Page title: FAQ

We really think so! We've not received a single report of a fox getting into one of our coops. Our ‘chew-resistant’ coops are made from 70% recycled plastic which is really tough, and the ventilation holes are far too small for a fox. The rear door is lockable and the front door is reinforced with rotating metal slide, which makes it difficult to open by lifting, unlike classic vertical sliding doors.

Unfortunately, nothing is 100% red mite-proof. However, Nestera chicken coops are cleverly designed to be extremely red mite-resistant! Red mites are tiny, and live in cracks and joints in poultry housing. Unlike wooden chicken coops, ours are made from solid 70% recycled plastic and created to ensure there are very few suitable places for red mite to hide. We recommend sprinkling Diatom powder around the coop when refreshing the bedding, so any mites present are quickly dealt with before they can multiply.

The plastic we use is 70% recycled which we have found to be an excellent material for chicken coops. In the winter months, the required ventilation means the temperature inside the coop will be similar to the ambient air temperature outside. However, chickens are quite tolerant of the cold as their feathers provide good insulation. During the warmer summer months, our solid, UV-resistant roofs reflects the sun's heat really well, keeping your chickens cool and comfortable.

For our standard coops, we have three sizes available: Small, Medium and Large. The Small is designed for up to two large fowls or four bantams, the Medium for up to five large fowls or nine bantams and the Large suits up to eight large fowls or 15 bantams.

The Wagon is suitable for up to eight large birds or 15 bantams.

Absolutely! We offer a Nestera Automatic Door Opener as an optional extra with all our coops. Discreet pre-drilled holes are included on each coop for easy installation.

Most people manage to successfully assemble their Nestera coop in well under an hour. You certainly don’t need to be a DIY expert! We provide clear and easy-to-follow instructions with every chicken coop which can also be downloaded above.

When asking what type of chicken coop is best for me, you need to consider a few things:
The first is how many chickens do I have/am I getting? Nestera chicken coops can comfortably house between 3 and 8 large chickens (or 15 Bantams).

The second thing to consider is whether you will have chicks. If this is the case, we recommend a Nestera Ground Coop because these are low to the ground, providing easy access for broody hens and chicks.

If you want to raise your flock off the ground, we recommend a Lodge or a Raised Coop; these both offer a sheltered area under the coop for your hens to feed, play and take cover from any adverse weather.

In the Summer, all coops get warm but during the day, hens are only inside for the time it takes them to lay an egg. For this reason, ALL coops should be located in a naturally shaded area. At night, the temperature cools and with the vents fully open, warm air will escape while cooler air is drawn in.

This is actually one of the most recurring questions we get asked. That's why we decided to get some hard scientific facts straight from a trustworthy source, and spoke to Dr. Daniel Cervenkov, professor of thermodynamics at Oxford University. He explained that when a coop - or any object for that matter and regardless of its colour - is placed OUT of direct sunlight, nearly all of the direct heating from the sun is removed; and grass or dirt would reflect perhaps around 5 or 10% of the light. This means sunlight would play a much smaller role in determining the coop's temperature, leaving ventilation as the main element in determining the coop's temperature. Bottom line is when the coop is placed in the shade - as it should be - the colour will play a very small role in determining their temperature.

As far as we know, nobody's coop has ever blown over. The footprint of all the coops is very square giving them excellent stability. The low roof profile makes them very streamlined too. Obviously the centre of gravity is lower on our ground and lodge coops than the raised versions, so if in doubt these would be the better choice.

Chickens have six different types of feathers which keep them warm and cosy in even the coldest of temperatures, of course they naturally huddle together too!

Have you tried putting your hand on top of the coop in the middle of the night? We have and it's freezing cold... what this tells us is that heat isn't passing through the material therefore insulating it would have no benefit.

If you still feel that you would like to improve conditions for your hens overnight we would strongly recommend using a highly absorbent bedding and changing it frequently.

They would also benefit from a highly calorific afternoon snack, which they will digest overnight.

We are a little cautious about red heat lamps in chicken coops due to the fire risk. The ceramic dull emitters used with a guard have a better safety record but are still less than ideal. If your heat source stops working or loses power in the middle of the night, this causes a drastic drop in temperature which can be fatal. On the other hand, if you don’t use any heat system birds cope surprisingly well. They have layers of insulating feathers and they naturally huddle together too. Choose a coop that is the correct size for the number of birds in your flock. If you coop is too large, they waste previous energy heating excess space. Feed highly caloric treats such as corn, wheat or sunflower seeds late in the afternoon to provide extra fuel. Add extra bedding under the perch to reduce the amount of space they need for heating and more insulation. Try to ensure your birds stay dry during the day by using a covered run so they don’t go to bed wet or waste energy drying damp feathers. If your hens felt too hot under the lamp, it would be almost impossible for them to move away from it. This would cause unimaginable suffering and could also be fatal. 

Condensation tends to be an issue when there is insufficient ventilation. Our coops have TWO adjustable vents to ensure that the humidity that causes condensation is always well managed.

Our 2m Run and 1m Run Extension are designed to fit securely to the Raised Large Coop only.

The size of Run you choose depends on the size of your flock, what breed of chicken they are and how much additional outdoor space they have for roaming free outside the Run.

We always recommend allowing your chickens as much outdoor space as possible – whether that’s letting them free range in your garden or by using our 1m Run Extension, which offers a total of 3 metres of secure outdoor space. 

The 2m Run includes the space under the Raised Coop. Its dimensions are:  

Height: 956mm
Width: 925mm
Length: 1150mm 

The additional 1m Run Extension dimensions are: 

Height: 956mm 
Width: 925mm 
Length: 1150mm 

There are three access points on the Run. The main door is on the end mesh panel and is secured with a sliding steel bolt. There are two additional hatches under the rear of the coop. These can be open and closed easily and are secured with dual fastenings made of strong and durable recycled plastic.

These rear hatches are ideal for accessing the secure area under the coop to leave food and water.

The dimensions of the door on the end panel of the Run are:

Height: 480mm
Width: 400mm.

The door is made from the same ‘anti-chew’ hot-dip galvanised steel weld mesh as the rest of the Run and can be secured shut with a sliding steel bolt.  

Yes, you can! With using the coop with the Wheelset, moving your coop and Run is a quick and easy job that can be done by one or two people.

Simply engage the Wheelset into the appropriate slots and move the Coop by lifting the Run’s end panel before pushing/pulling it into its new position. 

Sure! Once you have the 2m Run and 1m Run Extension installed, there’s nothing to stop you increasing the length of your Run by simply attaching additional 1m Run Extensions onto the end of it.

All the products we make are built to last. Our Runs are constructed from hot-dip galvanised steel weld mesh and have a durable PPA coating which means they can be left outside all year round in all weather conditions.

All our Runs come with a 10-year anti-corrosion warranty to offer you further peace of mind. 

We recommend waiting until your chicks are at least 6 weeks old before letting them play outside in the coop Run.

When introducing chicks to the Run, it’s best to keep them separate from the rest of the flock for a week or so. This allows them time to familiarise themselves with the Run before interacting with the rest of the flock.  

You have two options: 
You can save and store videos under 1GB for free for seven days on the VicoHome app. This can be extended to 60 days with a cloud service subscription. 

Alternatively, you can use a Micro SD Card (up to 128GB) in the camera. However, videos saved to your Micro SD Card cannot be shared, downloaded or deleted directly from the VicoHome app – you will need to do this by inserting the Micro SD Card into an external reader. 

You can add as many cameras as you like to your VicoHome app account. The more the merrier!

When set to ‘Auto’, the camera will record for up to three minutes as soon as motion is detected.

This WiFi camera works on a 2.4GHz wireless network. The device does not yet support the 5GHz wireless network. Please ensure the WiFi authentication method to WPA2-PSK or any other lower level of security. A password is required for additional security.

It sure will! Once the camera is set up, if a Micro SD Card is inserted, it can record videos even without an internet connection. An internet connection is only required if the footage needs to be accessed remotely via the app.

A physical copy of the User Guide is included with the camera in the packaging, but you can also download it from ourUser Guides page.

If you are using the VicoHome app on an Apple device running iOS 13 or above, you need to go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, find the VicoHome app on the list and select ‘While Using the App’.

The camera’s built-in infrared light displays a dim red light when night vision is activated. This doesn’t disturb or affect the birds in any way. The image quality is still clear in low light or in total darkness.

This distance can vary depending on various factors, such as your WiFi strength and the surrounding environment. Things like thick walls, large metal objects nearby and electromagnetic devices can all interfere with a WiFi signal. If you find your connection to be weak, place the camera as close to your router as possible.

9 times out of 10, simply restarting the device will fix most issues. Turn the camera off by holding down the power button underneath for 5 seconds. If required, insert a pin into the reboot hole to restart the camera.  

If you’re still having an issue with your camera, drop us a line at support@nestera.eco or call 01963 371563 and we’ll have you up and running again in no time.   

The Automatic Door Opener is powered by 4 x AA batteries (included).

Don’t worry, this is normal. To preserve battery life, the LCD display is designed to enter ‘sleep mode’ after a period of inactivity. You can ‘wake’ it again by pressing the Menu button. 

Please ensure all 4 x AA batteries are new and inserted correctly, and that the battery cable wire is not being pinched between the lid and the box. It’s also worth checking that any connector cables haven’t been accidentally loosened while fitting the unit.

If these steps don’t offer a solution, drop us a line at support@nestera.eco and we’ll have you up and running again in no time. 

The light sensor is designed to activate the coop door over a gradual light change. This ensures the door isn’t opened automatically in a lightning storm or in car headlights, for example. The sensor takes an average light reading every three minutes to account for this.

Please note, if your automatic door opener is positioned near a floodlight or streetlight, this may affect the light sensor. It is best to position your coop away from ambient lighting. 

The cord provided with the unit is 1.5m long. Please bear in mind that this includes a small length that needs to remain wound around the spindle inside the unit. 

Restart the door calibration process with open and closed position of the door. Press the main button to activate the screen and press it a second time to enter the main menu.

Step 1: Calibrate the door in its open position and confirm the position with the main button

Step 2: Repeat in the door closed position.

Step 3: Select mode for door opening: Manual, Timer or Sensor.

Step 4: Repeat mode selection for door closing: Manual, Timer or Sensor.

If Sensor mode is selected, choose the LUX (light) level you want to trigger the for opening and closing process.

As long as you have a garden or outdoor space, you can keep chickens and enjoy freshly laid eggs every morning. Whether you live in the city or countryside, an increasing number of people are now keeping chickens in their garden, mainly due to how easy it is. However, we recommend checking with your local authority first, as a small number don’t allow chickens to be kept in gardens. If you rent your property, we advise you to check your tenancy agreement as it will likely include rules about keeping animals.

Luckily, chickens don't require a lot of space. The absolute minimum area for a run is 1 square metre per bird but the more space you can provide for your birds, the better; so we recommend at least 2 square metres per bird. Many people grant their chickens free reign of their entire garden, but it's worth remembering some chickens enjoy making a mess, so a run may be preferable.

The 1950 Allotment Act states you can keep chickens on an allotment as long as they are for the allotment holders’ use only and not used for business or profit. However, we suggest you check your specific allotment's rules as some allotment landlords do not allow poultry. If there is a complaint about your birds being a nuisance or a health hazard, or if their welfare is affected in any way, the authorities have the power to remove them.

Generally, no. Hens do make a range of noises, but these are mostly gentle and quiet... until they've laid an egg, when they like to have a quick shout about their achievement - and who can blame them? The noisy ones are the males, known as roosters or cockerels. They are territorial birds and love nothing better than regularly telling everyone that the hens are his!

Cockerels traditionally also crow loudly at sunrise. Because chickens are early risers, when the sun comes up every morning, he will proudly announce his presence to the world. However, not everyone appreciates this early morning wake-up call, so this is something to consider if you have neighbours living nearby.

If handled from young, chickens will become very tame and make fantastic family pets. Keeping chickens in your garden is great fun for children of all ages and provides hours of entertainment, as well as the opportunity to learn about sustainability, caring for animals and where eggs comes from.

Keeping chickens is really easy and doesn't require a of your time. Chickens are quite happy occupying themselves by exploring your garden or their run. The only things chickens require of you is to let them out of their coop in the morning (although this can be done with a Nestera Automatic Door Opener), ensure they have sufficient food and water, remove their eggs and put them back into their coop at night. Their coop will need cleaning out once a week - but our cleverly designed Nestera coops ensure this is always a very quick and easy job!

Most novice chicken keepers usually start with a small, manageable number of hens, and when we’re asked what is the best chicken coop for beginners, we always recommend the Nestera Ground Coop. It’s the perfect entry-level chicken coop - not only does its clever design prevent red mite infestations but it sits low to the ground, providing easy access for broody hens and young chicks.

The Ground Coop is available in three sizes to comfortably house up to eight large hens or 15 Bantams.

Unlike traditional wooden coops, the smooth interior surfaces of Nestera plastic chicken coops leave nowhere for red mites to hide, meaning your hens won’t be subjected to painful (and sometimes deadly) red mite infestations.

Not only that, but the 70% recycled plastic we use makes the coop cleaning process a piece of cake - a quick hose-down is all it takes, and the plastic dries in moments!

Plus, every Nestera chicken coop comes with at least two fully-adjustable vents to keep your flock at the ideal temperature all year round. A Nestera coop means happier, healthier hens!

As experienced chicken keepers, we know that owning chickens is very fun and extremely rewarding. But with fun comes responsibility, which is why we’ve created our coops to minimise the downsides of chicken keeping. 

Traditionally, chicken coops have been made of wood which are difficult to clean, take hours to dry and easily harbour red mite. Nestera coops are made from 70% recycled plastic and intelligently designed to make chicken keeping a piece of cake!

Nestera coops prevent red mite, make the cleaning process so easy, and include fully-adjustable air vents to provide the perfect amount of airflow whatever the weather.

Traditional wooden chicken coops come with a huge number of disadvantages: they are a pain to keep clean, take ages to dry and are an easy target for red mite infestations.

When designing our chicken coops, we took all these pain points into consideration and discovered plastic is a far better option - and not just any plastic, but 70% recycled (and recyclable) plastic.

Nestera’s smooth interiors not only leave nowhere for swarms of red mites to hide and harm your hens, but make the coop cleaning process far quicker and easier than with a wooden coop - just hose it down and it’ll be dry in moments!

For up to 6-8 chickens, we recommend at least two nesting boxes. Each of our Medium and Large coops from the Ground, Lodge and Raised ranges (plus the Wagon) all offer two secure nesting boxes for your hens to lay their eggs in comfort. The Small Ground, Lodge and Raised Coops feature a single nesting box, which is suitable for 3-5 hens.

We are often asked how many chickens you should have in one coop, and this depends on several factors, including the breed of chicken, and their size.

It’s important to remember that chickens need plenty of space to move around, roost and lay eggs. Overcrowding a coop can lead to health issues, stress and aggressive behaviour, so we always recommend to err on the side of caution and provide your chickens with a little more space than they strictly need. 

Every Nestera coop is available in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large. The Small can house up to 3 large hens or 5 Bantams; the Medium up to 5 large hens or 9 Bantams; and the Large (and the Wagon) up to 8 large hens or 15 Bantams.

Two of the most commonly used materials for coop bedding are wood shavings and sand. Aesthetically, sand looks cleaner and has been proven by Auburn University researchers to lower coliform counts, including E.coli, compared to wood shavings.

You can even sprinkle fresh nest herbs like these onto your coop bedding. The natural oils in the marigolds, rose buds, lavender, lemon balm, cornflowers and chamomile help relax and calm your hens. They also smell great and discourage pests.

Some people recommend straw as an appropriate bedding material; however, it’s worth noting that the hollow straw fibres provide an ideal place for red mites to hide. 

We offer removable droppings trays for all our coops, which makes the cleaning process quick and easy, and ensures a far more hygienic coop for both you and your flock.

Chickens are highly flock-orientated, so for a starter flock size we recommend no fewer than three chickens. You can expect around 12 eggs per collection (every couple of days) from three laying hens. If you have no previous experience looking after chickens, it’s best to start with a smaller flock, as you can always grow it once you’ve established a routine. 

For a slightly larger family with a higher egg consumption, a flock of five or six hens is a good choice. 

Nestera chicken coops can comfortably house between 3-8 large hens, or 5-15 Bantams.

Luckily, the 70% recycled plastic we use for our chicken coops is an excellent thermal insulator, and when combined with the fully-adjustable ventilation featured on every Nestera coop, it provides ideal temperatures for your hens all year round.

However, if required in the depths of winter, you can cover your coop with a blanket to help it retain heat - just make sure the adjustable vents are uncovered to provide adequate airflow. 

We always recommend providing a warm, dry coop floor with biodegradable bedding for your hens. Our removable droppings trays are perfect for this!

Most chicken breeds are hardy enough to handle the cold weather. There is no official yardstick of what temperature is too cold for chickens (in Canada, chickens are often kept successfully at -20°C!) - and in fact, it’s heat that causes chickens more problems.

To ensure chickens can cope well with cold weather, it’s important to establish a routine that keeps them fit and healthy throughout the year. Chickens need feathers to keep themselves warm and ensuring your flock is healthy means they will have sufficient plumage to preserve their body heat when it’s cold.

A chicken’s average body temperature is around 41.1°C, but this body temperature lowers when it loses more heat than it can produce. Chickens often huddle together at night time on their perch; they may hold a foot up to their breast; or they’ll puff their feathers out to stay warm in their coop.

One of the main reasons for a chicken coop is to offer your flock protection from the weather and predators. Providing your hens a chicken coop with four walls and a roof will keep them safe and healthy. Other basic elements every coop should have include proper ventilation, nesting boxes and secure perches. 

Every Nestera chicken coop offers all these features as standard and each has been intelligently designed to offer not just safety for your flock, but luxury too!

The range is approximately 15-20m depending on the environment and the range of your router. Take your phone to where you want to install your bird box; if it receives at least two ‘bars’ of WiFi from your router, then this should be enough signal for the WiFi camera.

Do some quick checks:

Have you left the lens cap or protective lens sticker on on the camera? (We've all done it!)

Are all the cable connections firmly plugged in?

If these don't resolve the issue, get in touch with support@nestera.eco and we'll have you up and running in no time.

Just follow the simple step-by-step instructions on our free Nestera Bird Cam app for iOS and Android smart devices. All our bird box cameras include a set of printed instructions, too - which can also be downloaded from the product page. 

Download our free Nestera Bird Cam app:

iOS users please click here

Android users please click here

Yes they are. No technical knowledge is required, and to make things as easy as possible, we included clear, easy-to-follow instructions with each order. Plus, we’re always on hand should you need any help, support or advice. Get in touch with support@nestera.eco.

The solar panel’s battery may have simply run down. Unplug and remove the solar panel from where it is installed and take the solar panel indoors to charge it with its Micro USB cable.

This probably means not enough natural light is getting into the bird box. When positioning your bird box, try to keep the translucent windows on each side reasonably clear of foliage or other obstructions to ensure enough natural light can enter the nesting chamber.

To maximise the chances of birds nesting, we only use natural daylight to illuminate the inside of our bird boxes. A drop in light will trigger the LUX sensor and activate the infrared LEDs which are designed to provide black and white images when it’s dark.

You should aim to have your bird box in place by the end of February or the beginning of March. Garden birds start breeding around mid-February. However, we have known bird boxes put up as late as April to have success.

Simply use boiling water to clean out your nest box. We recommend old nests be removed from August onwards (or once you are certain the birds have stopped using the nest box).
Most birds' nests harbour fleas and other parasites which can remain in situ to infest young birds that hatch the following year. Boiling water kills any remaining parasites. Always let the box dry out thoroughly before replacing the front or top panels.
It's important to never use insecticides or flea powders in your bird box.

Sadly, yes. It's quite normal for a few eggs to fail to hatch, or for some young to die. Blue and Great Tits lay up to 14 eggs to allow for such losses.
Cold weather and/or food shortages may lead to nest desertion, or for only the strongest of the chicks to survive. The death of one parent or interference from animals or humans may also cause nest desertion.
Remember. if there are unhatched eggs in a nest box, these can only legally be removed between August and January.

This depends on a range of factors, such as internal nest box size, entrance hole size, how high off the ground the nest box is situated, etc. Nestera bird boxes are designed following RSPB and BTO recommendations and constructed from 18mm thick, responsibly sourced wood.
Our nest boxes are fitted with a 32mm entrance hole as standard, which will attract the widest range of garden birds, including Blue Tits, Marsh Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows, and when the centre panel is removed (open fronted), you can expect Nuthatches, Robins, Wrens and more!

There are a number of things to consider when mounting a Nestera bird box to maximise your chances of birds nesting in it. A more detailed checklist can be found here, but some of the key things to consider are:
Direction – face your nest box between North and East
Shelter – avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight
Access – ensure the birds have a clear flight path to the nest box
Height – different species prefer different distances from the ground
Fixing – tilt your nest box forward slightly so driving rain can’t penetrate the nest box.

Our nest boxes are constructed from responsibly sourced Western Red Cedar which proves to be hardy against all weather conditions.
As well as this, we are trusted to manufacture the RSPB-branded Pine nest box camera systems, which are also FSC-certified.

The high-performance solar panel has its own integrated 15600mA lithium-ion battery pack which is recharged by the sun and keeps the battery camera charged up.

If you notice the power on the battery camera is running low, you can simply take the solar panel indoors to recharge its battery pack with its Micro USB cable - all without disturbing the birds.

Simplytap ‘Share Device’ in the Nestera Bird Cam app settings and select any contact on your phone to send them an invitation. Once they’ve downloaded the Nestera Bird Cam app and created an account, you can then grant them access to your camera.

Just follow the simple step-by-step instructions on our Nestera Bird Cam app for iOS and Android smart devices. All our bird box cameras include a set of printed instructions, too - which can also be downloaded from the product page. 

Download our free Nestera Bird Cam app:

iOS users please click here

Android users please click here

Delivery of all Nestera products over £49 is completely free... nada... zilch... zip... zero... nothing... no money... Pretty great, right?

Our amazing team aim to get your order delivered to you within 2-4 days of your order confirmation.

Yes, we'll keep you updated with every step of your coop's journey. When your order is ready to ship, you'll receive an email with the tracking number to let you know it's on its way.

You certainly can! You'll receive up-to-date tracking information in an email the moment it's passed to our courier. You can also log into your Nestera account at any time to check your order and/or delivery status.

To change or cancel an order, contact us by phone on 01963 371563 or email support@nestera.eco as soon as possible after ordering. You can also log into your account to check the the delivery status of your order.

First, check the couriers's tracking information to find out what items were delivered. If any items still appear to be out for delivery, please contact the courier. Otherwise, contact us for further assistance and we'll be happy to help.

Our products are all shipped flat-packed for self-assembly in fully recyclable packaging. Easy-to-follow instructions are always included and can also be downloaded here.

Let us know which parts are missing or damaged and we'll send replacements out to you ASAP. Please use the part descriptions in the User Guide, so we can accurately identify each part required.

Of course! We pride ourselves on our green credentials. Not only are Nestera chicken coops made from 70% recycled plastic, but every last bit of the packaging it's delivered in is recyclable.

We offer a huge range of payment methods: Credit or Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express), Paypal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Shop Pay or you can buy now and pay later with Klarna.

You can complete your order using our secure online Checkout, or call us on 01963 371563 to make payment securely over the phone.

Our website has been designed and built using the highest security measures. Our online Checkout is powered by Shopify, which is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant. We do not store any card details on our servers and always ensure our website is kept updated.

To apply a discount code, simply enter it in the relevant field at the payment stage of our secure Checkout and click 'Apply'.

We regularly offer exclusive discounts in our newsletter, which you can subscribe to below.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date with our latest offers, discounts and news.

We want you to be 100% happy with your Nestera products.

If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your order, we offer a no-quibble, 30-day returns policy.

Just like delivery, Nestera returns are also free.

Simply email us at support@nestera.eco to arrange your return.

Your refund or replacement will be issued as soon as we receive your item/s. Refunds will be made within 48 hours of receipt of the item/s back to your original payment method. Please allow up to 3 working days for the refund to appear on your bank statement.