Nesting Box - Single

Build a nesting box with free plans from Ana-White.com

Additional Photos

About Project

Author Notes:

Seems like just yesterday we brought home baby chicks, hoping someday to have fresh eggs in our own backyards. The girls went through an awkward teenage stage, but are now full grown ladies, running happily and freely around our yard.

Laying chickens running around your yard really ARE all that. We so enjoy them. And they eat bugs and scrap food and just generally are a wonderful addition to our home. But one day, we found this in the woods near our house.

Delighted. Surprised. Amazed. We have eggs! And because I haven't gotten around to building a permanent coop for the girls yet, they have no nesting box! So of course they are going to go out in the woods and make their own nest, whether we know about it or not. So I went out in the garage and built a quick nesting box out of a 1x12 board, a few cedar fence pickets and some scrap 1x2s. Will the girls like it?

That looks like a nice little nesting box, she says.

Hmmmmm .... looks nice and clean and cozy ....

I'm going to have to take a look inside!"

Look at that, Runny! This place even has a vaulted ceiling!" Do they like the nesting box? Does it work? Well let me tell you what happened at 5:48AM this very morning. We woke up to very load squalking. And squabling. I jumped out of bed and ran outside, fearful a predator was in the yard. But instead, I saw Stripey in the nesting box. And Scramble waiting outside. And I know what they were saying. Stripey: I need some privacy. Can you just give me a minute? Scramble: You've been in there all morning! I need to use the nesting box now ... I can't hold it any longer! Stripey:I can't do my thing with you watching! Can you bring me a magazine? Seems I'll be making another nesting box! I did modify this plan a little just because when I built my nesting box, I was pulling from my scraps. You can do the same, but if you are buying new boards, I wanted to minimize the number of new boards you would have to buy. Also, I removed the divider because the hens seemed to not like it - maybe it wasn't tall enough? PS - The chair plans are in my new book releasing October 9th! [2]

Dimensions

Dimensions:

Dimensions:

Dimensions are shown above.

Materials and Tools

Shopping List:

1 - 1x12 @ 4 feet long 2 - 72" long cedar fence pickets 1 - 1x2 @ 2 feet long 2" exterior wood screws

Tools:

measuring tape

square

pencil

safety glasses

hearing protection

drill

circular saw

sander

countersink drill bit

Cut List

Cut List:

2 - 1x12 @ 16 1/2" (longest point measurement, one end cut at 20 degrees off square) 1 - 1x12 @ 12" 2 - 1x2 @ 12" 4 - 5 1/2" wide cedar fence pickets @ 13 1/2" long 3 - 5 1/2" wide cedar fence pickets @ 15 1/2" long

General Instructions

Please read through the entire plan and all comments before beginning this project. It is also advisable to review the Getting Started Section. Take all necessary precautions to build safely and smartly. Work on a clean level surface, free of imperfections or debris. Always use straight boards. Check for square after each step. Always predrill holes before attaching with screws. Use glue with finish nails for a stronger hold. Wipe excess glue off bare wood for stained projects, as dried glue will not take stain. Be safe, have fun, and ask for help if you need it. Good luck!

Step 1

I put this nesting box together with just 2" screws and a countersink bit. NOTE: You can always raise the floor up too.

Step 2

Add the top supports.

Step 3

Now just add the cedar fence pickets to back and front. On mine, I actually just used a scrap 1x4 for the front, but because you will have cedar fence picket scraps, I used those in the plans.

Step 4

And then just dry fit the roof boards on top. When you are happy, start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Easy peasy!

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions:

Fill all holes with wood filler and let dry. Apply additional coats of wood filler as needed. When wood filler is completely dry, sand the project in the direction of the wood grain with 120 grit sandpaper. Vacuum sanded project to remove sanding residue. Remove all sanding residue on work surfaces as well. Wipe project clean with damp cloth. It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.

Nesting Box - Single

Outdoor [3], Other Projects [4], Outdoor [5], Starter Projects [6], farmhouse [7]