Triangular Nesting Box

• 1). Measure two 32-inch pieces of unfinished 1-inch by 6-inch wood.
  
  
• 2). Cut each end at a 45-degree angle with a miter box or a chop saw. Remember that the 32-inch length should be the outside length of your angled cut so that when you are finished, you will have two boards which are 32-inches long on the outside edge. Set the boards aside.
  
  
• 3). Measure and cut one 46-inch piece of unfinished 1-inch by 6-inch wood. Cut each end at a 45-degree angle.
  
  
• 4). Rough-fit the frame together. Apply wood glue to the three angled cuts. Hammer three, 6-penny nails into each junction. Wipe away any extra glue with a damp cloth or paper towel. Set this aside to dry.
  
  
• 5). Place the plywood on two sawhorses or on concrete blocks.
  
  
• 6). Put the frame on top of the plywood. Measure and cut two inches from one side of the plywood using a circular or jigsaw.
  
  
• 7). Line up the front edge of the frame with the 46-inch edge of the plywood.
  
  
• 8). Measure 6 inches out from the frame on the other two sides of the triangle. Draw in these lines. Remove the frame from the plywood.
  
  
• 9). Cut along the two lines you just drew with a circular or jigsaw. This extra six inches will form a lip which makes it easy to attach the nesting box into the corner.
  
  
• 10
  
  Place the frame on the ground or on the sawhorses or concrete blocks. Spread wood glue along the bottom edge of the frame and fit the plywood onto the frame. Make sure to line up the longest edge of the frame with the long edge of the plywood before you secure the frame with nails.
  
  
• 11
  
  Wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth or paper towels. Flip the frame over and let the glue set.
  
  
• 12
  
  Secure the nesting box into the corner of the barn or hen house by placing the 6-inch lip of plywood on top of the 2-by-4s that form part of the structure of the walls. Hammer six to eight nails through each of the two lips into the 2-by-4s on the barn wall. Place the nesting box at a height that will make collecting eggs easy.
  
  
• 13
  
  Fill the nests with fresh hay or straw.
  
  

Plastic Drum Nests

• 1). Cut a 55-gallon plastic drum into three equal pieces using a jigsaw or reciprocal saw.
  
  
• 2). Discard the middle section of the drum.
  
  
• 3). Place a few heavy rocks into each of the two ends to keep it from sliding across the floor.
  
  
• 4). Fill it with hay or straw.
  
  
• 5). Place the nesting box on the floor of the hen house.