Nest Box Evolution - getting 40 Chickens into a Woods 10' x 16' Coop
[I increased the size of my flock, both males and females and now have low status pecking, egg eating and nest sleeping issues. In response I am adding 3 nest spaces and a front roll away floor for all 7 nests.
Prince Woods KD Coops are described in the book Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses 1923. One topic that is not well addressed is nest boxes. I believe Woods intended that nest boxes go under the drop boards but mounting them at the front leaves inaccessible space behind, moving them back means egg retrieval on hands and knees.
I have always used the side walls, currently the one across from the entrance door. In this build iteration I get 7 nests, not quite sufficient for 40 hens. If I require more I would use the opposite wall beside the door.]
My 1st flock started in September 2019 with 7 ISA ready to lay pullets and around 12 self hatched chicks; I now have more than 30 birds with too many males.
To alleviate this I:
I did not anticipate that the new roost would become prime real estate (perhaps because it is a single, on it's own and big enough to accommodate a sub group?); appears it has become. Also caused re-org of main roost area usage with subsequent open spaces on main roost area. Stress down perhaps?
Since the changeover, no eggs eaten and no nests slept in. I have noted that birds on the new roost sleep facing the wall, guessing because otherwise tail feathers would hit the wall?
These pics taken at dusk as they were settling down. The story continues...
Nest entrance board for the 3 additional nests in place.
Prince Woods KD Coops are described in the book Modern Fresh Air Poultry Houses 1923. One topic that is not well addressed is nest boxes. I believe Woods intended that nest boxes go under the drop boards but mounting them at the front leaves inaccessible space behind, moving them back means egg retrieval on hands and knees.
I have always used the side walls, currently the one across from the entrance door. In this build iteration I get 7 nests, not quite sufficient for 40 hens. If I require more I would use the opposite wall beside the door.]
My 1st flock started in September 2019 with 7 ISA ready to lay pullets and around 12 self hatched chicks; I now have more than 30 birds with too many males.
To alleviate this I:
- added 7 feet of roost (increase of 23%)
- added 7 feet by 20 inches of drop board space (increase of 33%)
- replaced 5 nests on two levels with 7 horizontally aligned of front roll away style.
- 2 roosts later 3, each 10 feet long, all one level with 12 inch spacing between
- 10' by 30 inches later 42 of drop boards
I did not anticipate that the new roost would become prime real estate (perhaps because it is a single, on it's own and big enough to accommodate a sub group?); appears it has become. Also caused re-org of main roost area usage with subsequent open spaces on main roost area. Stress down perhaps?
Since the changeover, no eggs eaten and no nests slept in. I have noted that birds on the new roost sleep facing the wall, guessing because otherwise tail feathers would hit the wall?
These pics taken at dusk as they were settling down. The story continues...
Nest entrance board for the 3 additional nests in place.
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