roost and nest box

[DCortez]

Can someone explain roosting space, nest box space, how they should be laid out or spaced in a coop. For argument's sake, 4, 8, and 12 hens.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Ok so you need one nest for every two hens you own. Position the nests lower than the roosts as chickens perch on the thing that is highest and you don't want them sleeping in the nests. The roosts should be at least a foot off the ground and you should have as many as possible. Below are three links to check out too.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pictures-of-chicken-nesting-boxes-how-to-build-a-nest-box
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/e...ow-about-chicken-coop-roosts/?blogger=lsteele

 

[Rockythgr81]

I understand that you don't want the hens sleeping in the nest boxes; but can anyone tell me WHY?

 

[CityFarmer202]

Each chicken will need spot to sleep up off the ground and as for height, that depends on the breed. My leghorns will go as high as they can while my Brahmas are content on a lower level. the general rule for nest boxes is 4 hens per box, but if u see them all cramming or laying eggs on top of each other...add a few more. I like to do the nest boxes staggered, some are lower and some are higher. Its kinda each persons own preference as they build the coop.

 

[6of6chicks]

I understand that you don't want the hens sleeping in the nest boxes; but can anyone tell me WHY?

I'm a newbie, but from what I understand it's to keep the eggs clean & poop free. My girls are only 6 weeks, and only a few are roosting on the perches. The rest still bed down on the floor of the coop in the litter. I can tell you that after just one night of sleep that spot is filthy with poo.

I have my nest boxes blocked (semi-permanently, until they start laying) off so that they don't get in the habit of sleeping in there.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I understand that you don't want the hens sleeping in the nest boxes; but can anyone tell me WHY?

It's simple; hens poop and make a mess at night and then they don't like laying eggs in messy and poopy nests!

 

[DCortez]

Fast replies! Thanks!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Can someone explain roosting space, nest box space, how they should be laid out or spaced in a coop. For argument's sake, 4, 8, and 12 hens.

My Coop is a salvaged 4x8 metal shed insulated with Styrofoam covered with veneer from interior doors from Habitat From Humanity. Here are a few tips and a quick look at my set up.
My floor are planks with a layer of tin for rodent proofing. On top of the tin I have a piece of vinyl flooring cut one foot longer than the length and width of my coop (roughly). Six inches squares are cut out of the 4 corners of the vinyl flooring. This allows the friction fitted flooring to travel up the walls six inches around the perimeter of my 4x8 salvaged metal coop. Shovel out the heavy stuff into a wheel barrow. Pop out the vinyl flooring hose it off pop it back in.
Easy Peasy!

Bedding
I have used all types of litter for coops.

I have not tried sand (sand gets good reviews on this site).

Of all the things I tried to date wood pellets have been the best. (I tried wood pellets as a last resort when pine shavings were not available.) They are super absorbent and swell up and eventually turn to saw dust. The droppings just seem to vanish and turn to dust when it comes in contact with wood pellets .

Replace my litter and clean my coop every October after I harvest my garden.


Works for me in my deep litter method.

I do add to pellets from time to time.

I have anywhere from 10 to 24 birds housed in my 4x8 coop.

Through the winter months the pellets froze harder than concrete with -40º temperatures. The poop froze before it could be absorbed by the pellets and there was like a crusty layer of poop in certain areas where they collectively took aim (no smell, messy feet or flies @ -40º). When the crust got big enough to handle with gloves I picked it up and dropped it into my compost bin. Come April things started to look after themselves.

Nest boxes
In my nest boxes I fold a feed bag to fit (nest boxes are 1 ft³). When a bag gets soiled; fold a new one; pop out the soiled; pop in the new. Feed bags are a nylon mesh bag frozen poop just peels off in below freezing temperatures and just flakes off in summer when left out in the sun to bake and dry.



POOP BOARDS are the "BEST" addition yet. Handles well over ½ of the poop in my set up keeps ammonia smell in check 3½" below roost excellent for catching eggs laid through the night (roost are in cups for easier removal and cleaning). I recently friction fit a piece of vinyl flooring over my poop board.it makes clean up even easier; Pop out; Scrap; Hose; Pop in.

Winter months even easier flex over compost bin DONE!

Easy peasy!.

 

[DCortez]

For people that run their roosts parallel to their box, how far away are they from the box? I thought I read somewhere that when chickens are laying eggs, they don't like other chickens to see them.