The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: oor wullie on October 27, 2014, 08:26:09 am
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The nest boxes in our hen house are needing replaced (they were built in a rush with a few scraps of wood and are not liked by the hens due to being odd sizes, not very homely and falling to bits) and due to me having loads of other projects on the go just now I was thinking about buying some.
I am keen on avoiding wood so they are easier to clean / don't harbour mites. I like the idea of roll-away ones so the eggs are kept clean and safe. They will get fixed on the inside wall of a 2.4m x 2.4m hen house for a laying population that fluctuates between 10 and 25.
After some internet searching I only found 2 types;
Galvanised ones eg http://www.solwayfeeders.com/products/6-hole-nest-box-with-front-roll-out-p1216f-c461.html (http://www.solwayfeeders.com/products/6-hole-nest-box-with-front-roll-out-p1216f-c461.html)
or Plastic ones eg http://www.solwayfeeders.com/products/chickbox-with-roll-out-nest-bottom-with-lid-brown-pnb0004-c125.html (http://www.solwayfeeders.com/products/chickbox-with-roll-out-nest-bottom-with-lid-brown-pnb0004-c125.html)
Has anyone used either? Are they any good? Does anyone have any other suggestions?
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I've got a Solway fitted with one of the plastic ones. I've never seen it in operation yet but it was retro-fitted by the previous owner who found it perfectly satisfactory. Would have expected any metal ones to be scorching hot in Summer and freezing cold in Winter though Oor Wullie and not a good choice for an exterior nest box.
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This works whith plastic inserts
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That is a beautiful looking henhouse Victorian Farmer!
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Aye very nice indeed. it's almost a shame to let the hens s**t all over it ;D
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You've obviously got more athletic hens than me though - not sure mine would ever get that high!
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New type for some one