5 gallon bucket nest boxes

[Zwillingsmama]

i am building a new coop at the moment. I was thinking about using 5 gallon buckets as nest boxes. My only concern is if it will work for my BCM. She is my biggest girl and I just don’t know if she will use it. My other breeds are SS BR and EE OE all 4 are smaller than my BCM.
Any of you having a bigger chicken and buckets as nesting boxes?

 

[speedy2020]

i am building a new coop at the moment. I was thinking about using 5 gallon buckets as nest boxes. My only concern is if it will work for my BCM. She is my biggest girl and I just don’t know if she will use it. My other breeds are SS BR and EE OE all 4 are smaller than my BCM.
Any of you having a bigger chicken and buckets as nesting boxes?

People used them without any problem. I'm using the card board box from Costco. I just replace them once every 2-3 months.

 

[Acre4Me]

I have very large black jersey giants (1 male, 1 female). We have 2 built-in nest boxes that are 16” wide , and are used by the BJG female. We also have kitty litter buckets on their side for nest boxes. The BJG never uses them, but all the other chickens like them. The kitty litter buckets are a bit narrow for such a large chicken. A 5-gallon bucket is wider and may work. You should stabilize it so it doesn’t rock or move.

 

[aart]

Yeah, they can work, many use them successfully....but...
....I think they are too small, both width and height, and the curved bottom makes for shaky footing even if bucket is secured from rolling.

Tried one for a few days...
slim line pullet didn't like her tail bending when turning around in bucket.
Light Brahma walked in and then backed out, 2 or 3 times.
Both chose the 14x14x16" nest instead.

 

[Ghosty]

I tried the kitty litter buckets, but they were too small for my chickens. I use big red Purina feed buckets that livestock feed and supplements come in. They are circular, 23 gallons, 18" across bottom, 21" across top, 18" high. I stand them upright, and they have a wide lip that the birds can perch on to get in the bucket, but seems to discourage pooping in the buckets. I only use three of them for 15 hens, and I have a broody in one of them, so they are using two right now without problems. They sit way down in the bucket and have a lot of privacy. I think they also like the red color. You might be able to get them free or for a few bucks at a local feed store. I got mine from a local greenhouse that got them from the feed store, as they are perfect for container tomatoes.

 

[aart]

I tried the kitty litter buckets, but they were too small for my chickens. I use big red Purina feed buckets that livestock feed and supplements come in. They are circular, 23 gallons, 18" across bottom, 21" across top, 18" high. I stand them upright, and they have a wide lip that the birds can perch on to get in the bucket, but seems to discourage pooping in the buckets. I only use three of them for 15 hens, and I have a broody in one of them, so they are using two right now without problems. They sit way down in the bucket and have a lot of privacy. I think they also like the red color. You might be able to get them free or for a few bucks at a local feed store. I got mine from a local greenhouse that got them from the feed store, as they are perfect for container tomatoes.

Excellent details @Ghosty !
How much(inches deep) and what kind of bedding do you use.
Now we just need some pics

 

[Acre4Me]

I tried the kitty litter buckets, but they were too small for my chickens. I use big red Purina feed buckets that livestock feed and supplements come in. They are circular, 23 gallons, 18" across bottom, 21" across top, 18" high. I stand them upright, and they have a wide lip that the birds can perch on to get in the bucket, but seems to discourage pooping in the buckets. I only use three of them for 15 hens, and I have a broody in one of them, so they are using two right now without problems. They sit way down in the bucket and have a lot of privacy. I think they also like the red color. You might be able to get them free or for a few bucks at a local feed store. I got mine from a local greenhouse that got them from the feed store, as they are perfect for container tomatoes.

The kitty litter boxes are narrow, so this surprises me that most of my chickens prefer them over the wider wood nest boxes.

 

[Ghosty]

The kitty litter boxes are narrow, so this surprises me that most of my chickens prefer them over the wider wood nest boxes.

I had a ton of the kitty litter buckets. I left a couple in the coop for a long time and they wouldn't use them, so I made a couple nipple waterers out of them instead.

The Purina buckets are 18" tall and I use a couple inches of Timothy grass bedding at the bottom. These buckets make eggs look small. The door the bucket sits by is almost 5' wide.

 

[aart]

Thanks @Ghosty ...looks like those work good for nests, but pretty big for a smaller coops.
I use those kitty litter buckets for poop sifted off roost board.

 

[Ghosty]

Thanks @Ghosty ...looks like those work good for nets, but pretty big for a smaller coops.
I use those kitty litter buckets for poop sifted off roost board.

Ya, the Purina buckets on the ground would be too big for a small coop. My coop is 15' x 16', twice the size of my run, lol. You could attatch the bottom of the bucket to a wall, though, or get a similar, smaller sized bucket to attatch to the wall. Those kitty litter buckets come in handy for so many things. I had them running out my ears, though, and gave most of them away. Our kitties passed away last year at 18. The buckets I had left over are being used for storage in the garage.