New Coup Question?

[hunter]

I am building my new coup. How high do the nest area have to be off of ground?
How big does each nesting area need to be?

Thanks

 

[SusanJoM]

Your chickens may stage a coup,
if you don't hurry up and build that coop.

See.....we can learn just about everything we need from our dealings with chickens.

Susan

 

[herechickchick]

Mine are only about 7 inches off the ground. As long the chickens can fly up they should be fine. I would not make them any taller than 3 feet high. I hope this helps.

 

[Dawn419]

We have our nest boxes sitting right on the coop litter (pine shavings) as there was no way to attach them to the walls.

For leghorn type: 12"w x 14"h x 12" deep

For heavy breeds: 14"w x 14"h x 12" deep

For Bantams: 10"w x 12"h x 10" deep

Hope this helps!


Dawn

 

[Davaroo]

The accepted height is something like 1-3 feet off the floor. Too high and the heavier birds can hurt their legs leaping out of it. Too low and you may as well not have them at all, allowing the birds to lay on the floor. Most of this has to do with convenience for you, the chicken keeper. I dont believe the chickens dont care

For discrete nest boxes, I suggest you place the nests directly behind the roosts, along one wall, at the same level as the roosts. Alternately, place the nests just below and in front of the roosts. This way, the nests are situated where the birds can go from roost to nest quite readily and this may encourage them to lay early.
For a communal nest, make it about a foot off the floor.

It's nice if you can cut a hinged door to the outside along the back of your nest(s) for collecting eggs from the outside. Again, easy on you and you don't need to bother the chickens while they're in their "sanctum sanctorum."

 

[hunter]

thanks for the info----ireally would like them higher the better ------------------sounds like 1 to 3 feet is the answer--can I stack these nests--can I make some nests seperate and some communal? thank you--This is all new to us but we are excited beyond control--that is me and the kids are

 

[Davaroo]

Its best to keep to one plan. You can stack nests, but it best to stick to either nest boxes or communal types. This makes it simpler for everyone concerned.

 

[Peeps]

I have nests at all different levels, they like the highest one (about 5 feet high) and on the ground underneath the lowest one best. I have 12 nesting boxes, they only actually use 1 or 2 most of them like the floor better. Crazy chickens!

 

[hunter]

thank you so much for the replys--i need all the help I can get