roosts and nest boxes

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I'm sure y'all are all tired of the roost and nest box questions, but I have one more please.

I have one of the Lowe's playhouses to be my coop. I'll just have a few chickens and they will free range as well as have an 8'x16' run.

Can I stack the roost and nest boxes? Looking inside, it seems logical to have against the back wall a row of nest boxes about 2' off the ground and a roost at 4' off the ground above that. If I put a slanty roof on the nestboxes that extends past the openings, it would basically become a big droppings board, right? Or, if I was really clever, perhaps a dropping tray that I could fill with shavings so the smell wasn't so bad.

Any thoughts? I'm trying to get it arranged inside and don't have the carpertry skills to cut a hole in the side of the playhouse.

CG

 

[Smitty's Farm]

We doubled up to save inside space by letting the top shelf of the nest box serve as a dropping tray. We covered the top shelf w/ linoleum and put some wood shavings on top. It works well for us. I scoop the poopy shelf off each night with a dust pan before bedtime and put new shavings on it. We use straw for the inside material. The nests are 2' off the ground and the roost is above that. DH designed it so the dividers, front lip, and top shelf can come completely out for deep cleaning. Hope this helps!
Kim

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Thanks, Smitty!
That is exactly what I want to do. Thanks for the info!
CG

 

[Smitty's Farm]

You are so welcome. I know alot of people don't like their chickens on top of the nest boxes, but it works out well for us. Just scoop the poop!

I like it also b/c more of the flock can get up on the shelf at bed time and they can snuggle up next to the ones roosting to stay warm in the winter. Of course this past summer when they first moved in and it was sooooo hot, they all wanted to roost on the roost in front of the window to be cooler on the side wall.

 

[patandchickens]

I enthusiastically second the motion. That's how I'm set up, and it is GREAT, very space-saving and efficient, and easy to keep the coop clean.

I cannot for the life of me imagine why it is not the generally-recommended standard... I'm guessing it's because it's not real suitable when you have so many chickens (per size of coop) that you need roosts that are out across the middle instead of just along the walls. But for all of us who do not have so many chickens as that, woo hoo, DO THIS, you will not regret it.


Pat