Nesting boxes are essential for increasing egg production in your chicken coop. The size and shape of the box strongly influences the behavior of the hens. In adAdition, the box measurements play a big role in helping eliminate egg eating behaviors of lay chickens. It has been proven, smaller boxes help increase egg production. However, building the right nesting boxes can be difficult and to get more help and more thorough plans for constucting your coop CLICK HERE. Here are some of the most common dimensions in nesting box building.
Nesting Box Measurements The most common size shown to work is the standard 12 in by 12 in cube style box. The height of the box however varies depending on the size breed of the hens. The typical height should be 9 inches to 12 inches. To improve egg production, the nesting boxes should have a width of 12 inches. These dimensions seem to be the perfect size and help eliminate the hens making waste in the boxes and really does increas their egg production.
Studies have show that the less light in the box does dramatically increase egg production. So a smaller entrance for you box is essential. This entrance should be roughly 6 inches high and 9 inches wide. Smaller entraces also help keep nesting material in the box and helps prevent eggs from rolling out. Most importantly , the smaller box size reduces the chances of having cracked eggs due to pecking.
Steps in Building a Nesting Box Building a chicken coop and nesting boxes require a lot of hard work and patience. However, you can do it. To make things easier make sure you have all the materials and tools you need ahead of time. check out the list above for what types of building materieal to purchase. As for tools, for standard nesting boxes you should only need a saw, hammer and nails. If building the boxes become too confusing, you may want to consider purchasing a guide to help you. Click here for details.
Additional Tips For Chicken Nesting Boxes The nesting boxes should be 3 to 4 feet above the floor of your coop in order to prevent any unwanted predator from reaching any of the eggs. Plus, make sure you change out the nesting material for your hens at least once a month in order to keep them health.