What size for nests?

[shelleyd2008]

My rollers are laying eggs on the floor and in their food dish. I don't have any 'real' nests in there yet, but they do have a place to hide their nests.

Are you familiar with the Maxwell House coffee 'cans' (plastic)? I was wondering if those would be big enough for a nest if I cut down the sides? I would need to keep the 'handle' on them so I could hang them in there, otherwise I'm sure the chickens in that pen would terrorize them and not allow them to sit.

Currently I have 7 Birmingham rollers sharing a pen with my d'uccles. The d'uccles are either already sold (waiting on the shipping boxes) or soon to be sold, so the pigeons will have the pen to themselves in a few weeks.

 

[larrylofts]

I Think The Plastic Nest Would Work But Need To Be Weight Down Or Wegde Between Something To Keep Tjem From Turning Over When Stepping On The Edges. I Bought One Dollar Dog Bowls At The Dollar Store Made Great Nest And Easy To Clean And Store .

 

[shelleyd2008]

These would be hung by the handles close to the top of the pens so the chickens don't terrorize the pigeons while they are setting

I hadn't thought about the dog bowls, maybe once the chickens are gone I'll get some of those...I know exactly which ones you are talking about

 

[Teach97]

I use dog bowls for that size bird also

 

[shelleyd2008]

But....I can't use dog bowls right now cause the chickens will terrorize them. The chickens in this pen will be gone within the next couple weeks, so then I'll be able to use whatever. What I'm thinking of using right now are some Maxwell House plastic coffee cans, cut down on 2 sides, with the handle left intact, so I can hang the 'nests' on the sides of the pen, up higher where the chickens can't bother them. Would these be big enough?

 

[Teach97]

make a couple...if they use them...yes! I prefer something that is round...that way the eggs can't get into a corner and not be as well sat on...that is why i seconded the bowl idea...I run pigeons and chickens together...I don't have a big issue...once I got rid of the guineas...that didn't work! Anything on the ground is toast but some of my birds refuse to leave the ground.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The feed dish they've tried using is also hanging on the side of the pen. It's about 4"x6" and they've laid in it before, so I think they should use these. Guess it's worth a shot.

The dog bowls I'm thinking of are kind of 'square' too, so must be a different type you all are referring to

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Nest boxes should be as long as the pigeon, and deep enough so the young can't get pushed out

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Our nest boxes are a square foot. We also have some bigger ones. I put nest bowls in all of them, which are about the size of dog food bowls I guess. I got them from Foys.

 

[hookedonpigeons]

It well be fine.When your chickens move out use a large plastic dog food bowl.