Tunnel Nests

[CTChickenMom]

Here is what I found out about tunnel nests: http://books.google.com/books?id=Z9...=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA34,M1 (sorry, long link)

I also saw this: Use colony nests. These are essentially big nest boxes two feet by four feet by about 18" high, with a small door about eight inches square. In ordinary nest boxes, two or three hens will jam themselves into a nest meant for one, and this breaks a lot of eggs. Roomier nests lead to less breakage, and colony nests are very dark inside. These are often set directly on the floor in a dark part of the henhouse. They should be ventilated (making a couple of walls out of pegboard is good). Use one for every 40-50 hens. A variant is the tunnel nest, which is two feet wide and eight feet long, with a door at each end. Use one for every 80-100 hens. (http://www.plamondon.com/faq_misc.html)

This tunnel nests don't make sense to me. If there is a hen nesting in the middle of that eight foot span, how many eggs does she step on on her way out? And that colony nest...do chickens enjoys getting together like quilters and laying their eggs?

And then there was this: For laying hens a darkened, raised nesting area with nests containing clean nesting material should be available. Nests can be in the fenced area or in the shelter. The entrance to the nests should be through a covered passageway or tunnel in front of the nests. If the nests are in the shelter the back of the nests should be covered but may be made to open from the outside of the shelter for egg collection. (http://www.canadianpoultry.ca/chapter_i.htm)

 

[CoyoteMagic]

How about a 25 gallon drum with both ends cut off and holes drilled into for ventilation?

 

[rdranch]

I've been using a colony nest since day one. it's 2'x'4 and 18" high in front and 36" with a hinged lid on top. I also put in 2 dividers in to make four nests that face each other.

Works great and is easy to clean and gather eggs.

 

[Portia]

I'm glad you posted that, rdranch, b/c my first though was...how would you collect the eggs, and my second was...how in the world would you clean it? Now I know.

 

[imfowl]

Quote:
Ditto. Mine is the exact same dimensions and also has a hinged lid. I built it before I ever heard of colony nests. I built it like that because it just seemed to make more sense than building a big coop with nest boxes in it and a bunch of wasted space. My chickens roost outside in an open run. It kept construction costs down.

 

[digitS']

Interesting. No, I hadn't heard of them.

But, 2 responders are from completely different parts of the country using "tunnel nests" - Colorado & Louisiana. Probably a few fairly different reasons for using something like this in CO & LA.

My nest box for the Fab Four is 17" by 22" - if I remember right. I just like big, big nests like that and the hens seem to like it, too. I think they "encourage" each other in there

.

Steve
edited to ask: do you suppose that there's any advantage against egg-eating problems?

 

[JeffKlapper]

Thanks for the responses. Yep, colony nests and tunnel nests are two variations of the same concept. The idea is to reduce egg breakage since the chickens don't try to crowd into one box and egg eating since the tunnel is dark. I'm not sure why chickens don't break previously laid eggs as they pass thru the tunnel which is one reason I posted the initial question. It sounds like those of you using colony nests are happy with the results.

I first heard about them in a 1977 book by J. H. Florea called "ABC of poultry raising". It is also mentioned on this site http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/poultry_equipment.html I thought ATTRA was a generally informative site.

Regards
Jeff

 

[mjdtexan]

Well, those were some good articles. I learnt someting taday.

 

[Davaroo]

They are more commonly referred to as community or colony nests, as mentioned.

Hens prefer to nest in a secluded spot, so the colony nest caters to that. Once they go in the dark enclosure, they tend to step more gingerly and slowly, so egg breakage is minimized. As also mentioned, they tend not to crowd in these sorts of nests.

Like most things "gallus moderne", we have forgotten that these types of nests were once common. In the heyday of range rearing chickens 100 years ago, communal nests were the norm.

As more efficient, industrial methods came into being, it became standard to cage or nest laying chickens individually. So in a real sense, the single nest idea we love is an offshoot of the industrial chicken business we hate. Who'dve think it?

 

[jab91864]

I had to click the link to find out what the nest looked like...lol.

I use buckets on their side for the silkies and such...they seem to prefer that over trying to get to the nest boxes up higher.

Last year I used a turned over plastic (heavy duty) barrel in the run. My thought process was the ducks would like it... I don't know what I was thinking since they freak out anytime I change something.

My hens on the otherhand loved the barrel......... I did not once I realized I had to get down on the ground several times a day to get to the back of the barrel to move out broody gals and confiscate eggs. It became everybody's favorite spot to lay.....

It became so much of a chore I finally turned the barrel open end down and told the flock it's over no more going in the barrel.

Yeah that was a bad day and I looked like a nut job crawling backward out of the barrel and making my proclamation...