This work presents the conception and prototyping of a modular goose nest system intended as a first step towards an intelligent, sensor-based nesting environment. Motivated by the lack of suitable laying sites in deep-litter and raised-floor systems, the study focuses on the mechanical design of nest frames, entrance mechanisms, floor geometries and passive egg-collection elements and evaluates their acceptance under farm conditions. Two wooden frame prototypes with different door and floor configurations were constructed and tested with a small group of geese. Nest use and laying behaviour were monitored continuously via video and analysed through manual event annotation (approach, entry, exit, egg laying, and interactions with structural elements). The experimental results show that, although the frame construction and basic floor concepts are mechanically robust and suitable for barn environments, the tested entrance mechanisms substantially reduced nest acceptance. Across all phases, only 1 of 40 eggs was laid in the nest, and none were successfully transported to the collection tray. Video analysis linked this low use primarily to aversive features of the side-hinged door with magnetic stop (noise, partial closing, transient trapping) as well as to strong group-nesting tendencies at floor-laid eggs outside the nest. Rather than demonstrating a ready-to-use solution, the present study identifies critical design constraints and behavioural failure modes that must be addressed in subsequent development stages. The findings highlight the need for quieter, low-resistance and low-risk entrance designs, mechanically robust yet chew-resistant materials, and management strategies that prevent the formation of external group nests. These lessons provide a concrete basis for the next generation of intelligent goose nests and for more targeted experimental evaluation of integrated sensor systems.