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
Black in
Huntland, Tennessee
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Huntland Tennessee,
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. Huntland
Tennessee also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Huntland Tennessee, 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 Huntland TN.
Baby Chickens Raising in
Huntland, Tennessee
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Huntland Tennessee
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
Huntland Tennessee * 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 Huntland
Tennessee * 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 How To Care For Them in
Huntland, Tennessee
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
Huntland Tennessee 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 Huntland,
Tennessee Baby chicks are really
charming and also
difficult to withstand,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
correct products, yet
additionally the correct
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just need
to supply them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
environment Lots of food as well
as water Interest and
love Habitat Your environment could be a straightforward box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to start, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You also need
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Also, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
offer them with a heat resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also function very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
between 90 and 100 levels,
and weekly this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat resource should get on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
other corner of your heat
light, you have to
reduce the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not merely snuggling),
you should put some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is essential and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bed linens
usually as well as
constantly offer tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks expand very quick
which calls for a lot of clean
food and water. Give
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as examine
frequently to prevent parched as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others will not occupy that activity up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Attention as well as love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you could
catch illness or other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other harmful
signs. Make sure to
also consider
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to watch out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and move outside into a cage. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops to get more information
concerning coops as well as
appropriate cage environments.
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