Separate area for nesting box

[ssteiner]

Okay, so I've got this critical space shortage, and was wondering:

I've got a 4x2 coop with a 6x2 run attached, and I was thinking I could attach my 20" by 24" portable doghouse to the other end of the run and put a nesting box in there.

Must a nesting box be in the coop, or can it be in a separate area? Will the hens go into the doghouse to lay and spend the rest of their time in the coop. What I DON'T want to do is turn the little doghouse into the main residence of the chickens, while they ignore their coop.

Thanks for any help.

Scott

 

[@migocontodos~]

You can place the nesting box(es) anywhere you wish.

I'm not sure how large the dog house is, so how they use it will depend. If it's a smaller dog house you could indeed put a nice bed of straw in it and hope they use it for nesting.
If I recall corretly. (might be another chicken freak

) your birds are rather young. If this is the case, I'd wait until they are getting close to the point of lay to introduce them to the doghouse/nest box!
This will for sure familiarize them to what the coop is used for!

Todd

 

[ibpboo]

The nesting area does not have to be in the coop.

 

[ssteiner]

Great! This adds another 2 square feet to my area!

-Scott

 

[cherig22]

Quote:
True, especially since we have to hunt for the new nests when production goes down. Free Range Floozies can find odd places. The gamehens were flying up into the loft in the stable and laying on the hay we have up there.

Cheri