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 Price in
Shaftsbury, Vermont
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Shaftsbury Vermont,
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. Shaftsbury
Vermont also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Shaftsbury Vermont, 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 Shaftsbury VT.
Baby Chickens Bedding in
Shaftsbury, Vermont
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Shaftsbury Vermont
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
Shaftsbury Vermont * 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 Shaftsbury
Vermont * 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 For Sale Online in
Shaftsbury, Vermont
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
Shaftsbury Vermont 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 Shaftsbury,
Vermont Baby chicks are extremely
adorable as well as
tough to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
appropriate products, however
likewise the correct
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you just should give them with the following: A
clean as well as cozy
habitat A lot of food and also water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You also require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
offer them with a warmth source.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally work extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can occupy to 2 months). The freshly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
as well as weekly this could
be reduced by
roughly 5 degrees approximately. The warmth source must be on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other corner of your warmth
light, you need to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you should put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bed linens
often and also
constantly supply tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand very quickly
which needs a lot of clean
food and water. Provide
enough in any way times and also inspect
usually to
stop thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Attention and love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will most
likely bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you could
capture health problem or other troubles previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other harmful
indicators. Make certain to
also check out
their poop, as diarrhea can result in matted feathers and clogged up cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and also move outside right into a
coop. Look into our
section on chicken cages to find out
more
about coops as well as
proper coop environments.
Baby Chicks By MailBaby Chicks Raising More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Proctorsville, Vermont Baby Chickens for Sale in East Burke, Vermont Baby Chickens for Sale in North Thetford, Vermont Baby Chickens for Sale in Newfane, Vermont Baby Chickens for Sale in Concord, Vermont