We weren't expecting (from what we'd been told,) anyone to start laying for at least another month yet, if not two. So we were pretty surprised to find 3 eggs in their tractor today! I just finished knocking together some nesting boxes with what we had around. We have 5 hens. What do you think? Will these suffice for now? It is a metal basket divided with a cherry log. I painted the plywood for the roof with weatherproofing paint, and tilted it up at the front. The nesting material is dune grass. Anything I need to know, or have done wrong here? Will this open style work in a tractor? Here you can see the ridiculous way in which I angled the roof (which lifts off,) and stabilized it. Two triangular cedar blocks prop up the front, and four Easter egg halves glued on keep it shifting from side to side or falling off the triangular blocks. There is one more rectangular cedar block glued on the inside of the back to keep the entire thing sliding off backward. They'll look a bit less silly when I can put a coat of paint on them, hehe. There is a piece of carpet in the bottom under the nesting materials, as well. The official inspection.
Hey, that works. Doesn't have to be pretty! They seem to be interested, so I'd say tomorrow you'll have some eggs in there. I'm using stackable plastic bins I got at big lots for $6/piece.
Put, an egg in it -- fake or real -- so they get the idea that this is where they are supposed to lay. If they use it, then it is a good nest box. Dale-Ann
Quote:Love that idea! OP- I think you will be getting eggs very soon! My chickens don't seem to care where they lay. I have some they lay on my front porch in my chair... some lay in a cardboard box in the rabbitry 1 lays on a shelf in the shop on top of some shop rags 2-3 lay under our smoker and the rest will all lay in the back of the chicken house...but NOT in the nest boxes.
