Texas

[magpiesing]

Hmmm....guess I am a late night lurker....then I've always been a night owl, that is the nice thing about being retired...I only have to get up in time to let the gang out at 8am.

Thought I would post some pics of our changing hen house.



These were some of the original nest boxes. The shelf over them...bad idea!


Our girls first roost...when we only had 12 hens.


Repurposed bookcase. Worked ok but they slept on top or on the rail and pooped in the boxes. UGH!




This is the newest nest box setup...no flat surface above. Still need to move the brooder cage underneath...it's still a target.

New roosting rails...room enough for the new kids to have their own space

New grown out pen which will become the brooder pen as soon as these guys move out
Won't be long, they were hatched the first week of May.

This is the box that TSC sells for $20...it is the bomb! I see us eventually going to all these. I think it was Clovis that uses these. Had 3 eggs in it the first day it was up, girls love it.
Can only get 1 or 2 a month but by the time our 3 month old girls are ready for them we should have more of these up. Probably will put another row under
these all on one wall. By then we should have about 22 layers.

Like Starfire...we use pine chips and leaves for the floor which has a dirt base. When it flooded last month we had to use pine bark mulch cause everyone was out of shavings. It worked ok in a pinch and is still on the floor but not absorbent enough. We use mostly pine shavings until fall when more leaves will be available.
The nest bedding is hay. Not able to find any straw in my area.
We also put all the lawn clippings in their yard. Used shavings and old hay will go into the garden to keep the weeds down.
Maybe this eill help some of you folks with ideas who were asking about different nest boxes.

Anyway...it started raining here about midnight...just nice gentle rain.
Those of you under bad weather threat...stay safe and dry and I pray no damage to anyone.
It's 2:30 in the morning..this ole hen needs to hit the hay. Take care

 

[winteree]

Hmmm....guess I am a late night lurker....then I've always been a night owl, that is the nice thing about being retired...I only have to get up in time to let the gang out at 8am.

Thought I would post some pics of our changing hen house.



These were some of the original nest boxes. The shelf over them...bad idea!


Our girls first roost...when we only had 12 hens.


Repurposed bookcase. Worked ok but they slept on top or on the rail and pooped in the boxes. UGH!




This is the newest nest box setup...no flat surface above. Still need to move the brooder cage underneath...it's still a target.

New roosting rails...room enough for the new kids to have their own space

New grown out pen which will become the brooder pen as soon as these guys move out
Won't be long, they were hatched the first week of May.

This is the box that TSC sells for $20...it is the bomb! I see us eventually going to all these. I think it was Clovis that uses these. Had 3 eggs in it the first day it was up, girls love it.
Can only get 1 or 2 a month but by the time our 3 month old girls are ready for them we should have more of these up. Probably will put another row under
these all on one wall. By then we should have about 22 layers.

Like Starfire...we use pine chips and leaves for the floor which has a dirt base. When it flooded last month we had to use pine bark mulch cause everyone was out of shavings. It worked ok in a pinch and is still on the floor but not absorbent enough. We use mostly pine shavings until fall when more leaves will be available.
The nest bedding is hay. Not able to find any straw in my area.
We also put all the lawn clippings in their yard. Used shavings and old hay will go into the garden to keep the weeds down.
Maybe this eill help some of you folks with ideas who were asking about different nest boxes.

Anyway...it started raining here about midnight...just nice gentle rain.
Those of you under bad weather threat...stay safe and dry and I pray no damage to anyone.
It's 2:30 in the morning..this ole hen needs to hit the hay. Take care

very nice i need to put together some nest boxes for my baby's i got 11 chicks and i already see at least 3 roosters i hope that's all though. i have a nest box for Watson but i may try a pre-fab nest box when i get some money together next month.

 

[needlessjunk]

Hmmm....guess I am a late night lurker....then I've always been a night owl, that is the nice thing about being retired...I only have to get up in time to let the gang out at 8am. Thought I would post some pics of our changing hen house. These were some of the original nest boxes. The shelf over them...bad idea! Our girls first roost...when we only had 12 hens. Repurposed bookcase. Worked ok but they slept on top or on the rail and pooped in the boxes. UGH! This is the newest nest box setup...no flat surface above. Still need to move the brooder cage underneath...it's still a target. New roosting rails...room enough for the new kids to have their own space New grown out pen which will become the brooder pen as soon as these guys move out Won't be long, they were hatched the first week of May. This is the box that TSC sells for $20...it is the bomb! I see us eventually going to all these. I think it was Clovis that uses these. Had 3 eggs in it the first day it was up, girls love it. Can only get 1 or 2 a month but by the time our 3 month old girls are ready for them we should have more of these up. Probably will put another row under these all on one wall. By then we should have about 22 layers. Like Starfire...we use pine chips and leaves for the floor which has a dirt base. When it flooded last month we had to use pine bark mulch cause everyone was out of shavings. It worked ok in a pinch and is still on the floor but not absorbent enough. We use mostly pine shavings until fall when more leaves will be available. The nest bedding is hay. Not able to find any straw in my area. We also put all the lawn clippings in their yard. Used shavings and old hay will go into the garden to keep the weeds down. Maybe this eill help some of you folks with ideas who were asking about different nest boxes. Anyway...it started raining here about midnight...just nice gentle rain. Those of you under bad weather threat...stay safe and dry and I pray no damage to anyone. It's 2:30 in the morning..this ole hen needs to hit the hay. Take care

Looks good! I love seeing everyone's designs and seeing what works. Now I need to go week my plans...

 

[kenmlang]

Thanks! There's probably room for one milk crate. I should measure the coop and find out what I can put in there (roost & nesting boxes...since there are neither in there at the moment).

That would be the thing to do. Sounds like you have a small coop. Maybe you should think about adding the nesting boxes on the outside of the coop. Here's a pic of mine...

 

[TherryChicken]

Are the ear tufts on your hen blue?  I think I read that ear tufts indicate egg color.  Maybe that only applies to brown or white eggs...just wondering.

nope they are white

 

[lovingmyhens]

How old are chicks when they need a roosting bar?

 

[Brookshire11]

Are the ear tufts on your hen blue? I think I read that ear tufts indicate egg color. Maybe that only applies to brown or white eggs...just wondering.

I've heard it's leg color and comb. I think it's kind of a toss up.
Pearl had chocolate and cream tufts and her eggs are a gray green.

How old are chicks when they need a roosting bar?

Mine still sleep snuggled up with each other Lol.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Hmmm....guess I am a late night lurker....then I've always been a night owl, that is the nice thing about being retired...I only have to get up in time to let the gang out at 8am. Thought I would post some pics of our changing hen house. These were some of the original nest boxes. The shelf over them...bad idea! Our girls first roost...when we only had 12 hens. Repurposed bookcase. Worked ok but they slept on top or on the rail and pooped in the boxes. UGH! This is the newest nest box setup...no flat surface above. Still need to move the brooder cage underneath...it's still a target. New roosting rails...room enough for the new kids to have their own space New grown out pen which will become the brooder pen as soon as these guys move out Won't be long, they were hatched the first week of May. This is the box that TSC sells for $20...it is the bomb! I see us eventually going to all these. I think it was Clovis that uses these. Had 3 eggs in it the first day it was up, girls love it. Can only get 1 or 2 a month but by the time our 3 month old girls are ready for them we should have more of these up. Probably will put another row under these all on one wall. By then we should have about 22 layers. Like Starfire...we use pine chips and leaves for the floor which has a dirt base. When it flooded last month we had to use pine bark mulch cause everyone was out of shavings. It worked ok in a pinch and is still on the floor but not absorbent enough. We use mostly pine shavings until fall when more leaves will be available. The nest bedding is hay. Not able to find any straw in my area. We also put all the lawn clippings in their yard. Used shavings and old hay will go into the garden to keep the weeds down. Maybe this eill help some of you folks with ideas who were asking about different nest boxes. Anyway...it started raining here about midnight...just nice gentle rain. Those of you under bad weather threat...stay safe and dry and I pray no damage to anyone. It's 2:30 in the morning..this ole hen needs to hit the hay. Take care

I got one. I'm going to attach it to the outside when it gets cooler this evening.

 

[tiedyemommy]

Hmmm....guess I am a late night lurker....then I've always been a night owl, that is the nice thing about being retired...I only have to get up in time to let the gang out at 8am.

Thought I would post some pics of our changing hen house.



These were some of the original nest boxes. The shelf over them...bad idea!


Our girls first roost...when we only had 12 hens.


Repurposed bookcase. Worked ok but they slept on top or on the rail and pooped in the boxes. UGH!




This is the newest nest box setup...no flat surface above. Still need to move the brooder cage underneath...it's still a target.

New roosting rails...room enough for the new kids to have their own space

New grown out pen which will become the brooder pen as soon as these guys move out
Won't be long, they were hatched the first week of May.

This is the box that TSC sells for $20...it is the bomb! I see us eventually going to all these. I think it was Clovis that uses these. Had 3 eggs in it the first day it was up, girls love it.
Can only get 1 or 2 a month but by the time our 3 month old girls are ready for them we should have more of these up. Probably will put another row under
these all on one wall. By then we should have about 22 layers.

Like Starfire...we use pine chips and leaves for the floor which has a dirt base. When it flooded last month we had to use pine bark mulch cause everyone was out of shavings. It worked ok in a pinch and is still on the floor but not absorbent enough. We use mostly pine shavings until fall when more leaves will be available.
The nest bedding is hay. Not able to find any straw in my area.
We also put all the lawn clippings in their yard. Used shavings and old hay will go into the garden to keep the weeds down.
Maybe this eill help some of you folks with ideas who were asking about different nest boxes.

Anyway...it started raining here about midnight...just nice gentle rain.
Those of you under bad weather threat...stay safe and dry and I pray no damage to anyone.
It's 2:30 in the morning..this ole hen needs to hit the hay. Take care

Your coop is so BIG. I'd love to do egg crate nesting boxes, but I don't think I have enough room for more than one. I've been eyeing those TSC nesting boxes...I could probably put two or three in our coop if I use the side hatch to retrieve the eggs. Still working out how best to instal nesting boxes...and, possibly, roosts. My ladies never had roosts, so they kind of sleep piled on top of one another. Might end up making/buying a bigger coop just to have room for everything.

 

[tiedyemommy]

That would be the thing to do. Sounds like you have a small coop. Maybe you should think about adding the nesting boxes on the outside of the coop. Here's a pic of mine...

(back when we had ducks)

Our coop has an extension, like yours, but does not have divides for nesting boxes. (It's at the back of the coop...on the right of the pic) That's where I would put mine, if I could (easy access). By the looks of yours, it wouldn't be hard to make our own....depending on how wide they need to be, I could probably put three nesting boxes in that space. I keep forgetting to measure my coop. I will try to do so tonight. Thanks!