All winter we have had only one girl laying and the process has been calm with Butterscotch choosing her spot in either of the little coop nest boxes.
In spring and summer we could have up to eight girls laying and at any time a possible two girls going broody. We will need more nest boxes. We had already made another two nest boxes and installed them inside the chicken shed but I think our girls are so used to having their nest boxes outside that I am not sure they would know to go and look in the chicken shed for them. They only go in the chicken shed to roost or to help me clean. It seems that once I open the big door and busy myself in there it suddenly becomes a desirable place to be.
I know that conventional chicken coops have their nest boxes inside but our girls have always been used to having their nest boxes outside and I think this is what they expect.
We decided to make some slight alterations. We decided that the nest boxes we had made would need a bit more cover over the top of the boxes (as they will be outside and will need to let in less light) and then we would put them on top of the outside nest boxes to give two storey nest boxes (a block of four).
The two little coop nest boxes on the chicken’s patio area
The ramps and openings face the back so that the boxes are dark enough to be attractive for egg laying.
The two home made nest boxes in the chicken shed
My husband removed them from the shed and when covering the last bit of the top of the boxes he also raised this part to make access for the girls easier.
Back view of the adapted nest boxes
Butterscotch is inspecting in the bottom right corner of the photo.
Front view of the nest boxes minus the pine shavings
They needed gluing and leaving overnight to dry properly so I put them in place for the photos but haven’t put shavings in yet as I then removed them to dry.
They look a bit crude but as long as they serve their purpose that doesn’t matter. They may need a bit of fine tuning. We may put another strip of wood along the top edge to make the box less open.
I will put them back in tomorrow and see if broody Butterscotch finds them. If she sits in them we will know they are okay as she is our biggest and least agile girl. The proof is in the pudding as they say.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Hi, Carol
You are right about increasing the number of nest boxes – the only thing is that sometimes, no matter how many options you have available, they all want the same one! Most of my girls prefer the two home-made nest boxes my father put together; they’re very like yours, but a bit less open at the front.
I found an egg of Dart’s today, outside in the big hen run she’s been out of lay and moulting for at least 3 weeks, so I binned it straight away. No doubt it had been covered in leaves until the winds of yesterday, and I hate to lose an egg – but it does suggest we have no eggeaters!
I managed to offload all but one of my cockerels – a stunning light sussex. He’s mating the less dominant hens who are in lay and, as yet, has not uttered a crow. Long may this continue!
I know that you are right, no matter how many nest boxes they usually all want the same one. I am glad to hear that your girls like ones that are similar to our home made ones. We think we may add another strip of wood to the top open part to make them less open.
Good not to have any egg eaters.
Also good news that you offloaded most of your cockerels. Odd that your boy isn’t crowing yet but also good news for now. let me know when you name him.