related reading: Chicken Coop Dimensions
One of the most important concerns that we have to think of when building our own chicken coop is the dimension of the nesting boxes. Having a nesting quarter that is too big can result in the chickens actually eating a little of their eggs, the chickens roughly kicking the straws and yet dirtying their nests.
This in turn will effect to lower numbers of eggs from the chickens and having to constantly replace straws, plus the eggs will be dirtier because of chicken poop.
With all these negative effects that arise from just having the wrong sizes for the nesting boxes or areas, it is consequently of utmost importance that we give full consideration to the size of the nesting boxes.
DIY Chicken Nesting Boxes
When building a chicken nesting box, we will need very few building materials as these are not at all complicated to make. Generally, we will only be needing pine boards, plywood, angle brackets and wood screws.
Once we have determined the right chicken nesting boxes dimensions, we can immediately start on our construction project. A good nesting box size measures 9 inches in height; 12 inches in width and 12 inches in depth.
The height is just right for the chickens to lay their eggs without having the space to stand up as this can result in cracked eggs and scratching.
We could make the entry ways to the boxes a bit smaller measuring about nine inches wide and six inches high.
There are benefits to be derived from a smaller entry way for the chicken nesting boxes. Firstly, they can keep the straws inside the box which in turn will secure the eggs in place.
Secondly, the smaller entry ways gives the boxes a cozier feel which the chickens seem to appreciate more; making them comfortable as they lay their eggs.
Other Considerations
For easier access to the eggs, we can build a door from the backside of the boxes so we can get the eggs without having to actually step inside the chicken coop. We can install a thin wooden lining on the back portion of the nesting boxes so the eggs won’t accidentally slip off when we open the backside door.
Building a door from the outside to get the eggs is actually beneficial to the chickens as well because the more often we enter the chicken coop, the more frequently the chickens may get disturbed particularly when laying their eggs.
related article: Lawn Mower Sizes
