6 Best Nesting Boxes With Removable Bottoms For Cleaning That Prevent Mites
Keep your flock healthy and mite-free. Our review covers the 6 best nesting boxes with removable bottoms, making cleaning simple and effective.
You walk into the coop and notice your hens are restless, maybe even avoiding the nesting boxes entirely. A closer look reveals tiny, crawling specks in the corners of the wooden boxes and on the birds themselves. You’ve got mites, and now your weekend is about battling a pest that thrives in the very place your hens need to feel safe.
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Why Easy-Clean Nest Boxes Combat Mite Problems
The fight against mites is won or lost on cleanliness. These parasites thrive in the dark, warm, and often damp environment of soiled bedding, hiding in the cracks and crevices of porous materials like wood. A traditional wooden nest box is a five-star resort for a mite colony.
This is where material and design make all the difference. Nest boxes made from plastic or metal are non-porous, offering mites nowhere to burrow and lay their eggs. When you combine that with a removable bottom, you fundamentally change the cleaning process. Instead of scooping and scraping in an awkward space, you can slide the entire floor out, dump the contents into the compost, and thoroughly sanitize the surface.
This isn’t just about making a chore easier; it’s about making it more effective. A quick weekly swap-out of bedding becomes a simple, two-minute task. A monthly deep clean involves taking the tray out to be scrubbed or power-washed, ensuring you eliminate any lingering pests before they can establish a foothold. It’s a proactive strategy that saves immense time and stress down the road.
Best Nest Box: The Ultimate Roll-Away Design
The "Best Nest Box" brand has become a go-to for farmers who prioritize egg cleanliness and flock health. Its design centers on a slanted, removable floor that allows eggs to gently roll forward into a protected collection tray. This feature alone keeps eggs pristine and prevents breakage from clumsy hens.
But the real advantage in mite prevention is the combination of its plastic construction and the roll-away floor. The non-porous surface is inherently hostile to mites. The roll-away tray itself can be easily removed, making a complete bedding change effortless. You can slide it out, dispose of the old material, and wipe it down in seconds.
The main tradeoff here is cost. These units are an investment compared to a simple wooden box. However, anyone who has spent weeks treating an entire flock for a stubborn mite infestation will tell you that the upfront cost is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and labor savings. It’s a system designed for efficiency and prevention.
Duncan’s Poultry Nest Box for Simple Cleaning
Provide a safe and durable nesting space for your hens with this USA-made, 6-hole nest box. Features include fold-up perches, removable bottoms for easy cleaning, and simple assembly.
If you want the easy-clean benefits without the mechanics of a roll-away system, Duncan’s is a name to know. These boxes are straightforward, durable, and built with one primary goal in mind: simplified maintenance. They are a direct and significant upgrade from any homemade wooden box.
Made of heavy-duty plastic, the key feature of a Duncan’s box is its removable floor pan. The entire bottom of the nest slides out like a drawer. This allows you to dump soiled bedding directly into a wheelbarrow without having to reach into the box and scoop it out by hand.
This design is perfect for the hobby farmer who values practicality over complexity. You get the crucial mite-prevention benefit of a non-porous, easily sanitized surface without paying for a roll-away feature you may not need. It’s a workhorse choice that focuses on solving the single biggest problem with traditional nest boxes: they are incredibly difficult to clean thoroughly.
Miller Little Giant: Durable Plastic Nest Box
You’ll find the Miller Little Giant brand in nearly every farm supply store, and for good reason. It represents a reliable and accessible option for flock owners looking to upgrade their coop. This nest box is built from tough, impact-resistant plastic that can withstand the daily abuse of a busy flock.
The design is practical and thoughtful. It features a slanted roof to keep hens from roosting on top and soiling the area. More importantly, the box is designed for easy cleaning, often with a lowered front lip that allows you to quickly rake out old bedding and a simple construction that can be easily hosed down. The bottom is removable, making deep cleans a breeze.
The Little Giant strikes a great balance between affordability, durability, and function. It’s not the most premium option on the market, but it’s a massive improvement over wood. For a small flock owner, it’s an excellent starting point for creating a healthier, lower-maintenance coop environment.
Brower Roll-Out Nest: A Sturdy Metal Option
For those who prefer the sheer durability of metal, the Brower Roll-Out Nest is a formidable choice. Constructed from galvanized steel, these nests are built to last a lifetime. They are completely impervious to pecking, scratching, and the general wear and tear of the coop.
From a mite-prevention standpoint, metal is king. It is 100% non-porous, leaving absolutely no place for mites to hide or lay eggs. Cleaning is as simple as it gets; you can scrape, scrub, or even use a torch (with extreme caution) to sterilize the surface. The roll-out design ensures eggs stay clean and unbroken, collected in a front or rear tray.
The primary considerations with metal are temperature and cost. In colder climates, you’ll need to provide deeper bedding to insulate the hens from the cold steel. They also tend to be heavier and more expensive than their plastic counterparts. However, for a permanent, fortress-like defense against pests, a metal nest box is unmatched.
HenGear Rollaway Box: Premium Mite Defense
HenGear represents the premium end of the market, designed for farmers who want the best-engineered solution and are willing to invest in it. These systems are often modular, allowing you to connect multiple boxes together as your flock grows. The attention to detail is immediately apparent.
Constructed from high-density, food-safe plastic, every surface is smooth and easy to clean. The roll-away floors are designed with the perfect angle and are easily removable for deep cleaning. The entire system is built to minimize crevices and maximize sanitation, making it an incredibly hostile environment for mites.
This is the choice for someone who has battled mites before and said, "never again." The cost is significant, but it buys you an elite system that drastically reduces labor and virtually eliminates one of the biggest threats to flock health. It’s an investment in your time and your animals’ well-being.
RentACoop Nesting Box for Small Flock Owners
Don’t let the name fool you; RentACoop sells excellent products geared toward the small-scale and backyard chicken keeper. Their nesting boxes are often designed with convenience and smaller flocks in mind. They are typically lightweight, easy to install, and can often be mounted on the exterior of the coop for easy egg collection.
These boxes are made from plastic, providing the essential non-porous surface needed to deter mites. While some models have removable trays, their smaller, simpler design often means the entire unit can be easily taken down and hosed out. This makes them incredibly practical for coops with just a handful of hens.
RentACoop is a fantastic option for beginners or those who don’t need a large, multi-bay unit. They deliver the core benefits of modern nest box design—clean eggs and easy sanitation—in a compact and affordable package. It’s a smart, simple solution for the backyard flock.
Mite Prevention Tips for Your New Nest Boxes
Even the best nest box is only part of the solution. Your management practices are what will keep your flock mite-free for the long haul. A great nest box just makes those practices much, much easier to implement.
Once you have your new box installed, integrate these habits into your routine:
- Change bedding weekly. With a removable bottom, this takes seconds. Don’t let manure and moisture build up.
- Use Diatomaceous Earth (DE). After cleaning and before adding fresh bedding, sprinkle a light layer of food-grade DE in the bottom and corners. It works by desiccating the exoskeletons of mites and other insects.
- Add repellent herbs. A handful of dried lavender, mint, or wormwood in the nesting material can help deter pests. Hens love it, and mites hate it.
- Perform a full clean-out monthly. Take the removable tray all the way out of the coop. Scrub it with a vinegar-water solution or a poultry-safe cleaner and let it dry completely in the sun before putting it back. The UV rays are a powerful, free sanitizer.
Ultimately, choosing a nest box with a removable bottom is a strategic decision to get ahead of problems. It transforms coop cleaning from a dreaded chore into a simple, effective task. This proactive approach is the key to maintaining a healthy, productive flock with less stress and less work.
