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 Sale in
Horton, Kansas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Horton Kansas,
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. Horton
Kansas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Horton Kansas, 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 Horton KS.
Baby Chicks Near Me in
Horton, Kansas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Horton Kansas
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
Horton Kansas * 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 Horton
Kansas * 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 For Sale Online in
Horton, Kansas
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
Horton Kansas 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 Horton,
Kansas Baby chicks are quite
charming and
tough to resist,
yet it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
proper materials, however
additionally the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you merely should offer them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
environment Plenty of food as well
as water Attention and also
love Environment Your environment could be an easy box, aquarium,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You additionally require
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could use
up to two months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as weekly this could
be minimized by
about 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource must get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not simply cuddling),
you have to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bed linen
frequently as well as
constantly provide clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow really fast
which requires plenty of tidy
food and water. Provide
sufficient in any way times as well
as inspect
frequently to avoid parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
see their behavior, you can
catch health problem or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other harmful
indications. Make certain to
likewise consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted feathers as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to watch out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathery
and its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also move outside right into a cage. Check out our
part on chicken coops to get more information
regarding coops and also
correct coop habitats.
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