The Secret to Clean Eggs? Roll Away Nesting Boxes

I finished the roll away nesting boxes. They work great but I already saw a couple adjustment I will have to make.
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[@lpeters1333]

Alaska here. We use a sloped steel shelf and set bottomless boxes on top (to give the sense that there is an enclosure). Lined laying area with washable pads as you do for cleaning. Eggs roll to back into insulated ‘box’. We ran heat tape under the egg storage area and don’t have frozen eggs down to about minus 15 degrees F. Below that ambient temp we just get what we get. Auto thermostat on heat tape seems to maintain about 40 degrees F. To be clear, we do not heat the laying box, only the egg storage area. LOVE your channel! Thanks for sharing.

[@dreamzofhorses]

When my hens make that loud squawking they are actually laying at that time. That's my hens signal that an egg is forthcoming! lol But I've got hens in So California USA, maybe its different for them. Love your nesting boxes, I'm going to make one for mine. Thank you Swedish Homestead!

[@forestnymph70]

We like your design thanks for the tips! Our rooster was Going Off while we were watching 🤣😂

[@KathyNichols-zd9sc]

Great job all the effort you put in all this work you did really paid off

[@bdavis7801]

Wow, nice design!

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Another excellent video! Nice work!

[@glendaruff125]

Happy New Year to your family.

[@daisyroe5372]

Your video is very entertaining. I've watched it several times and enjoy the interaction between you and the chickens.

[@punkyroo]

Great design!

[@TheLionsLife]

Hello! Making that front longer was going to be my suggestion to fix it, but otherwise it's a great design! We're the same way; as homesteaders we use things we have on hand as much as possible, not only to save money but also the environment. ❤️💛💜

[@tnperry]

Love your videos they are a great Beautiful chickens doing a great job thank you Albert said that from Tennessee

[@LarsOliverMuff]

Hey Simeon! They will get used to the rolling away of the eggs. Your next generation of hens will not know that eggs stay under you after you have laid them. So they will be fine with the new situation after they forgot that eggs stay. Ha ha! Nice setup!!

[@dballard8660]

Interesting concept. Thank you for sharing these ideas on this great channel. Best wishes for a productive and prosperous New Year.

[@JimT.Pirate]

Have you thought about sloping the collection tray towards the back? That way you could harvest the eggs without having to go into the area where the chickens are.

[@martijnheeroma5492]

May you can put them higher so that the eggs can roll directly to the kitchen ;)

[@EnGammalAmazon]

The chickens may be trying to get to the eggs not to peck at them, but because of their instinct to try to sit on them. You might have to make a longer roll out tray with a small flap of something like a black cloth to screen the eggs from their view. You could get really fancy and have a second ramp that would send all the eggs to a second area. Another idea is to have them roll away and drop into a second sloped area where the eggs are completely out of view beneath where they were laid.

[@luisgarci6815]

Wrong he throws the eggs on the ground they learn that their eggs are tasty so they want more and that’s not good you need to blend the egg shells he’s the problem not the chickens 😅

[@gardenlady1293]

We are having crazy weather here too in Western New York State. A nearby city got five feet of snow in two days!! We got regular winter snow, but it has gone from being a very warm winter to a brutally cold. Stay warm!

[@sthao7167]

thank for the update

[@Saigwin]

Hey Simeon, do you put Apple Cider Vinegar in their water? Just a teaspoon a day. And maybe once a month some garlic. it helps with worms and other health issues.

[@kgs2127]

"GIRL"....OMG I spit my coffee laughing out loud when you said that! About the OSB can you paint it to make it hold up better and make it easier to wash (we used a solid color stain on outside facing part and high gloss paint on inside). Love your personality!

[@meleshaharvey2676]

Great video . Very informative

[@mrsgbee8246]

Thank you for sharing your nest box experience. I need to make some too. They look a good design, clean eggs and out of reach of egg eaters. Do they need to be in a darker area or batons screwed to the front every foot to lessen the light? Very interesting video with lots of interesting comments. It will be interesting to see if you get more eggs and how it goes after a few days.

[@katielakefarmandcottages5685]

Liked both videos on nest boxes. Are the boxes out of direct light when you are not taping? My hens always puck the darkest boxes. I have put curtains on the best boxes as well. Boredom could be part of the egg pecking also. I give my hens a pan of sand to scratch in, good for their gizzard as well. Happy hens-Happy owner.

[@cookieboi4449]

My grand mother sold trays with dozens and dozens of eggs weekly from her chicken farm,,, the way she cleaned any dirty egg was with a kind of sand paper,,, no water,,, just brushed them with the sandpaper. cheers

[@JMD173]

I wonder why she didn’t use water. Why was that?

[@candicechristensen1753]

Nice design ideas

[@itsamysticlife3500]

The hen pecking at the eggs is probably not trying to go broody, she possibly needs more protein or minerals. I have a hen that does that sometimes, until I take care of the problem, not the symptom (getting rid of the hen). I give my chickens dried cat food mixed with ground eggs shells (for calcium), and black oil sunflower seeds at least twice a week from November into January, after the big molt. She quits pecking at eggs after that, Our first egg of 2018 was laid by one of our adopted blue Cochin hens that we think is about 4 or 5 years old. The rest of the flock are Easter eggers and Old English. Learned about the cat food from a bird sanctuary (softened cat food was what they fed foundling bird chicks and injured adults) due to its protein, mineral, and oil content. For intestinal worms I give our chickens pumpkins or squashes, starting in September and sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the cat food, it sticks to the cat food so it actually ends up in the chickens instead of on their feeding trays. Pumpkin and squash seeds are a natural dewormer and the chickens see it as a treat.

[@gerrymarmee3054]

I’m laughing as you talk to your chickens.

[@EnGammalAmazon]

She's announcing that she just laid an egg.

[@brunzypanda1556]

Bro love your work you gave me ideas for my school project thanks a lot

[@raydreamer7566]

I can see that almost all your eggs are in one corner. That means that your chickens want to be more secluded near a wall SO put some dividers that do not touch the bottom along the back wall to make more of a individual nesting box and I would use a hinge material for ease of cleaning . Great design I needed to see this because nothing like this is used in the Philippines...

[@Lejamejais]

do you givw whole egs to chicken? In Latvia we give only totaly broken down egg shells, so that chikens dont get the idea that they can eat the eggs.

[@gerrymarmee3054]

So interesting!

[@martinedwan4843]

Simeon i wanna get most of your training videos but i would wish to have enough physical training to impact more of this in my life and to train more other people I LOVE THIS!

[@tootsie6886]

That is so cute

[@FarmFreshIB]

Several people here are saying that dirty butts mean worms and that is simply not true. A dirty butt is sign of stress of some kind, but not necessarily worms. Believe me when I say cold winters and short days alone can be a stressor. These hens are laying and appear to be quite healthy otherwise, so I doubt that they are wormy. I do think I would add a curtain of some kind with little vertical strips cut in it for access. A darker nest box will make them more cozy and make it less likely that they will be trying to access the eggs.

[@deborahanntrengamyers4742]

Love you rope idea, to move them all in place. thank you for your information

[@soneabromaitiene2499]

Gaila, kad aš neturiu tokio gero kaimyno, jis nuostabus žmogus . Šaunuolis

[@andjmarn1485]

good work

[@billread664]

I would love to have your kind of Winter! Here in northern Ontario Canada it is 29'below zero and 2 feet of snow!

[@johnthomas5806]

glad to be back with you, lost many chances to watch you as i have moved to Philippines and had no internet for awhile.

[@user-zb9tz9bt2g]

Good nest sir impresive

[@angiegracie6954]

Great idea! LIKED! Subscribed :)

[@KeepingItDutch]

That's pretty cool man, I'll have to do something like that this, but maybe I'll make it where they will roll out of my hen house so I don't have to go in to get the eggs, thanks for sharing.

[@italiwoods]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[@annmelanie1513]

have you ever given them sprouted seed? I tried it and eggs were rock hard. Now im wondering how I can use sprouts for my own healthy bones. The roll away you designed is super great.

[@jodysappington7008]

thank you for sharing.......that is neat for the chickens.....

[@joshuajenkins-qp7gj]

Great video @simeon&alex

[@enidrodriguez720]

Take a piece of shade cloth and make a curtain for the nests. Cut thick ribbons so they can get in at any point, so they have privacy. I agree with you. make the egg colecting part longer, so they can't reach/ see them. Great design! Oh yes! and Happy New Year to you and yours!

[@walterarmstrong5665]

They seem to like the side wall

[@enidrodriguez720]

Walter Armstrong they like that corner because it's the darkest spot in the nest box. A curtain will make the whole box more private, so they will spread out more.

[@forbudt4u2]

Swedes are hilarious... "bummer, huh" 🤣 All jokes aside, great concept. If I tackle this, I might go a little wider on the collection bins. Thanks for sharing!!

[@laurabunyard8562]

Good idea.

[@honestymarshall9463]

I'm curious.... I do love this idea because the boxes are so clean. Where do they roost at night? Mine usually perch outside of our best on the attached roost but that would get the egg door dirty.

[@xyooj96]

what's the depth of the community nest and how high did you raise for the eggs to roll? would it work if you add a moving egg belt so move the eggs to one location for easier collection?

[@dansbrown1313]

Hi Simian, If you purchase aspenite ( made by chipping aspen) boards they are waterproof.

[@markrjones]

Try replacing the foam insulation with some weather striping. Look for some about 1 cm square and mount it about 1 and 1/2 to 2 cm up. Should provide a bumper cushion.

[@Fat_Kitten_Gaming]

Hej Simeon! Good work! You can also reopen the nesting boxes at night when the chickens are asleep in their roosts

[@soneabromaitiene2499]

Įdomos vištos , ir dresiruoti nereikia, pačios žino kur slepti kiaušinius

[@robertoler3795]

well done

[@69boobee]

I'm making a small coop for 4-6 hens. Should I put a devider or just do it like you? What do the chickens prefer? Thanks!

[@NS-pf2zc]

Cool idea! I love listening to your thoughts and ideas! Great tip about the fewer nesting boxes. Our eggs are freezing so fast right now (we don't heat the coop so that the birds can handle the temp change when they go out in the morning), I might block off a few boxes to help with that!

[@frodehau]

I guess we are just going to get used to this kind of "winter". In other words rain/sleet/snow in an endless rotation, and every five to ten years a really cold one. We had a couple of those in a row a few years back, was it 2012/13? I almost miss those -20C nights now.

[@EnGammalAmazon]

So much for the idea promoted here in the US of "there is nos uch thing as Global Climate Change! (GCC)"

[@Billy-mk3ep]

Please let us know with an update if you have to deepen the roll away area.

[@Aqu4m4n]

We had the same System in my old farm and we didn't need to clean the mats for an entire year. And we didn't close the nest boxes at all. We had some high Places for the chicks to sleep on... So they won't go in the nests

[@frodehau]

Note how they all want to lay in the lower right corner, I guess there is a reason why most use partitioned nesting boxes.

[@rickmavictime756]

hello all watching a video in seeing how large your mat are can you tell me where you found them thanks Rick

[@ronmack1767]

Good day. Neat idea and you did a great job constructing them. If they are just wanting to sit on the eggs? How would it be to take a fake egg and fasten it so it won't roll and it would make the hens happy to get to sit on them and after they lay and stand up the real egg will roll into the safe place. Take care and God bless.

[@eaglesnest211]

Where can I find those nesting mats?Thanks so much for your content.

[@hectormaldonado4369]

Hi. Greetings from the south of Chile. Thanks for sharing this. I would like to know what the breed of your chickens is. They look like a mix between Leghorn (comb) and Bresse (shank and claws).

[@mbisson5816]

She had a lot to say, noisy hen 😂 . I like your design.

[@gailreese4699]

Great job A little tweaking and you got it.

[@soneabromaitiene2499]

Šaunuolis, kaimo darbštuolis, pamaitins turčius ir biednius

[@gailreese4699]

@@soneabromaitiene2499 I can't not read your language sorry.

[@gailreese4699]

@@soneabromaitiene2499 I can't not read your language sorry.

[@diyfferent]

Did you happen to see our "How to Get CLEAN Eggs Straight From Your Nesting Box * RARE TIP * For Poop-Free Eggs" video? Just curious. Looks like you implemented things we did for our nesting box - communal nesting box, black cleanable plastic mats... If you haven't seen our video, have you ever heard of this tip - make the nesting box height inside short at about 12 inches or less, so that basically they can't stand up all the way, and they will not poop in the nesting box. We had a completely 100% poop-free nesting box for the entire time we had chickens.

[@Amipotsophspond]

when recommending a video put the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXTSfmltf8qpec0 so we don't have to go to your channel -> videos -> look threw all of them for the video we want -> then play it. you can find the link address for your video by playing the video right clicking, copy video url then when you want to tell some one about your video you right click and press paste.

[@rob8057]

Looks like a couple of partitions in each level would spread the chickens out and thus the eggs. Just screwed to the back wall not the floor of the box.

[@BeldeLuk]

what kind of mats are these an where did you buy them? couldn't find them on the internet

[@jeffery19677]

Ok. Its been two years. Time for an update on lessons learned and modifications made...

[@LifeIsGoooD123]

This is ideal for my chicken who loves eating eggs

[@billgraff5398]

Looking good, most likely will have to extend the egg catch with the pipe insulation so as the eggs double and triple up the chickens will not be able to get them

[@pearlaudelo1366]

Love this .. my stupid chickens eat ALL THE EGGS I was ready to make chicken soup came across this video!! I'm gonna try it thank you so much

[@007darryl]

Can you build an artificial nest with a whole in the bottom for chickens to sit on before eggs rollaway?

[@bomricio]

I like the idea! I am looking forward to build a chicken coop in our backyard!

[@justjheo]

That noisy chicken there makes my day😂😂😂 I do the same talking to a chatty chicken when I collect eggs in our farm. I would hold her and tell to shut up😂😂😂 nice coop ideas though.

[@joeh4295]

Can you post the plans?

[@Weelav]

They seem to be rolling away the eggs well and without the foam I think you’ll be fine with regards the hens reaching the eggs and them breaking. Good job👍

[@funnyfarm5555]

I use a strip of indoor/outdoor carpet for my bumper. I can just lift it out if/when I need to shake off nesting pad or trade one out to be washed. I use indoor/outdoor carpeting for their nest pads too (get it at home depot since I can buy how many inches I need off 12 foot wide roll and then cut to fit each nest). I still use dividers in the nest box. With the roll away section ( with lid) my pads are 18" long. Once in a great while I have an eaten egg. After seeing another video last night, i am going to raise the nest boxes up a few inches so hens cannot see in nest box until they jump up to get in. I also use old blue jean curtains with an upside down v cut out of them. Gives them a place to hide and feel secure.

[@RosaStringWorks]

I don't know if you've tried this or not. But you might want to try some "nest eggs." Basically they're just fake eggs that you in this case, would probably have to screw into the slanted board. The hens will see those nest eggs and lay their eggs next to them. Then they'll roll down.

[@thomasblaine3193]

Rosa String Works was going to sugest exactly the same thing

[@Siomasays]

Super glue some golf balls

[@evelynschmidt4016]

Rosa String Works k

[@AztecWarrior69]

DON'T. Those nest eggs are only for those chickens that don't get the hang of laying their eggs in the box. If you screw the decoy down the you will have to be unscrewing them when you need to clean out the boxes. Hassle. You also run the risk of having the hens go broody. She will sit on the decoy and not go out and feed to lay more eggs.

[@69boobee]

What angle did you go with 12⁰. That works good for you? I'm building a coop now

[@CrisAnderson27]

I'm building something similar, if a bit more refined...and I decided on 6°. Tested with an egg and rolls fine.

[@genewileyopa]

I have chickens that do the same. Try and get the eggs. Might end up in the pot. Thanks for sharing

[@edsmelly]

Dude! I live in central Maine, USA. You guys need some cold air? I'll send some right over! 😂

[@samuraioodon]

so no need for individual boxes? just one big one for all to share is fine? does it matter what kind of chicken or they really don't mind?

[@donlatimer5114]

Try a strip of bubble wrap or the form that goes between concrete and lumber on concrete foundation for a bumper

[@craigmooring2091]

I'm not sure you have made it clear why you can't just clean the eggs. It's not just a matter of added work, but also that cleaning the eggs also removes the natural barrier that helps them last longer, isn't it?

[@thomasbland6428]

I believe he mentioned in a previous video it was also a Swedish regulation when it comes to selling eggs.

[@acoatofgold5627]

If he cleans them, he can't sell them via Sweden's laws. They have to come out to him clean.

[@jacobspranger1267]

Yeah, laws and it removes the bloom. I believe they keep the dirty ones and sell the clean ones.

[@TheWiradjuriwoman]

I Clean My Eggs Daily and wish I didnt have to! Believe me its easier when I get the Clean eggs..I watch the Swedish Homestead quite often and enjoy some one else tricks of the trade, helpful hints go a long way, I am in Australia!

[@azaleaacres]

They seem to prefer the corner where it’s a little more private and cozy...adding a partition every 12 inches or so will give individual spaces. Otherwise. Nice design.

[@Kievlar]

You are funny!

[@IngDebo]

Glue some fake eggs in each nest area. I don't think they're goal is to eat the eggs but to sit on the eggs. Having a fake egg will give them that comfort they're searching for.

[@thomasbland6428]

Debo Ingram He might have to figure a way to attach them to the mats so they can be removed when he needs to clean the mats.

[@palehorse1021]

Another tip don't toss the broken egg back to them. They will get a taste for them and they all will start pecking at them. Great set up. How mush wood did it cost to make? They sell them here in the states for 200 for one that is 1/2 your size

[@robertareisnour8469]

You could add some fringe or light cloth to the back of the roll out tray just long enough to block the view so the hens can't see the eggs in the tray. Good luck.

[@loriannehancock6364]

Maybe some diatemaceous earth in the food for help with worming, thus cleaner eggs. Love your video and ingenuity.

[@Verdonne]

I feed my hens DE every month and have never had dirty eggs.......I don't wash my eggs till ready to use them...:)

[@cate3979]

I think when you throw the broken eggs on the ground, the chicken peck on them and eat them, and learn how to eat eggs. I think you should collect them and dispose of them elsewhere

[@AztecWarrior69]

It is best to crush or grind eggshells and feed it back to them mixed with their food.

[@jdwilsun]

SO RIGHT!!!!!

[@StephenJelinek]

Why feed chickens to chickens? I never want my chickens to develop a taste for chicken shells, or eggs.

[@AztecWarrior69]

@@StephenJelinek the calcium in the egg shells gets reused. As long as they don't know they are eating shells it's ok. The egg layer feed is full of calcium. They need lots of it. This is also why you don't feed layer to new chicks. It builds up in their bones and can stunt their growth. If you don't like it you can always feed them crushed oyster shells. But know this. In the egg farms, the eggs that don't pass, they are crushed and ground up and fed back to the chickens. They also get fed chicken by products as well.

[@zapzpzee]

Lol. We feed half shells and filthy eggs tossed on the ground back to our chickens and have never had an issue with pecked eggs. Do something different with your coop/nest boxes if they’re eating eggs. Or feed better feed.

[@DrRupe-bi4gn]

A strand of Christmas lights along the inside bottom of the nesting box may keep the eggs from freezing. About where you removed the foam. We do not think l.e.d. lights will produce enough heat to warm as well as older style Christmas lights.

[@DrRupe-bi4gn]

Older style SMALL Christmas lights

[@dakotiti8003]

what breed this chicken that you have now?

[@familyguy5081]

Hey Simeon can you get me a link to the mats you used for these boxes? I’ve built 2 sets of boxes but I can’t seem to get the mats right. Not sure what to use to put down. Chickens are not adjusting well to the boxes. I was using toolbox drawer matting but they’re destroying that

[@B.E.Long.63]

Need to think about redesigning it, hopefully you already have....Peace, God Bless America...

[@stanpatterson5033]

Might just have to accept the fact that more than one collection/day is a solution. Not the most convenient solution in terms of your productivity, but it's a solution, and it doesn't cost much. Just a second trip to the barn each day. The boxes themselves are fine, just need to either collect more often, or give the chickens "assigned workstations", lol...

[@cliffordryan2512]

I noticed that you dropped the cracked egg on the ground and assume the chickens were eating it. This is not a good practice as they will get a taste for the eggs and become cannibalistic. That could also explain why they are trying to get to the eggs. Thanks for sharing your experience and overall you seem to be doing well in spite of the cold conditions.

[@noreen_ann1438]

Maybe use a narrow piece of foam.... like 1/2" thick.

[@panheadpastor453]

Just for some extra info as far as options to use for hinges. You can also use tow or lifting stars or even ratchet straps that have been cut or frayed. Not necessarily the frayed part but what ever you have that's not useable as a tool anymore. I've used them to replace hinges on coolers and several other things that have plastic that has broken or even metal that has rusted. They even make good foot loops for the foot on home made sit and stand deer stand climber that I build. On the stands they just mash flat out of your way and lift back up with the toe of boot to secure you foot in to lift the foot climber. And they are very weather resistant I've not had and problems with them using them as hinges or foot straps or anything I've used them for and have been using broken straps for 20 years or more. Also old conveyer belts work great. Just for you info, good luck with your projects.

[@GladysRWhite]

I have seen these type of nesting boxes, but the eggs would roll to the back of the nesting boxes, not to the front. Don't know if that works better...