| If you are planning on raising chickens you need to | | | | inches high for standard breeds. For heavier breeds |
| buy or build a proper chicken coop. For the | | | | the nesting box should be 14 inches wide x 14 inches |
| handyman, you can save a lot of money by building | | | | tall x 12 inches deep. It is important to allow enough |
| your own chicken coop. One of the more critical | | | | room for the hens to stand upright in the nest. |
| design aspects of the chicken coop is the design of | | | | Shape and location of the Nest:o It is essential to |
| the nest. To keep your hens producing fresh eggs | | | | keep the nest lower than the roost. Chickens like to |
| every day you must properly design your nest. | | | | sleep at the highest point available. Keeping the nest |
| Follow these guidelines for a consistent supply of | | | | lower than the roost will discourage the chickens |
| farm fresh eggs. | | | | from sleeping in the nest.o You should also build in a |
| Number of Nests:o A good rule of thumb is to build | | | | lip at the front of the nest. This serves two |
| one nesting box for every 2 to 4 hens.o If you | | | | purposes. First, it keeps the fresh eggs inside the |
| stack the nests vertically you should construct a | | | | nest so you do not end up with broken eggs on the |
| small perch in front of the nest for easy access. | | | | floor. Second, the front lip is comforting for the hen. |
| Size of the Nest:o The most common size for a | | | | She will feel more secure and will produce more eggs. |
| chicken nest is 12 inches wide x 12 inches deep x 12 | | | | |