Show me your nest boxes! + some questions

[OurSufficientLife]

We like outside access with a front drop down rather than a lid that lifts. The latter is apt to leak and to fall when we don't want it to.

Here's the nests from the Little Monitor Coop:

And here are the nests-in-progress in Neuchickenstein:

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What a cute little coop! Neuchickenstein Are the new ones in progress also a foot wide, or did you decide to make bigger? We have Barred Rocks and Jersey Giants.

 

[OurSufficientLife]

We made a separate room off the side of the coop. The lid has shocks to keep it open while collecting eggs.

Wow I hadn't thought of making a separate little room. Very interesting idea. Now my wheels are turning.

 

[OurSufficientLife]

Stacking bins, they were originally going to hold potatoes and onions.
Plans changed.
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HMMMMM. An instant nest box. Do you think they are sturdy enough to hold the weight of larger breeds? (we have barred rock and jersey giant)

 

[Chickassan]

If you secure them so they don't topple over absolutely.
That one is zip tied to the back of the coop so it won't tip.
Btw that isn't a tiny bird, she's a Faverolles so yours should be fine.

HMMMMM. An instant nest box. Do you think they are sturdy enough to hold the weight of larger breeds? (we have barred rock and jersey giant)

 

[3KillerBs]

What a cute little coop! Neuchickenstein Are the new ones in progress also a foot wide, or did you decide to make bigger? We have Barred Rocks and Jersey Giants.

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions for the boxes in Neuchickenstein. DH decided has the uprights 4 feet on center so that we could conveniently install the hardware cloth and divided the space in thirds instead of quarters so the hens wouldn't feel cramped.

 

[suburbanfarmermi]

I prefer the nesting boxes that are built onto the outside of the coop and accesible from the outside.

-Many of the nesting boxes inside the coop create more flat surfaces for the chickens to roost and poop on. the only flat surfaces in our Hen house are the roosting bars and the floor. Since the floor is covered in deep litter it is simply to clean out.

-I had not thought about my eggs freezing sooner so I guess that might be a disadvantage. wonder if I could isulate it from the bottom side at least. We live in Michigan so I am sure we will loose some eggs to freezing temps.

- I also like the idea of making all of the daily chores accessible from the outside of the coop. Might make it easier to get help caring for the chickens if my non chicken keeping friends or family did not have to actually go in the coop to care for our chickens when we go out of town. So far I have PVC feeder that is filled from outside the coop and next project will be to make a waterer for the warmer part of the year.

- We put the access door on the side of the coop vs lift the nesting box roof/lid. This was the perfect height for our youngest to access the eggs and no worries about gravity closing the lid while we are collecting eggs. Be sure to leave a lip so the eggs dont just roll out when the door opens.

- The bottom of the nesting boxes are raised up above the coop floor so our deep litter does not spill over into the nesting boxes. Of course the boxes are lower than the roosting bars so the chickens do not roost in the nesting boxes.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Wow I hadn't thought of making a separate little room. Very interesting idea. Now my wheels are turning.

Thanks. We did it so the nests wouldn't take away from the square footage of the coop.

 

[OurSufficientLife]

I prefer the nesting boxes that are built onto the outside of the coop and accesible from the outside.

-Many of the nesting boxes inside the coop create more flat surfaces for the chickens to roost and poop on. the only flat surfaces in our Hen house are the roosting bars and the floor. Since the floor is covered in deep litter it is simply to clean out.

-I had not thought about my eggs freezing sooner so I guess that might be a disadvantage. wonder if I could isulate it from the bottom side at least. We live in Michigan so I am sure we will loose some eggs to freezing temps.

- I also like the idea of making all of the daily chores accessible from the outside of the coop. Might make it easier to get help caring for the chickens if my non chicken keeping friends or family did not have to actually go in the coop to care for our chickens when we go out of town. So far I have PVC feeder that is filled from outside the coop and next project will be to make a waterer for the warmer part of the year.

- We put the access door on the side of the coop vs lift the nesting box roof/lid. This was the perfect height for our youngest to access the eggs and no worries about gravity closing the lid while we are collecting eggs. Be sure to leave a lip so the eggs dont just roll out when the door opens.

- The bottom of the nesting boxes are raised up above the coop floor so our deep litter does not spill over into the nesting boxes. Of course the boxes are lower than the roosting bars so the chickens do not roost in the nesting boxes.

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This is really a lovely, well thought out coop! And I am a sucker for red I also like that you've taken into account when others might have to help with the chickens. I hadn't thought of that. One thing that concerns me with ours, is the size. It is 8x20. We have 26 chickens, but wondering if we should have gone smaller so that they would be warmer in winter when they roost. I guess we'll see in our first winter this year. What a sweet pic of your daughter!

 

[aart]

but wondering if we should have gone smaller so that they would be warmer in winter when they roost.

No!
Their feathers keep them warm, the coop is just to break the wind and keep snow off of them.
Ventilation is way more important and a coop 'holding heat'.

 

[3KillerBs]

We have 26 chickens, but wondering if we should have gone smaller so that they would be warmer in winter when they roost.

No. Chickens keep themselves warm with their built-in down parkas.

We just need to keep them dry and out of the wind.

Plenty of ventilation up high, above their heads when they're sitting on the roost, is keep to keeping them dry because warm, moist air rises and escapes.