There has been a fair amount of chaos in my coops recently-between coop renovations and broody mamas– and laying hens have been hard pressed to find a quiet, private spot to lay eggs.Nest boxes sharing is normal and expected, but 3-4 hens per nest is a recipe for broken eggs, egg-eating and pecking injuries. The stress of competing for a nest is also likely to put the kibosh on egg-laying for weeks- I knew that to avoid these problems I needed to add more temporary nest boxes than the one I already had on the floor of the coop. So, I resorted to what any self-respecting do-it-yourselfer would do in this situation: I took a trip to the local landfill for inspiration.
There are countless options for temporary nest boxes from five gallon buckets to milk crates, cardboard boxes to empty kitty litter buckets, but I was in the mood for a little project and I found one.
I made this free-standing nest box using homemade apple cider vinegar for the faux barn wood effect.
The landfill rarely disappoints and this trip was no exception; I scored two televisions that I knew would fit the bill perfectly, so into the truck they went and we were off to Demo Land! This 1983 Sony is a CLASSIC! Remember when you had to get up off the couch to change the channel? With a drill and some pliers we took the guts out of the TV, but my hens will have to wait their turn because my daughters have claimed it as their own for now.
The Sony is huge and ideal for use as a broody nest or hospital ward, but this Zenith is perfect for egg-laying hens. There is plenty of ventilation and just enough room to take care of business with no spare space for guests!
Black simply would not do for my girlz, so I gave it a quick spray with some pink paint and we were ready to give it a test drive!
I can confirm that CHICK TV is officially a hit! While my husband was in and out of the coop installing wall boards, he said layers were waiting in line for CHICK TV! The broody in the nest box below hatched her chicks days later in peace, without being agitated by other hens.
Add a little Spruce the Coop Herbal Fusion to the nest and you’ve got smell-o-vision!
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