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
For Sale Near Me in
Bernville, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bernville Pennsylvania,
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. Bernville
Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Bernville Pennsylvania, 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 Bernville PA.
Baby Chicks And Ducks For Sale in
Bernville, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bernville Pennsylvania
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
Bernville Pennsylvania * 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 Bernville
Pennsylvania * 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 Chicks Online in
Bernville, Pennsylvania
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
Bernville Pennsylvania 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 Bernville,
Pennsylvania Baby chicks are extremely
cute as well as
tough to resist,
however it's finest to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
correct materials, yet
also the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you just should supply them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
environment Plenty of food as well
as water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You additionally require
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
offer them with a heat source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb additionally work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and every week this can
be lowered by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The heat resource should get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you need to
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not simply snuggling),
you need to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bed linens
usually and also
always supply tidy
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which requires plenty of clean
food as well as water. Supply
enough in any way times as well
as inspect
typically to prevent parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Attention and also love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and also
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their behavior, you can
catch health problem or other troubles earlier. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Be sure to
also look at
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted feathers and clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
as well as relocate outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
section on chicken coops to learn more
regarding coops and also
correct cage habitats.
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