Build a nesting system with rolling egg delivery
Preface: We got our first hens last year and quickly found out that at times, the hens will peck and eat the eggs they produce. After searching for an inexpensive method of alleviating this, without cutting off their beaks, we finally devised our own system of getting the eggs out of the reach of the hens, while making egg pickup super easy for the girls at the same time. The following is a step by step plan for building such a system.
Preparation and Information
This nesting box and rolling egg delivery system is designed to fit in a hole that exists in the wall of the hen house that is exactly 23 1/8″ tall by 8′ 1/8″ wide as shown in photos of our new hen house.
The images in this tutorial are shrunk to fit in this page. The full size, printable, images are linked at the bottom of this article.
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Materials List & Item Codes
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A. 21″ x 23″ x 1/2″ plywood - 2 pieces
B. 21 1/4″ x 95″ x 1/2″ plywood - 1 piece
C. 10 15/16″ x 95″ x 3/4″ Pine Board - 1 piece
D. 10 1/4″ x 95″ x 3/4″ Pine Board - 1 piece
E. 9 3/4″ x 95″ x 3/4″ Pine Board - 1 piece
F. 5″ x 95″ x 3/4″ Pine Board - 1 piece
G. 11″ x 96″ x 3/4″ Pine Board - 1 piece
H. 2″ x 19″ x 3/4 Pine Board - 2 pieces
I. 10 7/8″ x 11 3/4″ x 13″ Pine Board - 7 pieces
J. 1 5/8″ decking screws - 60 pieces
K. 1 1/8″ decking screws - 6 pieces
L. 2″ standard door hinges - 2 pieces
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How to Build It.
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1. Make the cuts as shown in the below drawing to form the 2 side panels out of Item A.
2. Using the 1 5/8″ decking screws, fasten items C, D, E, F to side panel A as shown in the drawing below.
3. Using the 1 5/8″ decking screws, fasten item B to the underside of item F and the top of item E as depicted in the above drawing. Place screws every 10 inches (approx).
4. Screw the nesting box seperators in evenly from one side to the other. I used 10 3/4″ inch gaps from board to board in ours.
5. Using at least 3 people, 2 to hold and stabilize the nesting system in the hen house wall hole, and one person to screw it in, place 2 screws in each side panel screwing into the wall studs. Next place 2 screws in each side panel outside into the bottom of the panel going in to the wall studs. At this time, the 2 people holding the unit may let go, then proceed to place one screw into the top stud above the unit on the inside of the hen house every 12 inches or so.
6. Put the lid (item G.) on using the 2 standard door hinges.
7. To make things pretty, you will at this point likely wish to box the outside bottom of the unit in. I used 1/2″ plywood, with some strips of 3/4″ pine to screw to. Possibly even round some edges, etc.
8. Stand back & Admire your brand new nesting box & rolling egg delivery system.
As an afterthought, I am adding some foam rubber to my boxes to reduce the risk of broken eggs. An inexpensive way of doing this is to get childrens foam rubber mats and cut them to fit both the nest box bottoms and the entire delivery area.
Update: You will want to drill a 3/4 inch hole at each end of the unit at the lowermost part to allow for water drainage if you do not seal the lid using rubber or something that keeps water out during storms.
Full size printable drawing #1.
Full size printable drawing #2.
Full size printable drawing #3.
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Costs of Construction
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CDX plywood = $17.95
#2 white pine = $48.00
Decking screws = $4.50
Door Hinges = $2.49
Total cost for system: $73.00
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