With the economy still in trouble, many normal and sane people have decided to raise some chickens in their backyard. Once you have the chicks and the coop, you need some chick nest boxes.
Hens need a little hiding place where they can lay eggs. Providing your girls with a safe place to lay their eggs makes your job easier. No one likes to hunt an egg every day, the more the eggs the safer they keep.
There are many chicken catalogs or farm stores that offer two hole metal crates for a whopping $165. But don’t panic just yet, you can build your own nesting boxes out of wood or wood or even some recycled items. if you think outside the box.
Before you begin, set your criteria:
How will you not have a nest for many chicks? You do not need a nest for individual birds; because hens do not sleep in boxes. Soon the eggs are laid there. One box is enough for each of the four chickens.
How big should your flock benesting chicken? That depends on the type of chicks you have. Bantams only need a box that is 10″ high by 12″ wide and 10″ high. A larger chicken (such as Liburni or Red) requires a box 12″ wide by 14″ deep by 12″ high. It is generally better for nesting boxes to be too small than not too big. You need a space a little bigger than your chick when everything is lowered into the nest.
What materials do you need for your chicken nesting box? It is necessary to use material that is easy to clean and sterile. Metal and plastic can be sanitized, cleaned and scrubbed. They don’t absorb chicken droppings, and they don’t absorb whatever products you used to clean. But wooden boxes are simpler and easier to manufacture. I do not recommend using cardboard boxes.
What else can be used for a chicken nest? You can use a large plastic salad bowl that you can use at a dollar store for – guessing – $1. You can use milk crates recycle plastic. You can also use a metal burner, although that is quite ironic. You could arrange bowls or grates or trays, cutting the front, so that the chickens can get in and out easily. Whether you’re making a box from scratch or something else recycled, try to leave a 4″ seam across the front to keep the eggs from rolling.
You’ve got your chicken nest boxes, now what do you fill them with? While many chicken lovers love to attribute our wings to humans, they really aren’t very picky at all. Whatever color you use to add color to the hen’s fruit, make sure it’s non-toxic and can be easily removed and replaced. Some materials to consider are hay, straw, wood shavings, shredded paper and saw dust. If you use grass>clippings, please make sure they are not chemically treated in any way. Some commercial house stores as well as good farm and food supplies carry cocoon balls that fit into the bottom of a chicken nesting box. They cost about $5 each, but will last forever and are super easy to clean.
How to keep a chicken from your chicken nest? Chickens to lay. . It’s nature, and you can’t fight it. When they are not in the nest, the chicks poop wherever and whenever they want. So either place your box away from any shots, or put a roof over it. That could be as simple as putting a shelf over the nests. If you are building a hen nesting box out of a scratch box, fix the roof at a 45 degree angle to discourage your chicks from sitting there.
Where do you place your chicken nest? Place the boxes in a dark corner and out of the way of other chickens’ traffic. You want to discourage your chickens from doing other than laying eggs in a chicken nest. Some chicks simply place their box on the floor or floor of the coop. Others recommend it by attaching it 18″-20″ off the ground. However, if you want to set the box up, keep it on the ground until your girls understand what is expected of them. You can install perches under the entrance of the hens to the ground so that the chicks can get in and out of the nesting box.
Now that you’ve prepared a little cozy place for the females to lay eggs, it’s up to you to check that the eggs are cooking every day. It is important to establish a regular cleaning and disinfecting routine. I have always found it easier and cheaper to repair or replace. Your chickens congratulate you with contented balls and tasty sweet eggs.
