Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[emmalou]

I still haven't worked out how to add photos on here. I have a coop which has a floor area of 1.8 x 1.2 and seems to be divided into 2 sections. I think the previous homeowner used to leave feed in one section and chickens in the other. I was aiming to get 5 hens to start of with. I am not entirely sure how much space per bird? Also, if the coop is in 2 sections can I put birds in each? They cannot pass between the two. Maybe we should put in a small opening so they can mingle in both sections?? When the chicken go back in at the end of the day I am concerned they may end up back in the wrong section if we leave the coop in 2 seperate zones. As I say, I have photos but not able to put them on?

[Casey76]

What do you mean by "coop"?

 

For me, the coop is essentially what the hens sleep and lay in. This was one of my first coops:

 

BTW, don't every buy one of these... they are a nightmare to clean, as there is no access other than the pophole and small door to the roosting area!

 

You can fit an amazing amount of chickens into a coop. They need 12ins of roosting space each (large fowl), less for bantams, and more for giant breeds).

 

Food should not be placed in the same area as the sleeping/nesting area as it may encourage vermin into the coop, and rats will kill chickens.

 

It is more important to have run space than coop space. Each chicken should have AT LEAST 1m2, and on top of that you need space for feeders and drinkers, and other enrichment areas, such as a dustbath, and perches. If your run is 5x2m (10m2) I would have a max of 5 hens in there - if the run is permanent. If you can use poultry netting, or allow free ranging in the garden for some time each day, then you could have more.

[emmalou]

Oh Ok. As I said ours is huge and can access it easily to clean. It is up on legs so has shelter underneath as well although sounds like putting food underneath the coop (house) is not a good idea. Sounds like I could do with a small shelter area seperate from the coop so they can eat away from the house. As I said I have taken pics but not sure how to put them on.

[Princess Leia]

For pictures, it's best to upload to Photobucket, then include the links in your post so the photo appears automatically (but doesn't take up any space on the forum). Some instructions here http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48619

[emmalou]

I have got picassa which must be the same but cannot do it with that. Didn't really want to open yet more accounts.nThe run is 12 x 5 metres and the house is 1.2 x 1.8 in two seperate sections.

[Casey76]

12x5m.. plenty of space then

[emmalou]

is it a problem having the house in two sections. I am not sure why it is like this but the previous owner left it that way. I did not know whether the hens use the same section each night for nesting. I was worried they may end up in the wrong section or are we better just opening it up to one large house?

[Casey76]

I can't see any issue with the house being divided into two areas.

 

Actually being divided into two may be advantageous in case you need to quarantine a hen for some reason.

[emmalou]

Thanks Casey. You are a star for answering all these questions and thanks everyone. They will end soon promise!!! Do they use the same nesting boxes each night?

[Casey76]

Hens should be encouraged to roost each night, not sleep in the nesting boxes (this can result in dirty eggs). This can be done by closing off the nesting boxes when you close the coop up on an evening.

[emmalou]

Hens should be encouraged to roost each night, not sleep in the nesting boxes (this can result in dirty eggs). This can be done by closing off the nesting boxes when you close the coop up on an evening.

 

 

OK, so where do they sleep? Sorry I know very little atm, I presumed they sleep on their nests? If they don't sleep on their nests, where are what do they sleep on in the coop,(house)?

[Casey76]

There should be some roosting bars - a bit like this:

 

 

Or they may be in a bank arrangement (which is better)

 

In short, nesting boxes are for egg laying only

[emmalou]

I have roosting bars in one section. I am just not sure whether to open up the second section or keep it closed off? Someone suggested washing up bowls lined with wood chip for nesting? I have seen some Ikea wood boxes which may work? Do the nesting boxes need tp be off the ground? The images on Google vary. Some look like apartments and are in two tiers?

[Casey76]

You can use almost anything as nesting boxes - I used old dresser drawers in my first coop.

 

Nesting boxes should be off the ground, and ideally somewhere dark/ secluded. Too much interruption can put a chicken off lay.

[emmalou]

I think I will probably open up the middle section into 2 houses. Not fully but just enough so that the hens can have a nesting section in one area and a roosting bit in the other. The roosting section has the little doors out into the run so may work better for giving them peace and quiet in the laying section.