Topic of the Week - Nest boxes

[sumi]

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Nest boxes, those carefully designed coop essentials where we're all hoping our laying ladies would deposit the rent. (Note: hoping) This week I would like to hear you all's thoughts on all things "nest boxes"... Specifically:

- What do you use for nest boxes?
- What bedding materials do you use in your nest boxes?
- Maintaining your nest boxes. (Cleaning, pest control, etc)
- Managing broody hen(s) in the nest box.
- How do you make your nest boxes attractive for the hens? (I.e. encourage them to use the boxes, instead of dropping their eggs all over the yard)
- How do you discourage your hens from sleeping in the nest boxes?

Anything you'd like to add?

Pic by @zazouse​

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

 

[sumi]

Someone gave me the metal type nesting boxes but my hens have not started laying yet. Do some of you put curtains up? Does anyone have a picture of this. Is it to make it more private so the chickens lay better? This is all new to me.

I have seen many nest boxes with curtains up, providing a bit of privacy for the hens, which they love. Mine seems to prefer comfort over privacy though, I have a young layer here that sneaks in to lay her egg on the couch whenever she gets a chance!

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hello there,

I have my nesting boxes on the floor...
(Due to hatching... So x2 what @BYCforlife said!)

I use straw most of the time, but when hatching I prefer pine shavings...
Etc. Not cedar!

To encourage broody hens? I would like to start using fresh lavender,
I hear it helps the aroma attract hens. And so eggs don't go bad I use golf balls.

The golf balls are bought specially to attract broody hens,
and discourage egg eaters.

I just started curtains for the nesting box too!
Hoping that works! I think that actually attracted a hen to brood!

This is a great topic for the week,
I can't wait to stick around and see others thoughts!

-The Angry Hen

 

[BYCforlife]

View attachment 1062320
Pic by @zazouse

​

Nest boxes, those carefully designed coop essentials where we're all hoping our laying ladies would deposit the rent. (Note: hoping) This week I would like to hear you all's thoughts on all things "nest boxes"... Specifically:

- What do you use for nest boxes?
- What bedding materials do you use in your nest boxes?
- Maintaining your nest boxes. (Cleaning, pest control, etc)
- Managing broody hen(s) in the nest box.
- How do you make your nest boxes attractive for the hens? (I.e. encourage them to use the boxes, instead of dropping their eggs all over the yard)
- How do you discourage your hens from sleeping in the nest boxes?

Anything you'd like to add?

I prefer nesting boxes on the floor. Although it is more of a temptation for egg eaters, it is much better for day old chicks to get out of. They could fall out of an elevated nesting box.

I use wood shavings in one coop. The hens in there are "easygoing" so they don't lay their eggs and run away. They sit down and the egg does not have far to fall.

My other hens I have about 6" of straw for them, because they always lay their eggs standing up, and then run away to the other end of the coop.

I think wood shavings are better for chicks, because with hay they may lose their footing easily.

I don't discourage my hens from egg eating, but I keep them from being tempted. I put a curtain up over the most used nesting box. I don't think it encourages broodiness for my hens, because 2 hens have gone broody and were in an open nesting box.
Right now my hen "Tina" is broody.

 

[aart]

-What do you use for nest boxes?
I built my nests out of wood to simulate the round holed metal nest banks,
a functional design that also pings the heart of my aesthetics. The holes entrance makes for a nice lip and a cozier/safer feel.(Hens don't' want 'privacy' they want 'safety'.)
Also have a portable floor nest to use as an extra nest when pullets are coming into lay...and for the one time I had a broody hatch out.

- What bedding materials do you use in your nest boxes?
I like a good tight flake of soft straw, crammed in and 'bowled' out a bit.
Recently have a hen that is tearing up the nests every day, so the pics below show little straw in nests as she's kicked most of it out. Doesn't seem to be a problem tho, no broken eggs<shrugs>

- Maintaining your nest boxes. (Cleaning, pest control, etc)
There is a piece of heavy duty foam backed vinyl (the same that is on the floor of coop and lining the poop boards) lining the bottom of each nest box, and an extra piece on hand for quick change in case of a broken egg in nest. Easy to scoop out the soiled straw and remove the vinyl to be washed, replacing with clean liner and straw. DE is sprinkled heavily into all cracks and crevices in nest structure, under nest liner, and sprinkled thru new straw when it's added, to possibly help deter insects from habituating those places.

- Managing broody hen(s) in the nest box.
Broody hen hatched in the portable floor nest in the partition area of my coop.
Most broodies get put directly into the broody breaker crate.

- How do you make your nest boxes attractive for the hens? (I.e. encourage them to use the boxes, instead of dropping their eggs all over the yard)
Fake (solid hard plastic) eggs and/or golf balls in all nests as 'bait'....helps spread the love s they all don't want use the same nest, works good most the time.

- How do you discourage your hens from sleeping in the nest boxes?
All roosts are higher than nest and nest perch. I have a hinged nest cover that I put down an hour before roosting time, then flip back open when I lock up after dark. Usually only need to use this when there are new chicks in the flock and only as long as it takes them to learn to use the roosts.....which can take a couple months, or if lucky like this year, just a few days.

Nest Bank, being stalked by the current nestmesserupper.

Rear access, chains hold door that becomes a handy shelf.

Nest cover deployed.

Access door cracked open in summer for a bit if ventilation.

Portable floor nest being used by newly laying pullet.

Portable floor nest being used by broody and her chicks,
ramp added for easier access for the short legged.

 

[mychickens]

For the moment my hens are using the nest boxes on the floor, they do have curtains in front of them. I haven't noticed more broodiness since the curtains but they do like them. Then, all of the sudden they will all change to the outside nest boxes that are built higher up. No rime or reason to it. I use straw on my coop floor but pine shavings in my boxes because I think it is easier to clean them out if I have a broken egg, you can just scoop out the wet part.

 

[ozarkchickens]

I have one row of nest 'boxes' at floor level and one row above that with a closet size dowel to make access to the upper boxes easier. My boxes are on the 10' wall of my coop; I used to separate the 10' nest box span into 12 or 18" wide boxes (I have a couple of hefty girls), but the hens all try to stuff into the same nest box, to everyone's discomfort. So I took out the dividers and now have two 10' long nest boxes, each 12" deep and high, one above the other. The girls can go in together, sit and lay close together without sitting on top of each other. I can collect eggs from inside or from doors on the outside. Everyone's hapoy. My coop is only for laying eggs and sleeping (no food or water) so it stays pretty dark - no curtains. No problems with hens going broody, it just happens. I use pine shavings throughout the coop and in the boxes. I clean poop once a day for 10 minutes, never have any odor.

 

[SuziQ18]

These are my nesting boxes....I use the dog house box for the larger hens as it seems roomier for them to stand up and turn around in.....

 

[Mraya]

Someone gave me the metal type nesting boxes but my hens have not started laying yet. Do some of you put curtains up? Does anyone have a picture of this. Is it to make it more private so the chickens lay better? This is all new to me.

 

[jeria]

Mine are planned for 8 inches off the floor as hoping to do deep litter. I do not plan to brood chicks from eggs, can't have roosters and only 6 hens allowed in the city. So any future chicks will be sexed. Hoping this makes sense as the frame is made for that wall with 2 boxes planned. Working on the coop and run. Well back to work.