Nesting boxes

[Chickybri12]

Hi I’m new to the chicken world and this is my coop for my 9 week old chickens. This is an older picture since this we have added windows and a chicken door and a new water and feeder but I was wondering if this nesting box is too high. I have read to keep the nesting box lower than the roost so I have to make the roost higher but I wasn’t sure if the nesting boxes should be lowered before I make a roost that’s too high as well.

 

[sylviethecochin]

My nesting boxes are at hip height, and that's about the highest I'd want to go. It's good for gathering eggs without having to get down on the floor, and the hens can reach them easily (There is an overturned bucket serving as a step-stool for the silkies and the older girls, but they can get up there without it.)

 

[Cryss]

I'm planning nest boxes to have the bottom be 18 inches above the floor with slanted roofs so they cant roost on top. Then the plan is for the poop boards to be at about 3 feet or kitchen table height so I can poop scoop without bending. The roosts will be about 8 inches over the center of the poop boards.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

Looks like you have plenty of height to work with, That is good. And it looks like you've done well on the coop.

The way I determine height is to determine the height of the coop floor, including bedding. The pop door and human door need to be high enough that the bedding doesn't fall out and you can open them.

Then I determine the height of the nests. Some people put a milk crate or something like that on the coop floor as a nest. Some put them up higher. If you have a bad back you might not want to bend over to gather eggs. I let my broody hens hatch in my nests 3 or 4 feet off the coop floor but some people would be concerned about that.

Then I put the roost noticeably higher than the nests or anything else I don't want them sleeping in or on. There are always exceptions but most chickens prefer to sleep as high as they can get. But keep the roosts as low as you reasonably can. Your coop looks like it is plenty big enough so you won't have this issue but the higher the roost the more clear room the chickens need to fly down. Try to not block their landing area with feeders or waterers.

Then I put my winter ventilation well above the chickens when they are on the roost. In Pennsylvania you will need ventilation in the winter but you don't want a cold breeze to hit them. Your coop front is open but it looks like it is inside a building. If you want to talk ventilation we can.

If you have what I call "special needs" chickens, like Silkies that can't fly or one that is somehow handicapped, you may need to make special accommodations. As Sylvie said they can often do pretty well on their own but in some cases ramps or steps may help. So be a bit flexible there. But my full sized fowl have no problems flying up and down to my 4' high nests or 5' high roosts. Just make sure they have room to spread their wings and fly.

To me it is more important to pick a nest height that is comfortable to you than over-worrying about what the chickens will think. You have the room to do what you want. Another reason more room is better.

 

[aart]

Here's my take on heights:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[Alaskan]

I'm planning nest boxes to have the bottom be 18 inches above the floor with slanted roofs so they cant roost on top. Then the plan is for the poop boards to be at about 3 feet or kitchen table height so I can poop scoop without bending. The roosts will be about 8 inches over the center of the poop boards.

Putting the nests directly under the poop tray, or suspended from the bottom of the poop tray will save space.

 

[Alaskan]

but I was wondering if this nesting box is too high

How high is it? And what kinds of chickens do you have?

Silkies like things LOW.

Leghorns love things high, even my old ones.

All of the bantams I have also think the higher the better, for everything.

But also think of how much bending and reaching is good for you. Chickens are pretty adaptable, but if it isn't easy for YOU to clean and tend, the joy of chicken ownership will decrease quickly.

 

[Cryss]

Putting the nests directly under the poop tray, or suspended from the bottom of the poop tray will save space.

I'm gonna give that some thought. Its a possibility .

 

[blackdog043]

Here's the inside of my coop. My nest boxes are 18 inches off the floor, this way the chickens can still use the space underneath, so no lost coop space. My roost/poop board runs along the back wall. I don't know if that is something that would interest you, or if you plan on just using a roost without the board. I put 1/2 or less of sweet PDZ in the board and scoop the poop everyday. Since they poop a lot while roosting, this keeps the coop cleaner and almost odor free, unless there is some fresh ones dropped IMO. The roost needs to be higher than the nest boxes or they will roost in them and you don't want that. Oh, make sure you have a landing board in front of your nest box, this makes it easier for them to get in. I didn't put my nest boxes under the board, because I use that space for my coop brooder.

 

[aart]

Putting the nests directly under the poop tray, or suspended from the bottom of the poop tray will save space.

If you leave nests up about 18-24" and poop board at about 30",
you can hang feed and water under poop board and still have most the floor space open.