Show us your nest boxes! Ingenous design post it here!

[twinsmom6]

I used some painters trays (dollar store) in the base of the boxes and put hay in for comfort. Then I can pull them out to clean when soiled.. slightly angled so the eggs may drop off to the side - maybe will prevent broodiness

 

[TerryH]

Ohhh...can I show off mine?

Even though we have a decent sized coop I wanted to save space so I built this design. Sliding nest boxes mounted under the poop tray.

They slide back to the wall so the girls can do their business in private...

And then slide out to the front for easy egg removal...

A side benefit is that the entire nest box assembly is easily removed. Turned out to be handy since we have months to go before any of ours will be laying. I have the nest boxes stored away in my shop.

 

[renardsubtil]

For a nesting box it was really nice because it made clean up a cinch and I have plentiful junk mail to shred BUT one day I started to notice my hens were eating the paper so I've since then stopped using it.

I use sand now.

I also added a tray in that main area under the roost stick that's full of sand as well. It make clean up much easier with my cat de-pooper shovel.

 

[Beezer]

Would something like this work?

http://www.petsmart.com/cat/litter-...6-5235104/cat-36-catid-200094?_t=pfm=category
http://www.petsmart.com/cat/litter-...6-5235104/cat-36-catid-200094?_t=pfm=category

 

[ENor70]

Built these this afternoon. They are stackable (obviously . . . haha). Both '3-packs' will probably start on the coop floor. Thanks to the folks at BYC for the idea.

 

[aart]

Built these this afternoon. They are stackable (obviously . . . haha). Both '3-packs' will probably start on the coop floor. Thanks to the folks at BYC for the idea.

Those are sweet!
Simple and functional framing....slider support turns into a perch.
Might want a wider perch in front.

 

[ENor70]

@aart - Thanks. These were a piece of cake to build. And you are correct. I didn't put it in the picture, but I have one long 1x4" pine cut to span the perches and tie the two 'three-packs' together if both are set on the coop floor. If I stack them (as they are in the pic), I'll just cut the 1x4" to length as needed for each.

 

[IvanTsary]

Any thoughts on if this nesting box arrangement could work? The distance btwn the box and the black perch seems too close for them to fly onto as it, so I moved this green thing that they like to perch on so they can have an easier approach. Any Little Giant users seen full size birds use them? My birds are 19 weeks so ought to be showing some kind of interest in boxes and laying soon. Already have the golf balls in there.

 

[aart]

Any thoughts on if this nesting box arrangement could work? The distance btwn the box and the black perch seems too close for them to fly onto as it, so I moved this green thing that they like to perch on so they can have an easier approach. Any Little Giant users seen full size birds use them? My birds are 19 weeks so ought to be showing some kind of interest in boxes and laying soon. Already have the golf balls in there.

Might be better to clamp/screw a 1x4 to the perches built into the nests....and get rid of the green thing..
Neither the built in perches or the green thing offers much stability being such small diameters.

 

[IvanTsary]

Might be better to clamp/screw a 1x4 to the perches built into the nests....and get rid of the green thing..
Neither the built in perches or the green thing offers much stability being such small diameters.

My wife put that out there a month ago, I was sure they would never use it being so thin. But they will sit on it for an hour at a time. I might try adding a 1x4 step just in front of and below the black perch though. Or just lower it closer to the ground where it's more like stepping in.