Getting started with your chickens can sometimes seem expensive, however there are options for cheap .
If you are at all familiar with raising chickens, you will understand the importance of providing chicken nesting boxes for your hens.The nesting boxes will give your hens a clean, safe place in which to lay their eggs. They not only provide your laying hens with needed privacy, but also make it easier for you to find and collect the eggs.
Cheap Improvised Chicken Nesting Boxes
Your chickens do not require anything fancy and you will only need one nesting box for every 3-4 laying hens. You may even be able to use items from around the house to make cheap chicken nesting boxes. Such items as cat litter boxes, plastic milk crates, or large plastic bowls with one side cut out will do nicely and make practical and cheap chicken nesting boxes. Other ideas include using old plastic laundry baskets with one side cut out, wooden crates, or plastic buckets placed on their sides. Always be certain to properly sanitize the items to be used before using them as chicken nesting boxes. Never use any container that has ever stored anything toxic or chemical related either, to ensure the safety of your chickens.
Building Chicken Nesting Boxes
Other cheap chicken nesting boxes include the make it yourself variety. Standard for most chicken breeds measure 9-10″ high by 12″ wide, by about 12″ deep. For larger chicken breeds, add about 2 inches to each measurement for an accurate sized nesting box. You can construct cheap chicken nesting boxes by using leftover plywood from another project. When creating your chicken nesting box plans, allow for an opening about 10” high for the laying hens to enter the nesting box. Keep a wooden edge about 2” high across the bottom to help keep litter or bedding material in place and to prevent eggs from rolling out and breaking. Make a 45 degree pitched roof to discourage other chickens from sitting on top of the chicken nesting box.
Chicken Nesting Boxes for Sale
You may also wish to find chicken nesting boxes for sale. There are some great deals to be found on used chicken nesting boxes as well and new nesting boxes.
-Amazon offers a few at prices of around $15-$20. You could also look at the photos of the nesting boxes provided and use it as a reference for making your own wooden chicken nesting boxes.
-Ebay has some very elaborate offerings which are priced at over $300, not exactly cheap! Ebay sometimes also has chicken nesting box plans for sale for a few dollars, as well as heavy duty mats you can place in the bottom of the chicken nesting box that can be taken out washed and will last a lifetime.
-Craiglist usually has some deals on . I have seen these range from $10-$100 for 6 hole galvanized chicken nesting boxes. Keep an eye on Craigslist in your area and be ready to jump on the opportunities as they sale quickly.
Final Thoughts
Providing adequate nesting boxes for your chickens does not have to require a huge investment in time or money. You can make these nesting boxes yourself for very little expense or be frugal and find some good deals. Keep your hens happy and save money in the process while reusing something that might otherwise have been discarded.
Baby Chicks Habitat in
Mc Clave, Colorado
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Mc Clave Colorado,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Mc Clave
Colorado also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Mc Clave Colorado, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Mc Clave CO.
Baby Chickens
And Ducks For Sale in
Mc Clave, Colorado
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Mc Clave Colorado
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Mc Clave Colorado * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Mc Clave
Colorado * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Chickens Names in
Mc Clave, Colorado
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Mc Clave Colorado is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Mc Clave,
Colorado Baby chicks are very
adorable as well as
tough to stand up to,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
appropriate products, but
additionally the correct
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
basic, you merely need
to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
environment Plenty of food and water Focus and also
love Habitat Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
offer them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also function very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be reduced by
around 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource need to get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you need to
reduce the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to include some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is key as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bedding
typically and also
always supply clean
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand quite quickly
which requires lots of tidy
food and water. Supply
enough in any way times and inspect
commonly to avoid parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not occupy that task till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly most
likely bond with you as well as
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you could
catch health problem or various
other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
other undesirable
signs. Make certain to
likewise check out
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and move outside right into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops to learn more
concerning cages and
correct coop environments.
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