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 And Ducks For Sale in
Imperial, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Imperial Texas,
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. Imperial
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Imperial Texas, 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 Imperial TX.
Baby Chickens For Sale Online in
Imperial, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Imperial Texas
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
Imperial Texas * 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 Imperial
Texas * 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 Food in
Imperial, Texas
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
Imperial Texas 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 Imperial,
Texas Baby chicks are quite
charming and also
hard to resist,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
correct products, however
additionally the appropriate
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
easy, you simply should supply them with the following: A tidy and warm
environment Lots of food and also water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could occupy to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and weekly this can
be decreased by
about 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource should get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not merely cuddling),
you should include some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
typically and also
always offer clean
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand extremely fast
which requires lots of tidy
food as well as water. Supply
sufficient whatsoever times and also inspect
often to prevent thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their behavior, you can
catch health problem or other problems previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
signs. Make certain to
also consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted plumes and clogged up cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops to get more information
concerning cages as well as
appropriate cage environments.
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