Nest box sizes???

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Anonymous

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Hi.
In the middle of building their house but what size should i make the nest boxes?
Will be getting hybrid/rhodie size birds.
Thanks.
 
Umm - can't remember the exact dimensions of mine but 12" or so square should be about right for them.

Make sure there is a lip on the front to stop straw / eggs from dropping out and they are as dark as possible. Make the perches higher or they will roost in the nest boxes..

Tim
 
Hi Travman

Just made mine a short while ago.
12 inches square and made mine 17 inches hish at the back sloping down to 13 inches at the front.

Cut up some old plastic sheeting to make curtains for the front and thats it.

Hope that helps

cheers

steve
 
Would agree with your comment there Tim. Three of our girls have taken to sleeping in their nest boxes every night now and they seem to take it in turns at sleeping on the perches. We bought our coop on the hope that everything would be how it is meant to be.

So should the perches be higher than the nest boxes then?

Don't really mind to be honest just need to scrap it out every morning to remove the poop tho :shock: We get all our eggs delivered on the floor from all four girls in the exact same spot where the shavings and straw have been pushed aside..., but it is infront of the nest boxes though, does that count?! :?

Kim
 
Hi, perches should alweays be higher than nestboxes- the birds will roost on the highest place-you should discourage them sleeping in the nestboxes- they dirty them and are prone to more mite attacks in boxes than on the perch.
regards, David :)
 
Hi Davidd

Sorry to but in, just a quick question on nest boxes.
Would it be Ok to block the nest boxes off on a night time or would that discourage them from using them during the day?

cheers

steve
 
Hi Steve, yes, that's what some people do- after a while they don't even try to roost in them- they use the perches- if the boxes are blocked off- creatures of habit! No, it wont stop them laying in them during the day.
regards, David :)
 
Yep, sounds like good advice, if I have hens that won't use the box, I try to keep them dark and umm :oops: well like a nest -cosy with staw and the curtain thing Steve is a good idea - old sacking works wonders.Just leave a little gap so they can get their head under to have a look. Dummy eggs in the box also says 'here's a good place to lay your eggs' too!
 
I have the same problem with one of my girls sleeping in the nestbox. I take her out and pop her on the perch beside the others and she just hops back into the nestbox as soon as I close the door. Going to try blocking off the nestboxes tonight but will have to take it away in the middle of the night because there is always an egg in the other box when I open them in the morning :D
 
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