Turkey Nesting Boxes
Our turkeys got to laying stage and needed something besides finding piles of hay or straw to lay eggs in so we used up a variety of the scrap bits we had around to set up a 2 seater nesting box. The back is screwed into the barn structure, so there are only legs on the front.
Installing the frame
Roof on, ready for hay
The front of the nesting box has a 2×4 step up rail to give the girls an easy way to get in and out of the nests and has worked quite well.
all ready for turkeys when they are done in the dust bath!
Now we are ready for eggs! We did note that we should have installed the back rail to keep eggs from rolling out the back when the hens got carried away, but that was an easy fix and we are now in business.
Items to remember if you build your own:
- A nice sloped roof that overhangs the nest by a few inches discourages pooping in the nest.
- Make sure you have the nests high enough to reach in comfortably without too much bending.
- The girls need a roost bar to get in more comfortably, but it is not required.
- Hay is better than straw inside as it is softer and makes a nicer nest
One of the first things we made when we got birds, was a little entertainment for them. They like to roost, even as babies. Jessica looked on line and we were both surprised at the costs for these little accessories. I whipped up a few models in my shop to see how they worked and the birds really seemed to go for them.
Lessons learned:
