Daz 0 Posted October 8, 2006 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Share Posted October 8, 2006 (edited) There has been some talk of nest boxes and what to use. Well I have been there too. Is the box too small? Is the box too shallow? Do I put the box inside or outside... There are endless questions. I have tried many boxes and have been given a lot of advice. I would like to thank Hath and Bubbles for assisting and also the members of my club. Points that need to be considered. 1. The access hole must be large enough for the hen to access, but not too large. 2. There must be a sence of security. A dark nest box is good. 3. There must be ventilation in hot weather. But the nest box must still be able to stay humid or the eggs will dry out and the chicks will die. 4. There must be a safe way to check on the chicks with out disturbing the hen or having the chick fall out of the nest. 5. I must be deep enough to keep the chicks in th nest bos for the correct duration. A shallow box will allow the chicks out too soon. 6. It must be able to be kept clean. Easily. 7. It must be roomy enough to take on a large clutch if need be. 8. It must be able to be securely and safely attached to the breeding cage. Here is the latest model. I have made two. One in action and the other will be joining it soon. I have plans for another 7 if these work. . The box is 250mm (10") High x 215mm (81/2") deep x 210mm (81/4") wide and is made of 9mm external Ply. There are two metal hooks located at the top front to hook it on to the Breeding Cage. The hole is 50mm (2") and is set at the top corner. In the majority of my cages it would be in the top corner. . The back has two sections. The top slides up to get access to the chicks with the bottom section being High enough that the chicks don't fall out. . The bottom section slides up to allow good access to cleaning the box. (Cleanliness is extreamly inportant) The internal floor is a piece of 19mm pine with a concave in the centre. This also slides out to allow for cleaning. It meassures. 193mm (75/8") x 189mm (71/2"). 1st Box in use. There are 6 chicks here and they have plenty of room to move about. Nest box is mounted on the outside of the Breeding Cage. Edited October 11, 2006 by daz Link to comment
Paulh29 0 Posted October 9, 2006 Member ID: 2,365 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 52 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 374 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 2,845 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 29/05/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: December 4, 2009 Birthday: 29/10/1955 Share Posted October 9, 2006 (edited) Hi Daz and everyone, I found your topic on nest boxes quite interesting with some good ideas. I too have been experienting with nest boxes. I have progressed to this point with my boxes and are having good results. I intentionly made my boxes on the larger side, to give the hens more room to move when the chicks get older. This had its problems at first, mainly being the hens trying to keeps eggs and newly laid chicks warm enough. I then came up with the idea of a partition to make the boxes smaller to help the hens. Well this worked a treat and are having good success, also with the partition it has given me flexability. When the chicks get feathered up I remove the partition which frees ups more room in the boxes and has given the hens space when they lay again. It also provides more air to the birds. I have used an acrylic clear front with holes drilled in to create the air to circulate, this also makes it possible to view chicks with them falling out or the hens getting upset. I have wood fronts that slide in front of the acrylic covered boxes to give the the security that they need. I have been experimenting lately with the warm weather we have been having, by leaving the wood fronts off during the day. With holes in the acrylic fronts it allows the boxes to keep cooler during the warmer period, so far the hens have been happy with this and it gives me the oportunity to vies chicks and see how they are going without intruding. The boxes are attaches to the side of the breeding cabinets which have a hole in the side. The larger sides on the nest boxes allows the hens to be able get out easerly if I have to slide the inner nest boxes out for cleaning etc. Well it's all going fine so far, love to get your feed back. Cheers Paul http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/ultra777/000_0179.jpg Edited October 9, 2006 by daz Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted October 9, 2006 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 Paul sound like a good idea. I wuld like to see more photos if you can put them up. How does the box attach to the breeding cage? What does it look like when the hen is laying? Link to comment
Paulh29 0 Posted October 10, 2006 Member ID: 2,365 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 52 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 374 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 2,845 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 29/05/06 Status: Offline Last Seen: December 4, 2009 Birthday: 29/10/1955 Share Posted October 10, 2006 Hi guys, the nest boxes are screwed to the side of breeding cabinet. The outer nest box measurements: 32cm long, 23cm wide and 19cm high. The inner nest boxes measure: 28cm long, 19cm wide and 17cm high. The divider measures: 9cm long, 16cm wide and 15cm high. I also use are block for removal and cleaning. I think it's great to share ideas, I'm learning all the time. Cheers Paul Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted October 10, 2006 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Author Share Posted October 10, 2006 Paul that is a great idea. You have obviously had a good think about it. Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted May 3, 2009 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Author Share Posted May 3, 2009 Does any one else have Ideas on their nest boxes? I am still using the one above with only a few changes. The concave is now 40mm and the hooks are a bit different but that's about all. Link to comment
Pearce 0 Posted May 4, 2009 Member ID: 4,449 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 123 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 2,475 Content Per Day: 0.12 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 14,280 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 18/06/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: February 7, 2011 Birthday: 21/04/1991 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Mine are basically the same as yours Daz except mine have been painted white. Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted March 1, 2010 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Author Share Posted March 1, 2010 There is a current thought on Nest boxes and Concaves so I thought I'd bring this topic back... Does any one have photos of the type of boxes they use. My nest boxes have some what changed for these above. Link to comment
Matt Welchman 0 Posted March 2, 2010 Member ID: 5,835 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 24 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 361 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 2,075 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/01/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 21, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2010 There is a current thought on Nest boxes and Concaves so I thought I'd bring this topic back... Does any one have photos of the type of boxes they use. My nest boxes have some what changed for these above. I use internal boxes , I like the clean look of the cabinets , boxes arent pokeing out in the walk way , they have removable concaves that get replaced each year for hygene and when you have finished breeding the boxes stay in the cabinets you dont have to have somewhere to store them. Link to comment
Amy S 0 Posted March 2, 2010 Member ID: 5,666 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 16 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 601 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 3,375 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 15/10/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: May 1, 2022 Birthday: 23/04/1982 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Daz, you're bumping a few old posts today - its great as I get more ideas all the time :raincloud: Thanks!! Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted March 2, 2010 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 I thought that id revisit some of the thoughts we have way back.... I have changed my thoughts on some things and it's good to bring them up and see why.. The main change i have done to the nest boxes is gone to a 12mm plywood... I find that it insulates the eggs better.. cooler in Summer and warmer in winter. It also doesn't bow as much as the 9mm nest boxes. Link to comment
JimmyBanks 0 Posted March 2, 2010 Member ID: 4,130 Group: Site Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 112 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 4,370 Content Per Day: 0.75 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 25,112 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/03/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 1, 2015 Birthday: 12/02/1982 Share Posted March 2, 2010 So is the interior slightly smaller or have you increased the overall size of the box slightly to accomidate the 3mm difference? Link to comment
Daz 0 Posted March 2, 2010 Member ID: 4,838 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 247 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,882 Content Per Day: 0.25 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 36,650 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 19/11/08 Status: Offline Last Seen: July 2, 2022 Birthday: 02/02/1964 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 The interior size is 229mm height x 202mm deep x 192mm width so it is still a large nest box. I also have a 40mm concave so that brings the height inside to 189mm (roughly) Reason behind my big boxes is to give room for the chicks to develop. I like the chicks to stay as long as possible (up to 5 weeks old) in the nest box where they are geting feed by the parents. So the height helps to stop the early leaving from the nest. Link to comment
dillster 0 Posted August 13, 2011 Member ID: 6,849 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 33 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 268 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 1,815 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/08/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: August 27, 2017 Birthday: 05/05/1999 Share Posted August 13, 2011 (edited) great ideas every body. Edited August 13, 2011 by maesie Un-readable english used. Link to comment
dillster 0 Posted August 29, 2011 Member ID: 6,849 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 33 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 268 Content Per Day: 0.06 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 1,815 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/08/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: August 27, 2017 Birthday: 05/05/1999 Share Posted August 29, 2011 carnt belve the knowladge of people on this site i have been looking at building some boxes dose any one else have ideas and photos thanks that would be great Link to comment
Kaitlyn 0 Posted October 14, 2011 Member ID: 6,917 Group: Site Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 73 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 0 Achievement Points: 465 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 21/09/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 4, 2012 Birthday: 26/04/1991 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Hi everyone, I have found a place in qld where you can buy Hagen Vision Plastic Nest Box. Chermside Pet Paradise, the owner is willing to order them in for people if they want more than they have instock. They have 3 at this moment. Link to comment
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