Chicken Coop n Run Laying boxes from Furniture Drawers

Furniture Drawers into laying boxes

We have tried many types of laying boxes.  We have tried Buckets, Egg Crates, Baskets, Wood Boxes...to name a few.
But, our favorite is an old furniture drawer.  Simple to build and can be found on the side of the road.  I am sorry I did not take photos all the way through the process.  

Step 1:

Remove hardware from drawer to use on other projects.

Step 2:

Cut 2 pieces of 1x4 or 1x6 around 12 inches long.  Cut one side of each piece at an angle.  Attach these pieces vertically inside (or out) of the drawer on the sides.  Angle side up.  Make sure the angle slopes towards the rear.  This will give you your roof pitch.  

Step 3: 

Cut a single 1x4 or 2x4 about 24 inches long and attach vertically to the old back of the drawer.  This will hold up the drawer off the ground.

Step 4:

Attach the front or largest face of the drawer to your pen using screws.  It does not have to be perfectly level.  Your chickens will not mind a little slant.


Step 5:

Cut a piece of plywood for your roof.
 (Roofing material can be anything that is waterproof and can hold the weight of a curious chicken.)
Cut a piece of plywood a few inches wider and longer than your drawer.
For example:

If your Drawer is 30 " x 14" cut your plywood 34" x 18".  This does not have to be perfect.  You are simply keeping some of the rain out of the box.
Now attach the plywood to the two vertical pieces of angled 1x6 you installed earlier.  I just lay it on top and screw it down with a couple screws.  

Step 6:
Perdy it up!
Make husband paint the box using pink paint.  This reminds him that he is not too good to have a fun time.  HEHE.  Painting not only helps prolong the wood, but it also livens up the place a bit.  

Step 7:

Fill with hay and and let em lay. 
Its fun to watch the girls inspect our projects.  They are so curious.  We like to make fun little bets on how long it takes for a hen to lay in the box.

All you have to do now is collect your eggs.  

Step 8 added:
Add a rail to the front.  Something attached to the front for the hens to fly up to and jump off of.  I used a scrap piece of 1x1x24 attached to the 2x4.