The Trap Nesting Thread

[cjwaldon]

I saw a couple of posts on using the food coloring. It just didn't click how useful that would be to fill in the gaps when I can't montor the trap nests.

Manoz - thank for posting your nest box measurements. I used that as my starting point. I decided that it was easier to make a bank of boxes to hand on the outside of the coop, 24" deep, a little wider that yours at 15", and 14" tall at the short end.

Starting, attached a 2x4 to support the weight of the nest boxes. It is 4" long, positioned so the studs are at either end.

Here is the floor and one end wall.

Second end wall complete. I used 2x2 to further anchor it to the coop.

front (or back?) wall complete.

I'm painting as I go. This was SO MUCH easier that the other one I made and tried to paint the boxes after I was totally done. I guess I have to learn the hard way, but at least I am learning and getting better.

Different view to show the opening to the coop.

Girls checking it out before I'm done.

Yup, she entered from inside the coop.

 

[cjwaldon]

Then I forgot to keep taking pictures. Here is the top on. I decided to put doors on the outside as well to facilitate collecting eggs.

The door is cut but not mounted yet. RIR hen can't wait to get started!

Two doors done, then my drill died. Got to charge the battery overnight so I'm done for the day.

I need to do a little touch up painting, then I can start working on the trap door aspect. Oh, and the green paint was oops paint from Lowes, only $5 for a gallon. Yes, I can live with that color for only $5!

 

[MANOZ]

cjwaldon------two words'' absolutely awesome''

yeah your birds look like they cant wait. makes me wanna convert my chicken tractors like that.doing an awesome job. i can see you mean buisness. keep up the good work and welcome to the world of trap nesting.

rooting for ya

 

[MANOZ]

cjwaldon----also, you may want to go with thinner material for the belgian doors. remember that the birds have to touch the door in order for it to fall shut. the weight of the door is somewhat on top of the birds back momentarily. i would say 1/4 inch or 3/8 scrap. since you went a little bigger than my boxes you're gonna have to adjust measurements slightly, focus on keeping the bottom part of the door around 5-6 inches.i would say closer to 5inches. then make the difference up on your top part of the door. the two pieces can be tied together using twine,etc. the doors have to be very easy for the birds to move,the slightest nudge will make it fall. the lighter the better! you may have to re-cut you some doors, here's a stress saver, make one door then test it with feed so you dont have to wait for laying time.let them see you throw a little scratch in it and you watch them closely .your final adjustments will have to be from watching them enter the nest. hope this helps!!

 

[MANOZ]

just relooked at your pics, noticed your door openings to the inside are smaller. may have to disregard the above post because i'm not sure how those measurements would work on those openings. put them a walkway along the inside right in front the doors like a 1x6 or something. noticed you are off the floor, give them something to jump upon then they'll walk back and forth until they decide which box their gonna use. your're almost there!!!

 

[cjwaldon]

Thank for the tips! The doors inside are slightly larger than the doors outside. I did start with smaller openings - easier to make them bigger if needed than trying to fix them if they are too big. I wasn't sure if they needed a walkway in front of their doors. I was thinking more if they could access the nests, which they already have. I hadn't thought about them window shopping before choosing the store . . .

 

[cjwaldon]

And luring them with food to test the doors - fantastic idea!

 

[MANOZ]

yes indeed,
do use feed to test your setup with the birds themselves. try this for about a week then leave an egg in egg one for a week.the feed will introduce them to the movement of the doors. for a few days i did this then i found the door height that works for 99% of my birds[only one bird can get in and out without touching the doors] once i was in the ballpark i made a few more exactly like that one, i also made some higher and lower just to see if i could improve the whole concept. i arrived at 5 1/4 inches for my bottom peice. also you may need a little strip inside each box to hold back nesting material from belgian doors.push your hay back from the front door a little.

once you see them all moving the doors after a few days,feed only in front of the box have eggs inserted in each when doing so. once they lay in one kinda leave the bird hang out for a while and the others will be watching.they will get the picture from there. mine watched and followed along. they would actually stand there and watch another bird lay, like hey! hurry up let me see that egg......lol.........

 

[cjwaldon]

I put a 1x4 for a lip, but I think that's too wide. They're already checking out the boxes this morning. I watched them for a while and you are right. They stand on the floor eyeing them before choosing one. Once one chooses, they kind of line up waiting their turn. Hey girls, there's two more boxes! I also think I'll get some milk crates and use something other than straw, pine shavings maybe. Do you cut one side of the milk crate down to make it easier for them to get in it? I should go back and reread this thread . . .

 

[cjwaldon]

Ok, I wasn't thinking. Milk crates won't work very well with the doors on the end (outside) instead of the whole top lifting up. Rethinking this . . . .