Unclear instructns at FAQs roosts & nests - dimensions, plcmnt, design

[woodsman]

Wow, First post, hope I follow all the rules. Two questions: First -dimensions for nest boxes listed as 12 high, 12 deep and 14 high...which is width? Second -what's a leaning ladder? Thanks in advance to somebody. I promise to tell my story soon. Great to be a new peep!

 

[cterbizan]

Ok nest box needs to be at least 12x12 a box you dont need to make the height to high just enough for them to step in and hold the nesting material what ever you my use. I usually use a 2x4 making it 3 1/2 inches tall. My I ask where you heard about a leaning ladder? If they were talking about a roost it is like different levels for a roost. Its like stairs but instead of flat wood it is just little pieces of wood for them.

 

[razmond]

Quote:
Hummm... I'm not sure you said that correctly.

Unless you have really really reeeeeeeeeeeeally tiny chickens. I'm in mid process too... so don't know much.

The research I've done suggests that the girls like:
1- to have individual boxes...vs one long one. Cozy 12x12x12.
2- to have them 18-24" off the ground.
3- to have a perch outside the box (please poop before entering)
4- an edge or lip on the box to keep stuffing in and eggs from rolling out

I dunno... I'm just a city slicker
Razmond.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Please, don't say "stuffing" in front of your chickens. It makes 'em nervous.

 

[razmond]

Quote:
Please, don't say "stuffing" in front of your chickens. It makes 'em nervous.

lawlz. Okie doke. Good point, Elmo.

(I must be hungry)

rev. 4- an edge or lip on the box to keep bedding materials in the nest and prevent precious eggs from rolling out

 

[cterbizan]

HAHA razmond you are correct I didn't say that right I think this heat down here in GA is getting to me.

 

[woodsman]

Hey thanks all! 12x12x12 it is. OK, I get it about the ladder. Not sure I understand about 18 - 24 inches off ground. My coop will be 18" off ground, and I have set the nests about 18" above the floor. Hey GA lady, it may be hot down there, but you sure have the smiley world figured out! Best to all.

 

[razmond]

Hey Woodsman.... So the 18-24 inches off the ground (by my research) is the height of the box itself off the floor of the coop. AND... I just learned that it's good to have roosts higher than the nesting boxes so the girls aren't tempted to sleep inside of box. Lay your eggs, then go out and play or roost. Also, I was just thinking that the roof of the nesting boxes should probably be slanted so they can't chill up there and poop. Personally, my goal is to keep the nesting areas as clean as possible. Yup... that probably taps my knowledge at this point.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

This is not an area with hard and fast rules. In fact they can vary quite a lot and still achieve good results.

What I do is more or less this:

For nest boxes I like them about twelve inches wide, fourteen inches deep, by about ten to twelve inches tall. Dark, but well ventilated. I've gone over to community nests now, but that was what I used for years.

For roosts. I mostly keep the dual purpose large fowl breeds so I like the roosts to be about two feet off the ground for the lowest one, the next one is about ten to twelves inches higher. A foot of distances between the roosts and twelves inches of linear distance per bird when figuring out how many roosts that I need. The birds won't use them evenly and that's normal. In the winter they'll crowd in cheek to jowl to stay warm. In the summer they'll be kicking each other off to stay cooler. They'll develop their favorite spots which the top birds will claim with the lesser birds taking next best on down to the bottom.

For heavy weights and breeds that don't fly well I make the lowest roost only a foot off the ground and some won't use roosts anyway. Other birds like Leghorns and heritage breed turkeys like to roost as high as they can get so if you have a dedicated coop for them put the roosts high.