The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: little blue on April 14, 2011, 10:00:32 pm

Title: design for roll away nest box?
Post by: little blue on April 14, 2011, 10:00:32 pm

Does anybody have any designs / plans / suggestions for a roll-away nest box?

We are building new pens & refurbished houses for our breeding stock, and so need a way of keeping the eggs clean, safe (undamaged)  and stopping the bl**dy Silkie cockerel trying to eat them (a trick learnt from some old girls!)

thanks in advance.  I dont want to waste time & resources cobbling together something that might not be appropriate...
  :)

Title: Re: design for roll away nest box?
Post by: darkbrowneggs on April 14, 2011, 11:30:21 pm

There used to be someone selling them on ebay so you could perhaps look at how they had done it.  You can buy the plastic nest inserts from Solway Feeders, or you can just have a sloping floor with some old carpet on it.  Then just make sure there is a covered area (with a lifting lid) for the eggs to roll into

Put straw and a dummy egg in when they are first introduced to them and as they begin to use them to lay gradually remove the bedding so the eggs roll

Don't forget to nail a bit of sack or cloth over the entrance as the dark helps prevent egg eating

Are they getting sufficient limestone /oystershell grit and protein,  shortages can encourage egg eating, as can insufficient clean water.

All the best
Sue

Title: Re: design for roll away nest box?
Post by: little blue on April 15, 2011, 08:24:22 pm

thanks Sue,
I've seen the plastic insert pictures, and I'm thinking along those lines but built with wood / plastic if I can get it to fit.

They get loads of grit, and as we are in a limestone area they have stones in the runs too that they can peck at.
Its the ex-battery hens that "discovered" egg eating - weaker shells and no experience!