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
Diet in
Athol Springs, New York
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Athol Springs New York,
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. Athol Springs
New York also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Athol Springs New York, 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 Athol Springs NY.
Baby Chicks Order Online in
Athol Springs, New York
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Athol Springs New York
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
Athol Springs New York * 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 Athol Springs
New York * 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 Outside in
Athol Springs, New York
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
Athol Springs New York 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 Athol Springs,
New York Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and also
challenging to resist,
yet it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
correct materials, but
likewise the appropriate
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you simply should supply them with the following: A
clean and also warm and comfortable
environment A lot of food and water Focus as well as
love Environment Your environment could be an easy box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you can present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a warmth source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be decreased by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your warmth
lamp, you need to
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not merely curling up),
you need to put some heat.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bed linen
commonly as well as
always offer clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand quite quickly
which needs lots of clean
food and water. Offer
sufficient at all times and check
typically to avoid thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to obtain a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will probably bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
enjoy their actions, you can
capture health problem or other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Make sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can cause matted plumes as well
as clogged up cloaca.
Lastly, it is important to watch out for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathery
and its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and relocate outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding cages and also
correct cage habitats.
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