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 Chickens Outside in
Glen Carbon, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Glen Carbon Illinois,
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. Glen Carbon
Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Glen Carbon Illinois, 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 Glen Carbon IL.
Baby Chickens For Sale in
Glen Carbon, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Glen Carbon Illinois
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
Glen Carbon Illinois * 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 Glen Carbon
Illinois * 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 Eggs For Sale in
Glen Carbon, Illinois
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
Glen Carbon Illinois 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 Glen Carbon,
Illinois Baby chicks are very
adorable and also
tough to stand up to,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
proper materials, however
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just should give them with the following: A tidy and also warm and comfortable
habitat Plenty of food and also water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be an easy box, aquarium,
cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to start, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You likewise need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Also, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
give them with a warmth resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also weekly this could
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The heat source should be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your warmth
light, you need to
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you should include some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is vital as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bedding
frequently and
consistently provide tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks expand really quick
which requires lots of clean
food and also water. Give
enough at all times and also check
frequently to
stop dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others will not occupy that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their behavior, you can
catch ailment or various
other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted feathers as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Check out our
area on chicken cages for more information
about cages and
proper coop environments.
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