Topic of the Week - Nest boxes

[Laurasb65]

These are my nesting boxes....I use the dog house box for the larger hens as it seems roomier for them to stand up and turn around in.....View attachment 1063661 View attachment 1063662 View attachment 1063663 View attachment 1063664 View attachment 1063666

I also use wood crates for nest boxes

 

[BDutch]

I have a small (extended) prefab with two laying nests. Normally used by all hens to lay their eggs. Now 5 hens but also sufficient for 8 bantam hens (not every day layers). It has no curtains.

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The lid is oriented south, and it got very hot in there. A car sun screen does wonders.

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Inside. Last year when I had two black broodies.
During the first days, the hens made sure, the chicks stayed in this part of the coop. For the chicks I made a wide plank/board (with fabric) that was less steep than the stairs. The chicks could easily go up and down.

I have another seperate nest box (pic from the shop) and I used a simple cardboard wine box for laying nest when these two broodies occupied the regular nestboxes. But I had to seperate the broodies from the flock anyway because they were disturbed too much. They preferred the cardboard box under the roosts and poop board.

The other seperate nest box is just a few inches above the ground and a better accommodation for broodies. It was used for two broodies about 3 years ago. It was less safe but the other hens could go on with their usual routine withouth bothering the broodies.

3 years later I still use the same nestboxes. The hanging one with has a new lid in the meantime. This are the favourite nestboxes to lay eggs and to sit for broodies too. The chicks come down the plank/stair when the are 5-7 days old. I have made an extra long/broad plank with an old towel for the chicks to go up again easier. The first days I always look if the chicks find their way up again. The mama clucks (calls) the chicks to come up.

And I made another one just for laying eggs in a second coop I added last year. Bc one of the young pullets laid inside the playhouse coop every now and then, and these eggs got dirty.
Its a lid of a cardboard box which I put under a stool.

Having multiple spots to lay is nice whenever I have a broody that doesnt like to quit. Closing a nestbox/nestbox area is no longer a problem. There are always 2 nestboxes available to lay an egg.

The playhouse coop in front and the large solo nestbox with a light brown auto door in the back/right.

I made the auto door on this tiny coop/nestbox to lock in a cockerel who started to make too much noise in the morning. Transferred the pop door to the playhouse after I found him a new home.
Now this in use again as a regular nest-box.

 

[Daisy June]

I have three nesting boxes on the floor of the coop and have used both pine shavings and nesting pads. For close to a year now, I have preferred pads. With the pads, I feel confident sprinkling DE underneath each pad and have no insect problems. The pads are also easily shaken out if a mess happens. Mostly, though, the pads hold potpourri nicely and the girls are not able to kick it out like they can when it is on top of shavings.

 

[Thancock760]

Currently building out my shed conversion and I opted for bins that could be easily hosed out if needed. I throw in the fiber pads and so far the girls are all about it! Just under $9 a bin!

 

[Sylvester017]

Currently building out my shed conversion and I opted for bins that could be easily hosed out if needed. I throw in the fiber pads and so far the girls are all about it! Just under $9 a bin!

Who sells that bin?

 

[Thancock760]

Who sells that bin?

Walmart! They have gray or pink