Roost/nesting box questions......

[chickinlickin]

Hello all you chicken junkies....

I'm building my first coop and have a couple questions that I can't find answers to using the search..

1). I plan on having 12-14 hens...and plan on 4 nesting boxes. Do they (or should they) all be together? My coop will be 8'x8'...and am wondering about mounting them on different walls (2 on one wall and 2 on another) kind of caddy-corner from each other.

2). Should I mount a roost that is in front of a window? Or would mounting a couple across a corner be better?

3). What about spacing between "tiers" when using multi tiered roosts across a corner? Both vertical spacing and horizontal....?

4). And 8"-10" a bird for roost space? I think I've read that..

Although I haven't posted too many questions of my own, I've learned so much from this board. This is a real friendly and comfortable place, all chat boards ought to be this nice....I've not read one post where anybody was "talked down to"....or made to feel silly for asking even the simplest of questions. I just want to let everyone know that I really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance for helping me out-
Dean

 

[Ridgerunner]

1). I plan on having 12-14 hens...and plan on 4 nesting boxes. Do they (or should they) all be together? My coop will be 8'x8'...and am wondering about mounting them on different walls (2 on one wall and 2 on another) kind of caddy-corner from each other.

I don't see any advantages one way or the other. Odds are they will use only two of them, whether you put them together or separate them but it is better to have all four. There is less of a chance they will try to hide a nest from you if you have four.

2). Should I mount a roost that is in front of a window? Or would mounting a couple across a corner be better?

As long as they are out of drafts on cold nights, I don't see any advantage one way or the other. I put mine along a back wall instead of in front of a window, but that was to give me more room for feed and water without them being under the roosts.

3). What about spacing between "tiers" when using multi tiered roosts across a corner? Both vertical spacing and horizontal....?

Use 12" for both vertical and horizontal. They can handle getting up and down quite easily and probably won't poop on each other. I assume you are aware the dominant chickens will roost higher if there is a vertical separation. There might be some squabbles while they get it sorted out.

4). And 8"-10" a bird for roost space? I think I've read that..

I've also heard these numbers. I tend to give them a little more room to spread out on the hot summer nights, more like 12", but many people use the 8" to 10" successfully.

 

[DarkWolf]

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So much as you don't mind gathering from multiple places.. I'd do 2x2 if you feel strongly about doing that.. Else just put them in line.

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It's up to you.. I've got my roosts in front of two windows.. This brings to mind drafts however. If you're in a colder climate you'll want to make sure that there are no drafts around the windows when they're closed.

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You'd be better off with all the roosts at the same level to keep fighting over the premo space down. 12-16" apart per roost.

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Larger breeds, go with 10, else 8 is fine.

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Nor have I.. Rather surprising and frankly refreshing.. I hate the Internet some times.. Attitudes can be so poor. Worth you might see are "matter of fact" answers that might seem a little blunt..

 

[Agape Builder]

Here are some pictures of a set of 12 jumbo nest boxes that I built yesterday for my growing hens. The boxes themselves are about 15 1/2"W x 16"D x 16"H. The walkways / perches in front of the boxes extend out 12". The entire piece is about 32" H x 8' W. The bottom nests are about 3 feet off of the floor. The coop is an old greenhouse that I converted for chickens.

I could have made them smaller, but I wanted them to be comfortable for ALL of my hens, now and in the future. Sometimes two hens ill sit in a single box. So, they are 16" wide, also necessary for mature large breed birds.

 

[Kirtusjon]

I personaly beleive hens love to hide-away, so my nests are 16"wide with an 8" wall a on 1 side of the front of the nest. They are also 16" high and 12 " deep. Here is a pic

This is pics when building coop

 

[chickinlickin]

I've got my coop all framed up, but I think I'm going to change out a very large window centered on a wall and use a smaller window and move it towards a corner so it will open up some wall space for roosts and boxes....I gues now's the time to do it. Just wish I'd thought it out a little better....oh well...live and learn....

I like the pics of the nesting boxes. I'm trying to figure out how to fashion some out of apple crates..they are about 13"x15"...by about 12" deep....they ought to work, shouldn't they?

Thanks -