Questions from a first timer on coop design

[Fowler]

Hi Everyone!!!

This is my first post here.

I’m building my first chicken coop and have a question or two. I'll be posting some pics of the building process later.

How deep should the nest boxes be and how high off the floor of the floor of the coop should the roosting perch be and how big around is best for the perch?

I was thinking around 12 inches deep and 14 inches square for the nesting box but I was wondering if the front of the box should be lower than the sides and back.

Thanks
Fowler

 

[dacjohns]

Have you looked in the Learning Center yet?

 

[tnkinhunting]

What kind of chickens do you have or plan on keeping? Your measurements for the nest boxes sounds great and I agree with the lower front. Mine have a hinged sloped top on them - they seem to like the privacy better than the open box. The roost height would depend on the breed - a light breed can use a higher roost - a heavy breed needs a lower roost and some game chickens want to be as high as possible. I prefer 36" for my bantams and used the same thing when I had my BO's tho a shorter one would of been better for the BO since they are a heavy breed and can bruise their feet jumping down - or so I have read.

 

[tnkinhunting]

BTW, looking forward to the pic's - we love pic's of coops!!!

 

[Fowler]

Hi!!

Thanks for the welcome

All of the chickens are heavy breeds.

Actually they haven't even arrived yet. I’m just now getting coop ready for the chicks once they are big enough to go into the coop.

 

[msrma7670]

Here are a few picks of my nesting bokes not the fanciest but the hens do like them. The nesting boxes are a bit big 14" x 14" Then I slanted the roof on it so the chikens would not perch up there so far it has worked.

THIS IS RED THE KIDS LOVE HIM SO VERY MUCH!