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 In
The Mail in
Keytesville, Missouri
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Keytesville Missouri,
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. Keytesville
Missouri also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Keytesville Missouri, 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 Keytesville MO.
Baby Chicks Facts in
Keytesville, Missouri
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Keytesville Missouri
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
Keytesville Missouri * 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 Keytesville
Missouri * 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 Under Heat Lamp in
Keytesville, Missouri
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
Keytesville Missouri 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 Keytesville,
Missouri Baby chicks are really
adorable and
tough to resist,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
appropriate materials, however
likewise the correct
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you just should provide them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
habitat Plenty of food and also water Focus and also
love Habitat Your habitat can be an easy box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You also require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also work effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature level
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and each week this could
be decreased by
about 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource must get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you should
reduce the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you have to include some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bed linen
frequently and also
constantly supply tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very fast
which calls for a lot of clean
food as well as water. Provide
sufficient at all times and also inspect
often to
stop dehydrated and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not occupy that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Attention as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
enjoy their habits, you could
catch disease or other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other undesirable
signs. Be sure to
additionally check out
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes and blocked cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to watch out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Look into our
section on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding cages and also
proper coop habitats.
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