Roll out nest boxes in winter

[PJHN]

Does anyone living in more northern cold climates have experience with roll out nesting boxes? I'm planning my coop and I want to buy or make a roll out nesting box, but I want to understand if/how to insulate the external section of the roll out box so that the eggs don't freeze.
Anyone out there have experience with this and tips to offer?
Thanks!
Paula

 

[Debbie292d]

I don't have those, just normal nest boxes. We're in Wisconsin where it usually is below freezing for a few months. We use an oil-filled thin radiant heater and keep the coop to 40F so water nor eggs freeze.

By rollout nests, are you talking about those nests built outside of the coop so the eggs can be gotten from outside? If so, not sure how that would work as eggs here would freeze in a few minutes.

Here is a thread with a brief discussion about just keeping eggs from freezing.

This is the heater that keeps our 5x12' coop at 40F on it's lowest setting. We have to turn it up a tish when the temps fall sub-zero or worse. It gets hot to the touch, so we have it on a small shelf across from the nest boxes and where they perch, with chicken wire around it so they can't lean or jump up on it. It's been running every winter for about 8 years. I have one under my desk at home too.

 

[PJHN]

I don't have those, just normal nest boxes. We're in Wisconsin where it usually is below freezing for a few months. We use an oil-filled thin radiant heater and keep the coop to 40F so water nor eggs freeze.

By rollout nests, are you talking about those nests built outside of the coop so the eggs can be gotten from outside? If so, not sure how that would work as eggs here would freeze in a few minutes.

Here is a thread with a brief discussion about just keeping eggs from freezing.

This is the heater that keeps our 5x12' coop at 40F on it's lowest setting. We have to turn it up a tish when the temps fall sub-zero or worse. It gets hot to the touch, so we have it on a small shelf across from the nest boxes and where they perch, with chicken wire around it so they can't lean or jump up on it. It's been running every winter for about 8 years. I have one under my desk at home too.

Thank you very much for your reply I’m learning to navigate this website and have read articles on winter coops, etc., and have realized that an outside box to collect the eggs is out of the question for me, at least during the winter. Thanks for the heater tip. I’m still on the fence with that, but am researching all the options. The coldest it has gotten here in the winter in Stockholm in the past 8 years, was -10F so it isn’t as cold as in the more northern areas.
Thanks again!

 

[aart]

There are roll out nests where the nest and the collection trough is inside the coop.
Pics of your nest setup would help here.

here in the winter in Stockholm

Welcome to BYC! @PJHN
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[Ted Brown]

My winters average -15C, I have roll inside nest boxes; very simple to construct.

The change to roll away was to counter egg eating; very effective.

 

[PJHN]

There are roll out nests where the nest and the collection trough is inside the coop.
Pics of your nest setup would help here.


Welcome to BYC! @PJHN
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3984208

Thanks for that. Now my location is in As for the rolling nest box… I have no pics because I’m in the planning/ research stages. Nothing is build yet I’ll add indoor roll nest box to my list Tks

 

[Ted Brown]

Timely collection of eggs is the best way IMHO (I will not add heat).

One gets to know the rhythm of one's flock, certainly not hourly, more like 2-3 times per day. When the temps get into -30s one goes more often (and still ends up with a frozen egg or two).