Chicken Coop Perch
Chicken Coop Perch
If you are planning on raising chickens you need to buy or build a proper chicken coop. For the handyman, you can save a lot of money by building your own chicken coop. One of the more critical design aspects of the chicken coop is the design of the nest. To keep your hens producing fresh eggs every day you must properly design your nest. Follow these guidelines for a consistent supply of farm fresh eggs.
Number of Nests:
o A good rule of thumb is to build one nesting box for every 2 to 4 hens.
o If you stack the nests vertically you should construct a small perch in front of the nest for easy access.
Size of the Nest:
o The most common size for a chicken nest is 12 inches wide x 12 inches deep x 12 inches high for standard breeds. For heavier breeds the nesting box should be 14 inches wide x 14 inches tall x 12 inches deep. It is important to allow enough room for the hens to stand upright in the nest.
Shape and location of the Nest:
o It is essential to keep the nest lower than the roost. Chickens like to sleep at the highest point available. Keeping the nest lower than the roost will discourage the chickens from sleeping in the nest.
o You should also build in a lip at the front of the nest. This serves two purposes. First, it keeps the fresh eggs inside the nest so you do not end up with broken eggs on the floor. Second, the front lip is comforting for the hen. She will feel more secure and will produce more eggs.
Chicken Coop Nest; Must Have Features:
o Construct an outside access door to easily retrieve your fresh eggs each morning.
o Install a lower front lip to keep debris out and keep the eggs and straw in the nest.
Final Touches:
o Hens enjoy the comfort of a straw bed or wood shavings. Happy hens are productive hens. A two inch thick layer of pine straw will reduce the chances of breaking an egg when it is laid.
Handyman Design Tips and Farming Tips:
o Slope the roof of the nest to deter chickens from sleeping on top of the nest and creating a mess.
o Place a few fake wooden eggs or golf balls in the nest to train your hens.
o Hens produce more in a darker, enclosed nest.
Bob Hightower is an author for the Handyman Plan Store a resource for DIY Handymen. Sign up for Bob's FREE newsletter at: http://handymanplanstore.com/free-newsletter/
why wont my chickens perch at night?
i have 6, (18 week old) chickens,they will not get on thier perch at night unless we put them on it,also they will not go into the coop on there own unless we go inside even if its dark or pouring rain..is this normal? What can I do to fix it if not?
Well, your chickens are still young. It is very normal, they have to learn all this and they will eventually with age. My hens have never had a problem with being out in the rain, but I had to act as their 'mother' and shut them up in their pen (I raised them as pets, so I didn't have a traditional coop for them).
My chickens didn't start to roost on perches until they were like six months old because they had to learn this. What I did was have a few perches close to the ground, and then a few other ones at different levels. The eventually learned how to hop up onto the higher perches, your chickens might still be a bit young. When they become older though, they'll eventually perfer the higher perches.
Your chickens will eventually learn that the coop is their home. Mine did and now they put themselves in as soon as it gets dark out. All I need to do now is teach them how to latch the door shut!
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