Parts list for each nest box
| Qty |
Part |
Item |
Dimensions |
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
A |
1"x12" pine boards
(actually 11 1/8" wide) |
47" long |
| 2 |
B |
1/2" plywood |
11 1/8" x 30" |
| 4 |
C |
1"x2" pine board |
21" long |
| 2 |
D |
1"x4" pine board |
48" long |
| 2 |
E |
1"x2" pine board |
48" long |
| 4 |
F |
1/4" plywood |
11 1/8" x 14 1/8" |
| 4 |
G |
angle brackets |
4" |
| ~28 |
H |
wood screws |
#8 x 2" |
| ~16 |
I |
wood screws |
#6 x 1 1/4" |
You can use 30" long 1x12"
lumber in place of
the 1/2 inch plywood (B),
but it just makes the
nest box heavier and the
plywood is cheaper.
You can also use "pegboard"
for the nest dividers
(F), but we already had
the 1/4" plywood. |
All the lumber precut for
seven nest boxes
except the 1/4" plywood
(F), which we cut last
and measured in each case
to allow for some
warping of the 1x12 boards!
The 1x12 boards
are dado cut 1/4 inch wide
by 3/16 deep to
hold the nest dividers.
The dado cuts are
made 15 1/2" in from each
end, and both
top and bottom of the center
1x12 are
dado cut. |
We made a workbench out
of saw horses and
plywood for the assembly.
First connect the
sides (B) to the top (A)
and bottom (A) using
#8 x 2" screws (H)
forming a box. |
Measure 15" from the top
or bottom to position
the center 1x12 (A).
Mark it at front and
back of each side to insure
the center 1x12
is level. Don't forget,
the
center board is the
one that's dado cut top
and bottom :o)
Fasten it from both
sides using #8 x 2" screws. |
Next position the four
21" 1x2's (C) about 12"
in from each side and fasten
with #6 x 1 1/4"
screws (I). Do this
before putting the 1"x4"
lip (D) on the front of
the nests. (makes it
easier to get the drill
in there...) |
Now you can install the
front lip (D) on the top
and bottom row of nests
using four or five #8
x 2" screws (H), and attach
the 4 foot 1x2
"roosts" (E) to the supports
(C) using #6 x
1 1/4" screws (I) from
the bottom. |
Here's a closeup of the
dado cuts in the center
1x12 board (A). Since
this is the center one
it's cut on top and bottom
to allow the nest
dividers to be slid in
place. Since some of
the 1x12 boards were warped
(curled a bit),
we measured each of the
dividers to be sure
we had a good snug fit
before installing it. |
Here's the completed nest
box with nest
dividers in place.
Since we were installing
these on the plywood sides
of each pen, we
didn't need to put a back
on them. |
We attached two of the
4" angle brackets (G)
to the bottom about 12"
in from the sides to
make it easier to mount
the nest boxes. We
attach the top brackets
after we position
the nest box in the pen. |
Here's the last 2 nest
boxes assembled and
ready for installation
in the pens. Each of the
six nests comes out to
about 15" wide,
15" high and 11 1/8" deep. |
Since the top of our nest
boxes came out even with the top of the plywood in the pens, we
mounted the top angle brackets
(G) over the 2x4
to the nest box from the
adjoining pen. |
It feels great to get this
Project done! Here's
a completed nest box mounted
in the last pen.
We use about 3 inches of
pine shavings in the
nest boxes to keep the
eggs unbroken and clean.
The bottom of the nest
box is about 18" from
the floor and we're planning
to mount
automatic waterers below
them. |
Barn
Pen Construction - Page 6(a)
