Will a covered litter box work for a nest box?

[MagsC]

Ooo. I LIKE this idea.

They sure would be easy to clean/disinfect when necessary.

 

[Kev]

I use covered cat litter boxes. Won't use anything else. Easy to clean, move around- can't be beat for moving broody hens! Simply lift box and move.... No fuss or fighting with angry hen or worrying moved hen will reject new nest box cuz it is 'different' etc.

I always shovel in dirt in the boxes to both weigh them down and prevent the hens from scratching all the way to bottom and breaking eggs on the hard bottom. Many hens will adjust the soil and bedding(usually stems from hay or just pulled up weed-grasses) to make a neat nest, excellent for setting hens.

It is best to have them in the coop 'permanently' so they don't spook at them.. but they will lay in them once they are comfortable with them. Put in eggs, or better, fake eggs or golf balls to make them more appealing to hens ready to lay.

 

[sonew123]

yup have one in my silkie pen--she loves it as do I the eggs are spotless..I filled it full of fresh shavings and DE 2x a week-I wish I had them for all pens...

 

[cybercat]

We use the large covered cat litter boxes. Wood would be cheaper but these can be moved easier and as others have said cleaned. I put wood chips covered with straw in mine and they sit of the floor. Chickens like dark places to lay. Just make sure to have some kind of fake egg inside them.

 

[The Chicken People]

My dh made the best nest box out of a five gallon bucket! He cut the lid in half put it on the bucket put straw in there and secured it to the cage! They are caged in quarantine...extra large dog crates!

 

[PunkinPeep]

UPDATE on my challenged chicken:

Today, when she got to be in the laying way, i put her in the kitty box and blocked the entrance with a cage - so she could have light but couldn't get out. And i think she got it. Plus one other chicken started laying today too, and i did the same thing with her, so i'm assuming and hoping i won't have too much more trouble out of them - no more laying from the roost!

Thanks for all the help!