The Poultry Keeper

savinggrace · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 5:46 pm Post subject: Best Nest Box Designs?

Hello,

I am planning Kate and Christy's new home, and in general know what I want to build. With the exception of the 'nest boxes'. With two chickens, do I need two, or will one suffice? What size is best for heavy breeds? Is it better to purchase one pre made, or build one out of wood? Where are some good sources to find pre made boxes?

Thank you!

debcat · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject:

for 2 hens you'll need one box.
12 -14 inch square is the best size
mine are made from wood.
Cant help you on the ready made boxes sorry
Debs

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

hi, like Debs said 12" - 14" square is a good size. I was 'posh' in the beginning I had 2 wooden ones, one in each house. Now the girls seem to like to all lay around the same time or lay claim on their bos, so I have 3 more.....cardboard boxes with a hole cut in them for them to get in and out of. Mine are inside the house, but it is possible to have them on the outside if space is at a premium inside.
I've just moved my girls to one larger house and am having a bank of 5 nestboxes built for me with rollaway inserts in them, so that if I can't get to the eggs one day for any reason, the eggs will roll out of the way of the chickens so they won't be able to eat the eggs or break them if the number builds up in one nest box. At least that's the theory.
To be honest, the chickens don't care what they lay in so long as it is fairly private

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Got my new 'rollaway' nest boxes!! Dear oh dear, that was like the krypton factor trying to get this huge (and heavy) 'L' shaped package down a little wiggly path under all the low hanging branches of the trees to the back of the hen house and then unpack it without breaking the windows and squashing one of the girls. I knew how long it was going to be but just hadn't allowed for the 'L' shape of it. It's in place and they started laying in it the next day, apart from my little snowdrop pekin who screeched most of the time to be allowed to have her cardboard box back. Today she wanted to sit on top of cinnamon the bovans nera to lay her egg. I guess she doesn't like the fact that it's a plastic floor and not soft straw or shavings. There are 5 boxes to choose from and they seem to be using 2 of them at present. I've put a bit of shaving in the collelcting box thing so the eggs don't get scrambled when they go down. Very pleased with it so far.

NannyP · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:55 pm Post subject:

Well done Summayah, sounds good and I admire your efforts in construction. Pleased it's working and am also impressed with your snowdrop pekin, who has creatively adapted to the problem Laughing

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

noooooo NannyP I didn't make it ~ I couldn't get my head around that ~ I went for the easy option and got the chicken man to build it.

NannyP · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject:

And didn't you build the coop, and install the self closing pop hole and cut the wood

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

now the self closing pophole is a whole other story ~ it never worked...lots of help from mr chicken man (I didn't get it from him, got it off ebay, let that be a lesson for me!) it would work if you did the test with a screwdriver on it, but I think the light sensor was broken because it didn't close with darkness. I now have a brand new one, but have once again got to get the courage up to have a go at putting it on. I ought to get on with it, because at present I have to go out to shut them away and its a getting dressed job as it's not near the house now....maybe tomorrow....I think I've been telling myself that for the past few days!

NannyP · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject:

I go down to the hens in the morning in my dressing gown and have decided that if the neighbours are un happy TOUGH!! I also leave the pop hole open, inside the run, so don't have to go down first thing. I'm sure the automatic opener will be worth the effort though.
Nice Avator, much nicer than the little red cross Laughing

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

can you describe in easy words where it was catching, so that I can check it out. Or even a little diagram? I have another house that I could do with one on, but don't want to have to buy yet another, especially if this one just has a little fault.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

The door was catching ever so slightly, you'd have to watch yours very carefully when you do the screwdriver test and see if it catches,

The minute it hits an obstacle it thinks it's reached the bottom and switches off

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

thanks George, I thought you meant in the box. The door seems fine for now.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

it works...I can't believe it.........it really works.
I put my new automatic pop hole opener up this afternoon with a timer to let the girls out in the morning. I think it's also set to close at 10.00 on the timer. I went out about 9.45 and they were all inside and the door closed. I can't believe I got it to work ~ I'm amazed ~ now I just need it to open in the morning.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:

Well done!