nesting boxes

[suburban]

I'm just in the process of designing our new coop.
I've noticed many coops have the nesting boxes kind of sticking out the side of one wall. Is this just for ease of access to eggs or is there another reason too?

 

[emys]

There are 2 reasons to do it.

The number one reason is ease of access to the eggs.

Sometimes they are added as a way to keep more coop space available as living quarters/open space within the building.

If you are in a cold climate, you should insulate the box well to prevent frozen eggs.

 

[suburban]

thank you

 

[emys]

Sure thing.

I wanted one of these on my coop, but, husband talked me out of it due to frozen egg thing (and he was trying to simplify our siding chore). Sometimes I wish I hadn't let him talk me out of it.

Happy coop building!

 

[OkChickens]

I have regular fabricated metal 10 hole nesting boxes for my 25 or so in my "general flock". For my 11 White Leghorns I have a 12 hole box (a lot I know). I'm getting ready to buy about 14 more. They are GREAT layers and I'm so happy I got them!

-Nate

 

[teach1rusl]

If your coop is walk-in sized, then you can simply wall mount your nest boxes inside, about 24-30 inches high if you're wanting the benefit of not taking up floor space. In a larger coop the main benefit (for some) is quick access to eggs.

 

[suburban]

It's not going to be walk in size but maybe crouch in size. I am trying to keep it simple to build.
I was thinking of putting the nest boxes on a wall mounted shelf and having food and water beside them on the same shelf. Then have an door/opening in the wall behind them to collect eggs.
They should be able to reach them at 30 inches high? Do they need a little roost in front as I have seen in some pictures?

 

[clairabean]

I had wooden apple crates mounted on the wall. My spoiled lovelies preferred the ground, so I took the boxes down. The boxes are now on the floor.

 

[Peipooch]

We hang our feed and water from the ceiling--helps keep some of the muck out of it and have found less feed is wasted. We put a lid on top of the feed when we went out and found one of the pullets had actually jumped into the feeder (round style that dispenses out of the bottom) and was merrily eating her way to the bottom! We put the nesting boxes out of the side of the coop and the eggs do get quite chilly, but we gather them at least twice a day and keep plenty of straw in them. Once the girls got the hang of where to lay, it's convenient.

 

[Peipooch]

The back of the coop opens up and makes mucking it out pretty easy.