Hen nesting packing containers aren’t important for hens to put eggs. They’ll (and do) lay the place they really feel safe.
The nesting field is crucial for you, the flock keeper, until you take pleasure in looking the yard, outbuildings, and beneath each bush or overhang for eggs!
On this article, we cowl the fundamentals of nesting packing containers, together with greatest placement, advisable sizes, and what number of you want to your flock.
We then current each store purchased options and DIY plans with easy step-by-step directions to construct your individual. We’ll present you the varied sorts and clarify their benefits and drawbacks.
Our Decide: Roll Away
Roll Out Nesting Field
- High quality Supplies
- Straightforward Cleansing
- Wall mounts and perch included
Chapter 1
Hen Nesting Bins 101
Chapter 2
13 DIY Nesting Field Plans
Hen Nesting Bins 101
The nesting field requires just a few issues to make it enticing to a hen. It must be:
- Quiet
- Protected
- Darkened
- Non-public
These 4 issues will encourage her to make use of the field to put her eggs. Should you place the field in a loud, busy space the place everybody can see her, she won’t use it. A woman wants her privateness for some issues!
Placement
Ideally, the packing containers will probably be positioned in an space of the coop that’s pretty darkish and never too busy. The peak of the nest field must be a minimum of 18 inches from the ground and might be as excessive as just a few ft off the bottom.
They shouldn’t be on the similar peak as your roosting bars, or you could discover your hens sleeping within the packing containers! Though this isn’t a significant disaster, you’re going to get bored with mucking out the nest packing containers every morning.
How Many Nesting Bins Do You Want?
There actually isn’t a definitive consensus on what number of nest packing containers you must have to your flock.
A few Authorities web sites said one field to 7 hens. Nonetheless, most individuals go by one field for each 3-4 hens. This quantity is according to the ‘5 Freedoms’ advisable by animal welfare teams. If you need your flock to be ‘licensed humane,’ you will need to have one for each 5 hens minimal.
I can promise you one factor, regardless of what number of packing containers you construct, it won’t be sufficient! They may all need that one field all on the similar time.
Measurement
A normal nest field for normal chickens resembling Leghorns, Sussex, Plymouth Rocks, and hybrid layers must be a 12-inch dice, 12 inches tall, broad and deep. This can match the common hen fairly properly.
Bigger birds resembling Jersey Giants will want 12 inches deep, 14 inches broad, and 12 inches tall. Bantam hens can get away with a barely smaller field of 10 inches deep, 12 inches broad, and 10 inches excessive.
These measurements make the field comfortable, and there are causes for that. If the hens have an excessive amount of room, they have a tendency to kick out the bedding materials. It additionally discourages hens from bunking up collectively to put eggs.
Which Nesting Supplies to Use?
There are a number of completely different nesting supplies you should utilize. Under we’re going to run by way of the most well-liked supplies used.
- Pine shavings: straightforward to seek out. Most farm shops promote them in handy bales.
- Straw: one other favourite of rooster keepers. You possibly can often purchase these out of your native farmer or farm retailer.
- Pine needles: free for the taking you probably have an area supply! The softer pine needles are the most effective.
- Sawdust: might be obtained without spending a dime or very cheaply from a sawmill or maybe a neighbor.
- Leaves: raking and gathering all of the fallen leaves within the autumn won’t solely give your girls free bedding however provide you with a exercise too.
- Nesting pads: might be purchased from most hatcheries and on-line sources. They’re washable and cheap.
Any of those can be utilized for nesting supplies, both individually or collectively. When provides are good, I’ll fill a few packing containers with pine needles, a pair with leaves, and a straw.
As all the time – they are going to all need the identical field!
To encourage the hens to calm down whereas laying and deter pests, add some contemporary herbs to the packing containers. Lavender aids rest whereas lemon balm offers a contemporary lemony scent and deters pests too.
Coaching Hens to Lay in them
Coaching your hens to make use of the packing containers actually isn’t that troublesome, however you will need to begin coaching earlier than they begin to lay.
Putting a golf ball, ping pong ball, or pretend egg within the nest packing containers often offers them the appropriate concept.
They could not get it proper instantly however will ultimately get the dangle of it and use the packing containers accordingly.
In case you have hens that won’t use the packing containers, strive to consider why. Is it too public? Too noisy? Maybe you don’t have sufficient nest packing containers to your girls. Attempt to treatment any shortcomings that you simply discover, however strive a unique strategy in the event that they nonetheless refuse to make use of the packing containers.
Preserve them locked within the coop till they’ve laid eggs; make certain solely the nesting packing containers have bedding. Please do that for just a few days, after which see what occurs if you allow them to out.
Some hens will steadfastly refuse to make use of nest packing containers, and nothing you are able to do will make them do in any other case. Newer hens which were built-in with older hens will get the concept in a short time, and you actually don’t must do something for them.
Readymade Nest Bins
Should you aren’t very DIY or don’t have sufficient time to make your individual, then shop-bought nesting packing containers will give you the results you want.
They are often constructed from wooden; nonetheless, the metallic and plastic varieties are extra widespread.
Plastic
Miller Single Hen Nesting Field
- Straightforward to wash and won’t rot or corrode
- The sloped roof stops them from roosting
- Inbuilt mounts to simply fasten to the wall
Prepared-made plastic laying packing containers are usually the most affordable ones available on the market; they are perfect for newbies and small flocks.
As you purchase them individually, it offers you the pliability to repair them outdoors the coop or different appropriate areas (resembling close by timber or outbuildings).
Additionally, being plastic makes them very straightforward to wash.
Metallic
4 Hen Metallic Nesting Field
- YOU can take away the underside of every nest for simple cleansing
- Contains roosting bars, which makes entry to the nests straightforward
- All uncovered edges have been folded to guard your hens
Metallic packing containers are the chosen sort for small to mid-sized flocks. They’re straightforward to wash, stand up to plenty of abuse, and are comparatively light-weight in comparison with wooden.
You’ll usually discover that metallic nesting packing containers are sturdier than their plastic or wood counterparts, making them extra appropriate for bigger breeds resembling Jersey Giants.
Standard nest packing containers are offered singly, however most metals are available in multiples of 2-10 packing containers.
There’s additionally the ‘rollaway’ nest field.
They are often made out of both plastic or metallic; nonetheless, the metallic ones are usually higher.
A rollaway field has a barely slanted flooring which inspires the egg to ‘rollaway’ from beneath the hen. This prevents pecking or unintentional breakage from trampling and retains the egg a lot cleaner.
The eggs roll away to both the entrance or again of the field for simple assortment by you.
13 DIY Hen Nesting Field Plans
That is the enjoyable half! What can you utilize to make nest packing containers to your hens? The checklist of prospects is nearly limitless – some people have been very progressive.
You possibly can even make your individual rollaway packing containers for those who so need!
WhiteNest
The WhiteNest is a straightforward, traditional design; it even has a vaulted ceiling. Just like the “GooseBox,” this design can also be transportable, which means you possibly can place them all through the run to offer your ladies some privateness.
WineBarrel
Constructed by Lisa from Contemporary Eggs Each day, this nesting field began as a wood half wine barrel. Every nesting field takes round 10 minutes to ‘construct’ and accommodate as much as 3 laying hens.
BucketEgg
Every one in all these buckets will present sufficient house for 3 egg-laying hens. You should use them as free-standing, or you possibly can repair them to a wall. My choice is wall mounting them as a result of the hens appear to desire this.
RaidersNest
Once more this can be a simple nest field to create and requires little or no DIY know-how. This specific format is appropriate for 18 laying hens, however you possibly can add and take away crates to make them appropriate to your flock.
ToteNest
What I really like about this creation is the straightforward but efficient nature of it. Anyone can construct one in all these, and it takes a matter of minutes. Every nesting field can accommodate as much as 3 laying hens, so simply repeat as many instances as wanted to your flock.
BeeBeeNest
This large nesting field can accommodate as much as 24 laying hens. Certainly one of my favourite options of this plan is the roll-away design. It stops egg consuming and in addition prevents unintentional breakages.
EasyEgg
This is among the largest nesting field designs featured on this checklist. It has an ingenious design, which makes amassing the eggs very straightforward. The draw back to this specific type is that it’s worthwhile to match it into an present coop to work correctly.
SwedishNest
The SwedishNest is an costly nesting field to construct. I’d solely suggest this type for those who’re having issues with egg consuming and breakages; its roll-away design will stop these issues.
PlasticBowls
Should you don’t need to spend a lot cash, this nesting field is for you. Every ‘nest’ prices $1 and can accommodate as much as 3 hens. Simply keep in mind to put them in a sheltered, non-public house.
BucketNest
The BucketNest is among the easiest and most progressive designs featured right here. Comprised of a recycled 5-gallon plastic bucket, every nest will accommodate as much as 3 chickens. Bear in mind to maintain the lids; they’re used to maintain the bedding materials contained in the bucket.
TheTriplex
The Triplex is an inexpensive and versatile nesting field. My favourite function about this specific design is the roosting rail fitted to the entrance of the field. Should you’re constructing this as a transportable nesting field, keep in mind to suit a wood again to it.
ToyNest
This massive nesting field was initially designed as a toy retailer. In-built beneath a day, it’s appropriate for bigger flocks and may accommodate as much as 27 egg-laying hens.
GooseBox
Don’t be fooled by the title. Though they’re known as goose nesting packing containers, they’re completely appropriate for chickens. This easy A-Body design is reasonable and fast to construct. These packing containers are additionally transportable with the intention to place them all through your run.
This could provide you with a normal concept of what’s obtainable to be used. An outdated cardboard field will do in a pinch, but it surely received’t stand as much as an excessive amount of utilization. When making your packing containers, guarantee they’ve a steep pitch to the roof in order that the hens can’t roost on high of them.
Until you utilize ‘open plan’ packing containers, the nest field ought to have a 4-inch lip to make sure the egg doesn’t roll out and break.
Decorate Your Nesting Field
You possibly can take any of the plans above and switch them into a singular design with some easy accessorizing.
Curtains! Hens do like privateness when laying their egg, so hanging a easy curtain over the doorway will do a great job of screening her from prying eyes.
You don’t have to get the stitching machine out for these curtains. They are often so simple as burlap sacking, feed sack, outdated napkins from the ‘practically new’ store, or outdated tea towels you not use. Staples or a push pin can maintain them – it doesn’t must be fancy.
Abstract
In case your hens are something like mine, they are going to all need the identical field on the similar time! Failing that, they are going to lay elsewhere and make your hunt for the eggs. Though mine has been skilled to make use of packing containers, they nonetheless sometimes lay some other place if it pleases them.
Accordingly, I’ve made just a few additional cozy corners that they will use in the event that they need to. I’m fortunate to have the ability to accommodate them on this method. Not everybody has enough room to do that.
Until you utilize ‘open plan’ packing containers, the nest field ought to have a 4-inch lip to make sure the egg doesn’t roll out and break.
So there you’ve gotten it in a nutshell. They’re comparatively low cost to purchase, even simpler to make, and important for you for those who don’t need to play cover and search along with your hens!
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