My Husband, not a chicken enthusiast (SP?) made me a chicken run for Christmas from found items (we made a rule this year not to buy presents but to make or repurpose stuff we had for gifts) So he had found a bunch of pallets and the neighbors tossed some fencing and said he could have it - so I have a nice chicken run. The original plan was to keep the movable coops within the run so that they could come and go into the coop as needed. We had enough of the fencing to go around but the gate was not working out so Andy decided to use a pallet for a gate which was a little ingenius actually but now we cannot have the coops inside the run and the nest boxes are inside the coops.
So for my Birthday, which is today, Jan 1, He decided to build me an out door chicken/Shanty/nest box I did ask him to look here on the forum and get some ideas as to what other people have used for nest boxes, which he didn't do. So he has built this Shanty/nestbox which, I very much appreciate the thoughtfullness and idea, but it is about 2.5"X2.5" and resembles an old broken down barn sort of. I don't want him to get upset at me but I don't think the chickens are going to want to lay eggs in such a large place. If he had bothered to look and see what others have used maybe he can modify the design and make it more "inviting" for the chickens to lay eggs within. Honestly, they lay in their coop nest boxes and I like that they lay there and I am finding it hard to be happy about something I really don't need or want but the fact that he is building it is so very sweet and shows that he is more accepting to the chickens which I know he was opposed to having until they started to lay eggs and he kind of likes that, then one of his employees offered him $4 a dozen for some eggs and that he found really appealing especially when I showed him the brown eggs at the grocery store and what they sell for.
Tomorrow I will post a picture: Maybe some of you can give me some ideas to make this work. I am also concerned because he put these short little legs on it and I am thinking Wow - let's just invite some snakes to come take my eggs- can we make this any more accessable to that here in florida too!!!!
I am thinking it will have to be taller with a chicken ladder and maybe 4 partitions inside or maybe 4 egg crates to sit inside.
I have to remind myself he is a merchant marine and not a carpenter and this is his way of showing he cares about things I am interested in and be greatful for the thoughtfulness of it all!.
Caroline
So for my Birthday, which is today, Jan 1, He decided to build me an out door chicken/Shanty/nest box I did ask him to look here on the forum and get some ideas as to what other people have used for nest boxes, which he didn't do. So he has built this Shanty/nestbox which, I very much appreciate the thoughtfullness and idea, but it is about 2.5"X2.5" and resembles an old broken down barn sort of. I don't want him to get upset at me but I don't think the chickens are going to want to lay eggs in such a large place. If he had bothered to look and see what others have used maybe he can modify the design and make it more "inviting" for the chickens to lay eggs within. Honestly, they lay in their coop nest boxes and I like that they lay there and I am finding it hard to be happy about something I really don't need or want but the fact that he is building it is so very sweet and shows that he is more accepting to the chickens which I know he was opposed to having until they started to lay eggs and he kind of likes that, then one of his employees offered him $4 a dozen for some eggs and that he found really appealing especially when I showed him the brown eggs at the grocery store and what they sell for.
Tomorrow I will post a picture: Maybe some of you can give me some ideas to make this work. I am also concerned because he put these short little legs on it and I am thinking Wow - let's just invite some snakes to come take my eggs- can we make this any more accessable to that here in florida too!!!!
I am thinking it will have to be taller with a chicken ladder and maybe 4 partitions inside or maybe 4 egg crates to sit inside.
I have to remind myself he is a merchant marine and not a carpenter and this is his way of showing he cares about things I am interested in and be greatful for the thoughtfulness of it all!.
Caroline