Topic of the Week - Nest boxes

[lcwmt]

Yay!

I thought you were going to say your girl chose to lay her egg in the carton! jk, but congrats on your first egg!

<LOL> should have seen that coming and didn't. Thanks for the giggle.

 

[lcwmt]

so today is the first day in weeks where air quality (we've had a lot of smoke) and temperatures are cool enough to trim weeds and grasses. I found a nest of 11 eggs, with another close by. They are all white and smallish. My guess is they are from the Banty. Other breeds are Buff Orp and (probably) EEs. Question: how long will eggs stay good before refrigeration? The plan is to break each one separately just in case. Am I taking it too far?

 

[Molpet]

so today is the first day in weeks where air quality (we've had a lot of smoke) and temperatures are cool enough to trim weeds and grasses. I found a nest of 11 eggs, with another close by. They are all white and smallish. My guess is they are from the Banty. Other breeds are Buff Orp and (probably) EEs. Question: how long will eggs stay good before refrigeration? The plan is to break each one separately just in case. Am I taking it too far?

I keep unwashed eggs on the counter for months... incubation starts at over 80 some degrees for over 24 hrs.. ever since I got a bad store egg I have been breaking them separately

 

[lcwmt]

I keep unwashed eggs on the counter for months... incubation starts at over 80 some degrees for over 24 hrs.. ever since I got a bad store egg I have been breaking them separately

thanks for your reply.
These are unfertilized eggs, I won't worry (but will still break them separately!)

 

[JDisme]

We have a coop that we built with nesting boxes but, just moved all 10 of our hens to a new run and coop area. We are using thick milk crates and cutting down the side some and leaving a little lip area in front so the eggs will not roll out. Our ladies seem to like the ones on the ground along the wall besides the ones that we mounted.
We have been using shavings but thought about trying straw next time. View attachment 1105507

+1 I use the same method. I used to have them screwed to the wall but I had 2 go broody and it was a pain in the neck to move them to the broody coop.

I built a wall mount for the nesting boxes which allows me to take them out and move them(with the hen and eggs) out as needed.

I use shredded from work as nesting material. It works great. If an egg breaks just scoop and refill a handful of material. The only downside is that my Leghorn eggs sometimes get words transferred onto them! No biggie

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Here are 5 hens in a nest box!
I use plastic totes. They are in a cradle of sorts. That is screwed to the wall but I can lift the totes out for cleaning.
Two are wall mounted and one is on the floor. The one on the floor has the tote lid with a hole in it for more privacy. I had one girl use it exclusively for a few weeks and now no one uses it. Go figure. There is a pallet ramp for easy access to the wall mounted boxes.
They all have pine shavings in for easy cleaning. The girls seem to like being able to move the shavings around bit by bit till it's just right. I fluff the shavings when they look trampled down and look for any debris. I take them down and give them a scrub at least once a year. They generally don't make a mess of them.
I've never had a broody to manage.
I usually collect eggs 2x a day. The box everyone seems to like has the most eggs in it so if I go to collect and there is only one egg I will leave it. Most times when I come back there are more in there. I should be getting more eggs soon. So my hope is that that plan will work to encourage the new girls to use the boxes.
I had one older girl decide that sleeping in a nest box was a good idea. Due to her age I let her. I have extra boxes the girls don't seem to use. I'd scoop poop out of the box in the morning but I don't remember ever collecting eggs out of it later. She passed in comfort. I think the other girls knew she needed a comfortable bed. No one has tried that since.

 

[Li'lFlock]

We have 3 nest boxes that are off the ground, but all 3 chickens prefer to use the same nest box! What would the reason for this be? It perplexes me. We use shaving in our next boxes - but I think I'd like to try something different so I'm looking forward to seeing what you all do.

I believe I read something along the lines of one nest box per 4-5 chickens. They tend to like the same ones in smaller flocks. Not always, but more often is the case.

 

[Li'lFlock]

Love this thread. First timer, 3 spring chicks, should be laying in about a few weeks to a month. Just updated their little coop a bit for winter. Now I'm not sure what to do. Since only 3 and was supposed to be a trial as a newbie, the coop is small. I've had a bucket in there, but turned so they didn't sleep in it. Recently turned it so they could use it when the time comes. But it's white, not dark colored. first time I've read about the color. However, the coop is small and not well lit unless I have the access door open. Then I thought I didn't like how it sat where I placed it, thought about changing to a crate. But it has bigger holes. Like it's not an actual milk crate, but a store made storage or craft crate. So I feel like I'd have to put wood to line it. But if I'm doing that, I may as well just build one. Not sure what to do...

 

[JDisme]

@Li'lFlock I put cardboard in the bottom of my milk crate. I find that keeping it off of the floor and lower then the roosts works best for me. If its higher then the roosts then they sleep (and poop) in it. Makes for some nasty egg shells,

The guideline for coops per bird is is 4sq floor space ft , 6" of roost per bird, 1 sq foot of ventilation (at the highest part of coop) and 10 sq ft run. Nesting boxes is 1 (about 1'x1') nest per 4-ish bird...humm what did I forget?... I am sure someone will let me know

so three birds minimum 12 sq feet (3x4 coop) 3 sq ft ventilation, 6x5 run and one nesting box. Make sure your ventilation is higher then your birds, otherwise they will freeze !

JD

 

[JDisme]

And build bigger then you need!! your flock will grow!