The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: bloomer on September 09, 2010, 05:54:20 pm
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have almost finished building my chicken coop but have hit a snag, how big do nest box's need to be and how many do i need to allow.
I am getting 6 chicken so how many boxes will I need?
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I'm new to keeping chickens but I would say that something two feet square and six inches tall would be big enough. Mine share a space half that size comfortably. It needs to be lower than the perches though and be designed so that they can't kick the straw etc out.
Hope that helps,
Ian
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I'm new to keeping chickens but I would say that something two feet square and six inches tall would be big enough. Mine share a space half that size comfortably. It needs to be lower than the perches though and be designed so that they can't kick the straw etc out.
Hope that helps,
Ian
I've given up with nest boxes - mine insisted on laying in the straw on the floor so that i have to search for them and try not to step on them,. I'm sure they do it to tease me ;D
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Build as many as you want, but you'll prob find they'll all use the same one :D
Something around 14" cubed (14 x 14 x 14") is about right (6" might be a wee bit short on headroom) with a 2" lip across the front so it's harder for the hens to scratch whatever material you use to line it with out.
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Build as many as you want, but you'll prob find they'll all use the same one
There are 7 nestboxes on our hen house. They use three of them. ;D :chook:
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Hi,
To get some Ideas on design have a look at the ones we sell, may give you a few pointers.
https://www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk/poultry-accessories-c-23_111.html (https://www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk/poultry-accessories-c-23_111.html)
Thanks
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I really fancy those plastic ones. If we convert a shed next time, I might put them in.
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ok have i missed something in my reading
why would i want to exclude the birds from the nest boxes at night etc?
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They do most of their toilet duties during the night if you get my drift ;D ;D
Don't want to get the eggs mixed up with the sh...............shavings and straw :D
Ian
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cool thanks
han't realised, but its a good reason.
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I really fancy those plastic ones. If we convert a shed next time, I might put them in.
I like them too- I'm so tempted to get a couple.
Beth
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2 boxes 300mmX300mmX300mm, works a treat for mine. however many you have they will all still choose to queue to use the same one!!
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Well I won't be spending £38 on something that won't be used. I've tried wooden boxes, cardboard boxes, plastic basins - and still they lay in a pile of straw on the floor - at least it's a different pile from where they s&*t ::) ;D ;D
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I use plastic cat carriers,with the door removed, great as you can give them a good scrub. I used to use two but t all 5 hens layed in the same one so they just have one now. I've also used those cat litter trays with a hood.
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4 nest boxes here with 11 hens. one is persistantly broody so takes over a box (must sin bin her soon) the rest insist on laying in just the one box ::)
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see this is why i joined the forum as although i's visited people with chickens prior to planning mine its all people with only 2-3 I have too many kids (4) so decided we needed 6 chickens to provide us with all the eggs we need and enough spares to appease the neighbours...
the information on nesting boxes is ammusing but also useful as it means i can fit them in easier.
does anyone know why they all like to share?
today i'm on childcare duty at home so will get my nest boxes built...
then just need to make a gate for the outside run and we're ready for chickens...
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Just a quick thought......Once neighbours and friends find out about your chooks, six ain't gonna be enough ;)
Ian
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don't use straw for chicken bedding. The hollow stems are a perfect hiding place for parasites
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Also line the floor of you can with vinyl / lino - it makes cleaning out that much easier!
Thanks
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don't use straw for chicken bedding. The hollow stems are a perfect hiding place for parasites
Yes, I know - I've heard this before but as you see in another post I don't seem to have any mites. Perhaps I'm just lucky.
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Also line the floor of you can with vinyl / lino - it makes cleaning out that much easier!
Thanks
Yes, I do that too.
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hi what is the best bedding to use i use straw at the moment, as i was told not to use hay?
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don't use straw for chicken bedding. The hollow stems are a perfect hiding place for parasites
Yes, I know - I've heard this before but as you see in another post I don't seem to have any mites. Perhaps I'm just lucky.
Must be the Total Mite Kill Spray we sold you Anne ;-)
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hi what is the best bedding to use i use straw at the moment, as i was told not to use hay?
I normally use woodshavings Faith, but i bought a bale of hemcore yesterday to try.
They say it lasts a lot longer than shavings, but it is more expensive .... there's always a downside.
I'm sure hay is porous & can harbour all sorts, plus it gives the dreaded mite somewhere else to hide.
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thanks for that i use shavings on the floor of there inside run, will put it in there nest box as well now, the hemp beddin does not take as long to rot down either with it being plant based i have used that for my horses, shavins take ages to rot down, building a new coop this week end so they have a new housey for when we move in 2 wks, i have got loads of ideas form this thread, it will be a palace ha ha ha (fingers crossed)
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well my run is now complete scratch built coop is done apart from a door which is almost done, the nest boxes are underway and it all has to e finished by tomorrow as thats when the chickens arrive.
have really enjoyed building it, so excited about my first chickens i think they may get spoiled rotten!!!!
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chickens are addictive, you can spend hours just watchin them they are so funny, i bet you end up getting more
good luck with them tomorrow
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chickens are addictive, you can spend hours just watchin them they are so funny, i bet you end up getting more
good luck with them tomorrow
we have already earmarked part of the garden for a much bigger enclosure if these work out, might give us options on either a bigger laying flock, maybe some birds for the table or a mixture of both in the longterm...
then all I need to do is find some land somewhere so I can move on to piggies.... (well i can dream)
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don't use straw for chicken bedding. The hollow stems are a perfect hiding place for parasites
Yes, I know - I've heard this before but as you see in another post I don't seem to have any mites. Perhaps I'm just lucky.
Must be the Total Mite Kill Spray we sold you Anne ;-)
Maybe but I only used it as a precaution - never saw any mites either before or after.
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It's all down to good housekeeping Annie ;)
Watch me getting lynched now hehe :P
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there is nowt up with dreamin, dreams do come true :wave:
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I'd certainly no dream about being lynched :D :D :D :D
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I normally use woodshavings Faith, but i bought a bale of hemcore yesterday to try.
They say it lasts a lot longer than shavings, but it is more expensive .... there's always a downside.
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Hi Daveravey
I have been using Hemcore for a while, but it is jolly expensive and I have thought about using shavings instead, though I know they take much longer to rot.
Could you post to say how the Hemcore compares to the shavings.
All the best
Sue