Page 1 of 4
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:24 am
by Ontario Chick
Number one nest box, accessible from the hallway, has 3 separate boxes on the inside, and a "landing" roost in front of them.
Fully removable, because just like everything else the pen has double use, when used for growing out youngsters, the box is taken out.
Nice part, when it's taken out, gets scrubbed and left out in the sun, using hight UV as sanitation
With nest box removed and opening blocked by section of an old dog crate, used as a grow out pen
And these are my awesome boxes I got for Christmas, saw them in a magazine advert, showed to DH and he put them together out of odds and ends laying around.
To facilitate cleaning, there is no back wall and the whole thing hangs on one shelf support, so can be lifted out and you know... more UV :)
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:43 am
by Home Grown Poultry
Thank you so much for posting OC!!! Mine are no where near elaborate LOL. But I really want to copy the 4 way box!!! I just absolutely love that design!
And you just have such an amazing overall set up! Im envious!

My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 11:00 am
by Ontario Chick
But Al, it "only" took 35 years to get it working for us, by that time you will have your own farm!!!! :)
The Chickens like it too, occasionally there is a bit of a line up (20) hens, but when I added extra boxes, they still line up for these!!!! :)
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 11:11 am
by Home Grown Poultry
HAHA there are 2 and 3 hens on some of those nests! what are the dimensions?
You are soooo Right! But with the wisdom of you and others hopefully I get there faster! LOL
Simply Beautiful!
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 2:31 pm
by Ontario Chick
Lucky it's the patient Wyandottes, if it was Ameraucanas, feathers would be flying already :)
So I went and measured, you may remember it's odds & ends,
12.5" deep
28.5" sides
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 12:46 am
by Poultryprincess
OMGawd I LUV your pens!!!!!
Hope you don't mind a Bunch of questions?
The double decker pens....what size are they?
How many birds do you keep in them?
Are these your "Breeding" pens, as well as your Grow out pens?
I see rabbit feeders, are you using them for your chickens?
LUV you nesting boxes too.
I "WISH" I had a barn like yours....it's my Wish List (*o*)
Hubby did a FAB job, chicken are veri lucky!
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 5:16 pm
by Ontario Chick
The double decker pen is 3.5' x 7.5' and serves 2 purposes as most things do around here, saves space. :)
It's used as a brooder and can accommodate about 30 chicks..
Another view of brooder
In winter time the brooder is divided and holds two hopefuls for next year breeding season, that's when the rabbit feeders go in,
also the bird waterers work well in there during winter, less chance for the Wyandottes to dip their wattles in freezing watter
The bottom of the brooder is connected to the rest of the cage and can be divided for introducing a new male, or left open for more floor space.
The whole "cage" has floor space of 4'x14' and holds about 8 birds comfortably.
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:52 pm
by Ontario Chick
Second brooder utilizing space under stairs, using every spare inch here :)
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:57 pm
by Poultryprincess
I never considered "double Deckers"
But today I canvassed the coop to see where I could fit a few.
My standard sized flock get to free range when I'm home.
It's the Silkies I need to make comfortable.
Of course if I would stick to just 2 breeds, then NO problem.
It's trying to fit in MORE breeds that causes the problem.
SOOOO do these birds ever see grass or outside?
Are they the breeders?
LUV your set up!
Thanx for sharing (*o*)
My Nest boxes... show us yours....
Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 10:55 pm
by Ontario Chick