question on nesting boxes

[poniesforever]

My husband has finished the outside of the chicken coop, now working on the inside. He built the nesting boxes, as a double row of six, for a total of 12. (I didn't expect that many!) I am wondering, do we have to have perches on the front of the nesting boxes? I have seen some like that, but I don't know if we need to do it, or if it can go without..?

One more question, about feeders... My chicks are suppose to come in May, so any time now! I bought the chick feeder... that is long and narrow, with the top that closes, and holes for the chicks to get their feed... Will that be suitable when they are grown too? or should I get something different for when they move into "their own house"? If I should get something different... what should I get? There are so many types and sizes, I just don't know!

Thanks for any help!

 

[stevearino]

I am no expert, but I've seen a lot from people teaching me, so I will give my 2 cents.

As for the nesting boxes, I'd say having the perches in front of the nesting boxes is optional. It probably isn't needed, but it wouldn't hurt to have at least one for the "second floor" boxes. I have a row of 7 boxes raised about 20 inches from the ground, and my hens did pretty good getting into them without a perch in front.

As for feeders, I don't know what experts would say, but as a casual chicken raiser I go with anything I can find cheap. I wouldn't use the chick feeder for when they grow older, mostly because the chickens will get big enough that they won't fit very easily if they try to crowd around such a narrow and small object. I like to use bowls, much like a dog bowl. You can find pretty cheap ones at a feed store I think, and it is big enough and round enough to let the chickens crowd around in a circle and stick their heads in to eat.

Hopefully some more experienced vets will chip in, but hope I was at least a little help.

 

[poniesforever]

Thank you! Yes that makes perfect sense! Of course they are going to need more room as they get bigger... I hadn't even thought of that! It also makes sense to put a perch at least on the second floor nests! Now... How far out from the nest boxes should they be??

Thanks so much!

 

[Aeropennchick]

12 nesting boxes?! How many chickens did you order??

 

[jeepguy982001]

while i'm far from an expert my nesting box is about 24 inches of the ground with no perch and they use it with no problem. As far as the feeder i would just make one out of pvc. Yes i do have the same tray with covers. Then i bought a 3 lb then more chickens 7 lb and now a 11 lb i think it is. It woulda been alot cheaper just to buy some pvc pipe and make my own that could hold alot more feed. just my 2 cents.

 

[ange92040]

I'm no expert by no means but we have 6 boxes for the hens and ALL all of them use the same box they will wait in line literally till one is finished. We have double row and they have no problem getting to the top without a perch not that they use it other then to sit in it.

As for the feeder we have the long one with the top for our pullets and we use the covered one with the bowl under and hang it, it keeps the feed dry and clean. We got it at Tractor Supply on sale for $5. We also have a small divided cat/dog dish with oyster shell on one side and grit on the other we put it near the feeder. We also use the same type feeder for their water. (one made for water)
We use something like this.

 

[poniesforever]

Thank you all!
Yes, 12 seems like alot. lol! First I ordered 6 chicks. They will be here soon. But I will be ordering 5 to 10 more soon... probably they wont use half of the boxes. I told my husband I guess I didn't need as many boxes as I have chickens... but well... I'm not complaining!

So I don't "need" perches, but if I put perches, how far from the boxes should they be?

I think I will go ahead and get a larger 11 or 12lb feeder, for the grown-up chickens. Sounds like I'm going to need it!

 

[stevearino]

I'm just taking a shot in the dark here, but I would say your perch would be around 6 inches away from the boxes. That's my guess anyways. This perch would be just so the chickens can leap up and examine which box they want to occupy (so to speak...). I always like to have a perch/roosting bar stretching across the whole coop so they have a perch to just chill on, and that is completely different. I don't think you'll want your nesting box perch too far away or else ALL the chickens (including roosters) my occupy the perch and keep mother hens outside of the top boxes.

 

[kgardner19]

I have 15 chicks I was planning on 4 nesting boxes as I heard that they will find a favorite box and a lot of the chicks will use that one

 

[poniesforever]

Okay so about 6 inches away from the boxes. That sounds good. Yes I know they will probably only use a few boxes. After I found that out, I did tell my husband, but he still went with this plan. Even so, originally I told him Maybe 6 boxes. LOL! Oh well.

Yes I will be having a roost as well across the back of the coop, the boxes are on the side. Which is another whole thing.. last night I was reading about poop boards... thats new to me, never had anything like that when I was a kid, so I have to figure out about those too!