what do I use for a nesting box? and lots of other newbie questions :)

[crystal94040]

will just any old "box shaped" thing work? I saw that milk crates were being used? where do you get milk crates...our grocery store won't give them away.
how mant nesting boxes should I have for 6 hens?

I'm building a hen house that is 4 feet high 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep with a 10 foot "yard" attached (it's enclosed)...but they will be free range for the most part....is that big enough?

I read they need a roosting post?

is that just for roosters or hen's too/ doe it need to be in the hen house or should I put it in thier yard?

thanks for thaking the time to read/answer...we have 23 more days til our chicks arrive

 

[countrygirl4513]

All your chickies will want to roost. I would put it in the chicken house if you have the room. My chickies have it in both the yard and house. But they never roost inside the house they prefer under the stars roosting.
I use a old metal toolshop shelf. It's 7 ft high 4 ft w. 5 rows/3 cubbys on each row. I've turned it on its side and stuffed it with straw and that is where they are a laying.
I would say you need a bigger house and run. Do a search on this forum under the coop design and research it.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Your roost should be inside...thats where they like to sleep at night out of the weather.....you can make it like a ladder...one of mine is made from tree poles nailed or wrapped with twine.....it's 3 rungs or poles 4 ft. wide... its 4 ft high and 4 ft across...I have wooden shelves in my henhouse along one wall and on those I use white plastic bins that are suppose to snap on top of each other...but I just use them each for my nest boxes....I got mine at what we call the dollar store very cheap...I'm sure a wal-mart would have them too.....makes it nice to take them out and clean...they will need to be secured to keep them from wobbling......

 

[Nyna]

Here is a picture of my nesting boxes. They were really easy to make, 2x4's, a piece of plywood and a couple cinderblocks to keep them elevated a little. My hens really like them. I have their roost in the hen house. It's a tree branch nailed 3 feet up or so. They love it and sleep there every night.

added: I have just the three boxes for 6 hens. It works out okay.

 

[crystal94040]

so they sleep in the roost?
and lay eggs in the nesting box?
right?

does anyone have a picture of a roost?

sorry I'm full of questions

how much bigger should the house and run be?

we were told a 6 x 7 house and run in one was big enough for 6.

our house and run put together will be 4' x14' !

sould we just make it wider? that seems huge for 6 chickens.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Go over to the BYC ezboard site...in coops and design thread there should be lots of pics of roosts.It was started by a gal named Ditzzy Chic....there is a thread at the top about showing everyone your coop pics, I think some people have added pics of the inside of their coops and roosts....

I think your measurements for 6 hens will be fine....

They sleep on a roost which is like a ladder or poles....and lay their eggs in nest boxes....see the boxes on the other persons pic?.. that shows you what nest boxes are and there is a pole across the top I see that's for roosting.....