[bedifferent]

I am converting my shed to a chicken house and i was wondering about the above. I have a collection of medium birds and Cochins if that helps with the answer.

Also should i provide a shelf in front of the nesting boxes or will they be happy to jump straight in

Thanks

[GrannieAnnie]

Our nest boxes are about 12 inches off the floor, but the new ones I bought are 2 tier and the top ones are higher.

They can jump straight in, but ours have a perch in front so the chooks jump on to that first, then into the nest box.

[Jellyhead]

Some of my nesting boxes are about 3 1/2' off the floor and they have a ladder. I think some use the ladder and some fly up. The ladder certainly helps little chickies

[richyrich7]

Mines about 18" off the floor in my shed, with a perch in front to help them up, but some fat elephant has knocked it down again  :roll:  

[Fenland Girl]

Our nest boxes actually sit on the floor of the hen house (opposite side from the perch) and they've always worked fine! They are removeable so they canbe taken out and cleaned.

[muntjac]

about a foot is the usual but they wil lay on the ground anyways  

[Foxy]

cochins are lovely birds. I would be inclined to put some sort of ramp only because cochins are a heavy breed and jumping down repeatedly may cause sore feet that could lead to a condition called bumble foot. Would also not place perches too high for this reason.

[spud]

I'm rebuilding and always put the nest boxes at ground level ... I'm wondering do the hens prefer higher boxes? those with stacked arrangements, do the hens use the higher ones more? tia

[Tony H]

Hi i have nest boxes from the ground up to 4ft the most popular ones are those at ground level 

[spud]

Thank you

[nerdle]

My hen bedroon in the shed has a ramp then a perch space 3' high (eglu plastic) then a nesting box (plastic storage box on its side with sawdust in it and a block so the sawdust doesn't fall out).

The nesting box is for her to sleep in at night but in the summer I'll block it off so she'll sleep on the perch and lay eggs in her other nesting box at ground level (under the ramp so in the darker place).

Took me ages to work out how to do it and working well thankfully!

[Sassy]

The nest box should be darkish and private to encourage them to use it and the perch should always be higher than the nest box.

[spud]

Thank you all, floor level it is.

 

[helens-hens]

I had a new house/run recently and the nest boxes were about 1/8th of an inch above the level of the perch and they tried to sleep in their overnight (they try to roost as high as possible).

I have stopped them doing it now but its something worth bearing in mind.