Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: moogie on October 04, 2017, 22:46
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I have found that my hens are making the eggs all dirty with mud from their feet, as well as breaking the odd egg as they all use the same nest box.
So, i got my thinking head on and tried to come up with a design to make a roll away nest box. I have been using hay/straw to line the nest box but wanted something that would be easier to keep clean. Well, after a lot of looking about at different types of boxs and buckets, etc. I settled on these
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4475/37501487721_eddc37722b_z.jpg)
Paint roller tray. Cheap, washable, built in slope to carry eggs away from the hen. Only thing i didn't like was the drop into the paint reservoir, so a little bit of ply wood cured the problem.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4476/36832661733_4f8b57be76_z.jpg)
Now for the nest box itself. Used a few old bits of ply wood and a pair of curtains and made this.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4490/36832704593_f99794be61_z.jpg)
When the paint trays are in place they will roll the eggs to the front of the box and away from the hen. Collecting is easy via the front hatch. Added a couple of bits of cloth to keep the nest nice and dark. Hope to get it installed tomorrow and will let you how we get on.
BTW, still need to get a couple of bits of astro turf to line the trays.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4513/37470683932_e13df3684c_z.jpg)
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Looks pretty ingenious 8) Let us know how it goes :)
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Couldn't find any astro turf at a desent price, but i did find a rubber door mat for £3. :tongue2:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4472/37465665256_05b7d99a99_z.jpg)