Nesting Boxes

[louithom]

We have a basic A-Framed coop in which we have kept 2 chickens with an area in the corner for egg laying. We would like to increase our stock of birds and believe the coop itself will comfortably hold 5 hens. However, in doing so we don't have any room for a nesting box area within the coop. I am intending to build a separate nesting box which would be a separate structure to the coop itself (the coop is in a 30 x 30 metre fenced in area). All forums and postings I've read about nesting boxes has them attached to the actual coop - either inside or as an external attachment, so I would like to know whether there would be any foreseeable problem in having a nesting box as a separate free-standing structure not attached to or part of the coop itself? Any advice welcome.

 

[tygrysek75]

Hi I do not think it will work.I assume you will lock them for the night and they tend to lay an egg in all sorts of H.You can end up with broken or very dirty eggs.The best is to try attach the nest bos to the back of you cop.I never heard of anybody who has nest boxes separetly to hen house.

 

[E3lx]

Hi, welcome to the forum!!!!!!!!!!!! 99 99 99 99
Yes, i can see a problem in having a seperate nestbox. Generally, unless the coop is uncomfortable, or full of red mite, chickens prefer to lay in the same house that they sleep in. If you went along with your plan, the chickens would either all lay in the coop anyway and sleep on their eggs, meaning that you would have cracked eggs in the morning, or, some would decide they prefer the nestboxes and start sleeping in there instead!!
If you fancy your hand at DIY, you could build a seperate coop, and keep your two in one and your three newbies in the other, that could work as 30x30 m is large enough to allow two coops and 5 hens enough space.
Hope this helps!

 

[louithom]

Thanks for the quick responses. Looks like separate free-standing nest boxes are a big no-no. I shall have a look at whether I can fashion an attachment onto the existing coop or consider getting another coop into the chicken area. I'll work something out which means the ladies won't have to detour from the coop to lay. Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

A photo of the house with dimentions might bring some suggestions.

 

[daniellesdogs]

my girls wont lay in their shed they always lay in the old unused rabbit hutch or onused duck house or dog kennel i even found 6 in a draw in my back bedroom last week my girls might be odd but it can happen
im putting in a new shed with hopefully nest boxes in the back built in and hope they use then its like an easter egg hunt every day at mine (not much fun in the rain)

 

[louithom]

Thanks again to everyone who has made suggestions re my nesting box dilemma. I wielded my tape measure, saw and hammer this weekend and have fashioned a separate zone within the existing coop which has meant there is a more defined area than before for nesting (I've made the recommended space of 12 x 12 x 12 inches). I've then had a rejig of various perches and have managed to create enough perching space for 5 chickens to roost (each bird has 12 inches of space). There's not an inch of the coop that is wasted space now, but I think everyone should be happy. And I've already been rewarded with 2 eggs in the newly built nesting box. Problem solved, thanks.

 

[trouble106]

Hi, I have separate nest boxes away from where my girls sleep. Have never had a problem with them laying anywhere else, there sleep area is about 30 feet in a shed and then I have a quiet corner across the other side of the enclosed area with a kennel full of nest boxes. It seems to have always worked for me !!