Biologically, hens are designed to lay eggs. So to avoid the backyard hens laying eggs all over the place, it is essential to make them a nesting box. Here are some great ideas for How to Make a Nesting box for chickens.
Chickens do not need anything to lay an egg. They can manage that on their own once they reach the right age and maturity. But if you have backyard chickens, it is vital to provide them with a coop which offers them protection from the weather as well as safety at night. The coop is also a great place to keep the eggs all in one basket so to speak.
A nesting box is a place purposefully built so hens can lay their eggs in one spot. It makes it easy to collect the eggs. Hens are less likely to lay in unsuitable, hard-to-find places if they have a comfortable nesting box available.
A nesting box is usually:
Without a nesting box chickens will lay their eggs under plants, under the coop if height allows, in tall grass or anywhere that takes their fancy. This can attract predators and makes the eggs hard to find, leading to rotten eggs or unwanted chicks. Because of thier natural instinct, it takes a little time for chickens to learn to use a nesting box in the coop.
Four to six laying hens will happily use one nesting box. Hens like to use a nest that others have also used, so they will often in lay in the same box even when others are available.
The benefit of having one nest for multiple hens is that it discourages them from sleeping in it. If you have too many boxes, the hens are more likely to sleep and poop in them which will put them off laying eggs in the box.
Hens are most productive at laying eggs where they feel safe. Therefore you should put a nesting box in a quiet, dark corner of the chicken coop. Somewhere they can have a little privacy to get on with the job. If you find the hens have located a different area in the coop to lay, use some scattered timber or rocks on the area to give them the incentive to look for somewhere else to lay the eggs.
Some great DIY nesting box options include:
It is crucial to clear the nest of eggs so the chicken will lay. A couple of eggs in the nest won't put a hen off laying, but if it is full, they may find somewhere else. Once they get the hang of the nesting box, if it is empty they will happily fill it up again. We recommend collecting eggs two times daily.
Having separate roosting (sleeping) areas for the chickens is a must. By having roosts, it helps keep the nesting boxes for nesting, meaning less cleaning. Also, having a clean nesting box means cleaner eggs for collection. If you have allocated roosting spots, then the chickens will use them for sleeping and the nests for laying.
Buy a nest egg from your supply store and place it in the nesting box. It helps the chickens begin to understand what the box is all about.
For other helpful chicken and hen ideas visit the Dine A Chook Blog.
Also read: How to prevent disease in the chicken coop
If you are a backyard farmer who frequents the internet for advice, chances are you’ve come across the concept of growing fodder for chickens. Not only does this offer a way to save some money on feed, but there is evidence to support it provides a bit of extra nutritional value. On these principles alone, fodder is certainly an idea worth exploring and experimenting with for those with the patience to try something new. For the unacquainted, the process of
The shorter days heading into fall will usually find the backyard chicken keeper with a flock of molting chickens. Chickens losing feathers during autumn should be no cause for concern. Molting chickens generally stop laying partway through the molt, since growing in new feathers requires loads of energy and nutrients. You technically don’t need to do anything different during the molting season. But because feathers are almost entirely made up of protein, adding a bit of extra p
By Mel Dickinson — Growing herbs inside is a great way to beat the winter blues. Right now, most of us are bundling up, hunkering down with a cup of our favorite warm beverage, and catching up on our reading. We look outside to see all the shades of brown or that blanket of white snow. We start daydreaming of spring chicks and bountiful baskets of eggs. That’s when we realize it’s time to take back winter and get our grow on! That’s right; winter is a perfect time of year to spice up life by
Calcium supplements for chickens can help you avoid shell quality issues in your flock, and it’s easy to feed. Farmers have been adding calcium to the diet of layers for generations to improve shell quality, and consequently, we’ve learned a few things about it. Why Add Calcium? Calcium is an essential nutrient in the diet of poultry. Not only do chickens need to build and support healthy bones, but they also need enough free calcium in their diet to produce a hard eggshell. Shell Flaw