Vegetable crate as nest box?

[aim0474]

I am building a bigger coop and can put in custom size nesting box3s. but i dont think i want to build from scratch.

Has anyone used these type of crates? it only has a 9" height, but i cam m9dify it easily to have a tad more head room.

http://www.joann.com/stackable-wood-crate/13950290.html

Pros or cons of using a crate vs a solid box like structure?

 

[Pork Pie]

I use something similar, and i also use plastic basins (and some of my girls prefer laying in the bedding, under the nest boxes). No reason why it would not work.

 

[donrae]

I don't see why not.

I've used multiple things for nest boxes. Not crates like that, but milk crates, rubbermaid/plastic totes of various sizes, 5 gallon buckets, gardening tubs, a ring of large plastic culvert....and one hen who prefers the tube of the gravity feeder.....

 

[aim0474]

She must want some privacy that she thinks that affords. silly biddie.

I am going to go with these amd see how they do. I am thinking that since they have that lip out front I am not going to add anything for them to jump to.

At least if these dont work put they were cheap and didnt take any time to build.

Thanks!

 

[junebuggena]

I use cardboard boxes from Costco. Chickens really don't care what the nest boxes look like.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The pro’s – you have them, they are free, and the chickens should like them.

The con’s – none I can think of but I’ll mention a couple of things to watch for.

If your chickens sleep over an open top nest they will poop in them. As you can tell by the other responses lots of people use open top nests without a problem. Most of the time having your roost higher than the nests and away from them prevents this, but there can be times it happens, especially when you’re integrating. If it does happen it’s usually not that hard to fix.

I’m not sure how high that lip is. It’s possible the chickens will scratch out the bedding as they are rearranging the nest to lay their egg. It may not be a problem at all, only time will tell. If it does happen the fix is easy. Even with that shape, just add a strip of wood across the front to raise the lip a couple of inches. That’s a lot easier than building a new nest.

I like the overall length and width of them. For comparison mine are 16” x 16”. Those crates are certainly not too big.

I don’t know how you plan to install them. If you leave the top open they will be fine. If you stack them or put something over the top to limit height, I’d go up a few inches. I’ve had hens use an opening 6” high and 8” wide to go into a nest. If you have to raise the lip they might need a little extra head height to get in and out.

 

[aim0474]

At first I thought those had a top to them, but I realized they are open. Since this is a custom build, I can make as much room as I want to. I will leave space between each one and then see what kind of adjustments I need to make. I can always add in a board or put something up in front.

I am going to have a room for nesting boxes in the coop. I will screw these to the wall, so if they dont work I can easily take them down and try something else.

 

[aart]

Has anyone used these type of crates? it only has a 9" height, but i cam modify it easily to have a tad more head room.

http://www.joann.com/stackable-wood-crate/13950290.html

Pros or cons of using a crate vs a solid box like structure?

Yes, definitely needs more head room.
Slatted bottom will allow stuff to fall thru, depending on what you use for bedding, might 'rain' upon nest below if you plan on stacking as in ad photo.

 

[aim0474]

I think what i will do is put solid.board underneath the top.one to stop anything falling from falling underneath.

 

[aart]

I think what i will do is put solid.board underneath the top.one to stop anything falling from falling underneath.

My nest are solid wood bottoms....but I have scraps of vinyl flooring on the bottoms, cut just a hair bigger than nest to catch spills.......makes it much easier to clean out broken eggs.