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

[7 Biddies]

I keep thinking they all converge in the same box because they're trying to assemble a clutch to hatch. Anyone know if that's true? Mine typically all lay in the same box, although not at the same time. I've even seen 2 laying at the same time, but in boxes side by side. They can look over the top of the sides at one another, as there's currently no lid to the boxes. I wonder if that makes a difference?

Who knows what mysteries lie in those little feathered heads.

 

[Chickassan]

This is wonderful thread! I now have hope I just might get my cat carrier back.I'm not trying to be ghetto they have nice nest boxes but so of these ideas seem right up my girls alley.

 

[aart]

I keep thinking they all converge in the same box because they're trying to assemble a clutch to hatch. Anyone know if that's true? Mine typically all lay in the same box, although not at the same time. I've even seen 2 laying at the same time, but in boxes side by side. They can look over the top of the sides at one another, as there's currently no lid to the boxes. I wonder if that makes a difference?

Who knows what mysteries lie in those little feathered heads.

Could be...think it has more to do with 'safe place to lay'.

 

[7 Biddies]

Could be...think it has more to do with 'safe place to lay'.

Hmm. Hadn't thought of that possibility, but it makes sense ... If they can be accused of ever making sense.

 

[aart]

Hmm. Hadn't thought of that possibility, but it makes sense ... If they can be accused of ever making sense.

That's why fake 'bait' eggs work when you have multiple nests with fakies in all.
Tho some still prefer to lay where the first egg of the day is laid.
I've played with changing up the fakies, where and how many and what kind.....never came to any finite conclusions.... cause, you know, chickens are fickle.

 

[7 Biddies]

That's why fake 'bait' eggs work when you have multiple nests with fakies in all.
Tho some still prefer to lay where the first egg of the day is laid.
I've played with changing up the fakies, where and how many and what kind.....never came to any finite conclusions.... cause, you know, chickens are fickle.

They certainly are! Your theory, however, would explain why they never lay in the box closeSt to the hen house door.

 

[aart]

They certainly are! Your theory, however, would explain why they never lay in the box closest to the hen house door.

Funny, that's the fav in my coop....always wondered why.

 

[7 Biddies]

Funny, that's the fav in my coop....always wondered why.

Hah! Mine like the box in the back corner. Makes it harder for me to see the 5' black snake curled up in it when he occasionally feels like having an omelet.

 

[csnail]

oh wow! what a great idea. I'm designing/building my first chicken coop now. And we have a doghouse sitting in the yard that none of the dogs use. Seems like the doghouse could be used for addition housing, or to contain a dust bath, or ?

Now that I know for sure that my nest box works, I can post it here.





My nest box is a modified old dog house with a roof that lifts off. Not pretty, but functional. We now have 2 layers and they took to the dog house without any major issue.

I cut a hole through the back of the coop extension and made a tunnel connecting to the dog house using wood recycled from the old nest box (that came with the coop, we had to remove it to expand the roost bar). I cut a few windows in the dog house since it was so dark and musty inside, the windows are covered with hardware cloth and reinforced with more scrap wood. Later screwed in a lip of scrap wood and it's been good to go since.

Bedding is pine shavings over a folded feed bag (thanks to member Hokum Coco for the idea, I would've never thought of it and after putting it in I stopped getting cracked eggs since the chickens can't kick the bag out!)

 

[csnail]

Beautiful coop!

I installed 2 types at 3 heights with different approaches to allow variety. Regardless, 3 of them use the same box. Sadly one still uses the floor, but they have not been laying for a month yet. My coop is inside a shed that is insulated so I did not have to insulate the best boxes themselves. (We live in Montana.) All of them can be accessed from the shed so that entering the coop is not required.
Here are the boxes.