What do you think of my new nesting box?

[ptig78d]

Good morning, all! I have recently built a temporary (warm temperatures only) nesting box for my hens, as we live in central Maine near the coast. Currently, we have two hens that are coming of age, and we have 5 RIR pullets that are almost 3 months old. So, I decided that I should build a nest box for them, after reading posts here on the forum on the subject.
I constructed this completely from a desk I partially dismantled. It was sitting on the front porch and had become a bit of a catch-all there. I was looking around the house for something to use for a nesting box, when it occurred to me that I could use the drawer section of this desk, which already had a door on it and some little cubby holes.
The desk top was in four sections (one which was angled) but three of them were equal rectangles. One of them was the top of the drawer section. So, I took the other section of desk top that was equal in length, and nailed it to the other side of the drawer section. I could have left it that way, but I used the third section and nailed it to the bottom side pieces for stabilization.
Here is the final result. The lip is part of the original door which is held by a magnetic closure. I will probably have to make a hook/loop hold it shut as the hen could kick it open accidentally.

So, what do you think? Will it work? I was thinking about putting a ramp up to it (typical piece of board with cross pieces forming a "ladder"). Also, I have read that they need a dark and safe place. Is this too open? I could cut an opening out of some scrap left over and nail/screw it to the front.
Thank you for any help. It is appreciated!

 

[Cetawin]

Very creative use of materials. I am sure they will use it. How high is the top nest? I would think they could get into fine bue they will most likely use the lower one.

Maybe someone with more experience will give you the construction view but I like it.

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

nice good idea looks like it will work awsome

 

[Chirpy]

Great use of materials on hand.

I think that your hens would appreciate it if it was darker. You could enclose one half of the front with a board or something to make it 'cozier' inside for them.

 

[ptig78d]

Update: I asked my friend down the street who has a small BYC flock of her own, and she suggested cutting an opening in a board placed over the front, and putting the ramp with cross pieces so they can get into it without sliding down the ramp when it's slippery.
I'll take a pic and post it later.
Thanks for the comments! Keep them coming!

 

[ptig78d]

Ok....so, I did a little backtracking. I had originally just sawn the door leaving that 2 inch gray part, but I found the scrap part in the garage and reattached it after I cut a square out of the middle.
My friend, who I stopped while she was jogging past our house, suggested having a hole cut out that was about the size of the galvanized waterer in the enclosure, so I used that as a sort of template for sizing. I cut a square about the same size as the waterer (which is round)...just because it's easier to cut and I couldn't find the jigsaw quickly.
Well, I used some fastening plates and reattached the scrap to the 2 inch piece, and it made a square hole that I think will suffice. I still have to fasten it closed, which I plan on doing with a hook and eyelet clasp. I found an old hook part, but the package was open and I didn't see the eyelet part....so I'll have to look in my catch all box and see if I can find one. I also have yet to make the ramp which I will do tomorrow. It's almost done!

Here is a close up shot of the nesting box. I put an old kitty litter bucket on it's side for an extra nest choice.

This is a side view of the chicken coop & run. As you can see, the coop is just an old dog house. It's a pain in neck to clean as there is only one door....but it works for now. I'm sure next year I'll build a big coop for them....or maybe convert that old shed out back into one like the wife and I talked about recently. Who knows?! LOL
A BIG thanks to Katie, who gave me the fence parts for free as they were just laying about behind her barn. All I had to do was set the posts in the ground and screw the fence parts together and the corner pieces to the posts. Oh yeah, and I threw some excess bird netting over the top and stapled it to the side pieces. You can hardly tell in the picture unless you zoom in.
Of course, an even BIGGER thanks to Dave and Trish, our neighbors down the road, who helped get us started down the road to raising chickens!
Thanks to those of you who have posted replies, too!
Have a great night!

 

[SSO202]

It looks great. The desk idea was very creative. I hope they lay plenty of eggs for you in those nesting boxes.

 

[ptig78d]

Quote:
Actually, I didn't consider the bottom part a nest...but I'm sure it could be used as one. Anyways, the top section where the nest is measured about 20 inches, if I remember correctly.

 

[CathyB]

Good use of materials on hand!!

 

[Heather J]

This reminds me of my nesting boxes--a little TV stand on rollers with a shelf half way up. I just lifted and hung it on the wall and screwed a couple 2x4s across the front of the boxes to keep the bedding in. The wheels are still attached on bottom, even. It works great and my girls love it. I'm all about inexpensive, creative material usage.