter. They're tough birds.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are several different reasons internal or external are better. Some of that depends on your coop and some on your personal preferences. Cold is not an issue for the birds themselves, but the eggs might freeze easier in an external nest in winter. Some of that is how you build it. If you insulate remember they will eat many different kinds of insulation so you need to cover insulation with something they can't eat.

Heat is generally your biggest enemy toward a chickens health compared to cold. If your nest is exposed to a sunny side it might get pretty hot. You don't want them laying in an oven. An external nest will warm up faster than an internal nest if it is on the south side for you but I'd prefer the nests of either type on a cooler shaded wall. So think freezing eggs in the winter or cooking hens in the summer.

Internal nests are easier to keep rainwater from getting in them, but of course with flashing and caulk you can make your external nests rain-proof. A door to gather eggs on the face instead of on top can help with rainwater issues.

If you have a small coop and space is an issue, an external nest frees up more room inside the coop.

A poorly constructed external nest can be an entry point for a predator. Of course you solve that by building it stout.

Some people like the appearance of an external nest. With paint you can make them a focal point of the coop.

You can build internal and external nests so you can gather eggs from inside or outside either one. It depends on how you construct them. To me that is a non-issue.

That's all I can think of right now. The chickens won't care, what makes you happier?

 

[debid]

Hello everyone and thanks for any help. Iam in process of building a bigger hutch for my 5 chickens.( had 6 but dog got one :-( ) iam in boston so worried about cold. Was wondering if internal nest boxes are better idea to keep warm in cold, Or do birds like a protruding boxes witch I would think would be a bit cooler for them?
And that is again for any advice

Since you called it a hutch, I'm guessing it isn't going to be huge. Go external. Make them tall enough that you can put several inches of shavings in the bottom and they'll be perfect.

 

[aart]

Since you called it a hutch, I'm guessing it isn't going to be huge

I caught this too....too small of a space in a cold climate can being other difficulties than location of nest.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC @frank29399 !

 

[frank29399]

The hutch itself is 4ft X 6ft. With a 6ft X8ft run

 

[frank29399]

And thank you for any info or advise