Posted: 9/27/2009 5:23:06 PM EDT
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So I finally got my chickens yesterday. I used some plastic containers I had as roosting boxes, but they ended up getting knocked over. I'm getting read to build some out of plywood. How big should they be? I am thinking 8" wide with 6" tall sides? Will this work? |
| I believe 12x12x12 is recomended for nesting boxxes for most breeds. For roots I just ues a 1x2 sanded down to make it more rounded and raise it about 18" off the floor of the coop. Theres good info on roosting/nesting boxxes here. |
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They come is all makes and models, but 12' X 12" is about right if you are making them. Four to six inches high works okay as they like to feel secure. Just ad a little hay or straw to make a nice little nest for them.
Some people use plastic milk crates (which are are about 12 x 12) which can be mounted to the wall by the bottom to provide a roof on the nesting box (and an open side,unless you want to modify it. You can find those crates at Home Depot, hardware stores, etc. I'm going to be building some new ones soon and will use a 1x12 as the base and 1x6 front and for the dividers between each box. Good luck. ETA: I see EXCATM76 beat me to the punch on the 12x12 size. We set ours about three feet off the ground just to make egg collection a little easier. Thanks for the good link, EXCATM76. Lots of good stuff. |
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I built ours with an open back and bottom. The open back allows egg collection from outside the coop through an "egg door." The open bottom lets the whole box be drug from the coop for cleaning. Drag it out and the spent bedding falls into a waiting wheelbarrow.
One thing to consider is putting either a sloped roof on the boxes themselves or some sort of shield just above them in the coop. This'll keep the chickens from roosting (and shitting on) on the top of the boxes. It's optional, but it does keep the boxes cleaner. 
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i built mine 12" square.
also, added a roost box like this one: 
we have some bantams who shun the home made and prefab roosting boxes and head to my wife's flower beds and lay underneath the tangle of morning glories. my wife thought one hen had only been there a few days, next thing we know she has 5 little bitties running around. |