Economical Nest Box Ideas,
for the budget-minded Hen
You've probably seen brooders made out of plastic hooded litterboxes,
right? Lines with a square of astro-turf or like material, they make
decent nest boxes for bantam or some standard breeds of chickens.
I have some ladies who have recently decided that they'd lay their eggs
wherever they darn well please, (see pic at far left above for the
standard nest box) and in an attempt to appease them and to make
gathering them less of an easter-egg hunt, I have tried a few
ultra-cheap alternatives. (It was either that, or I'd go out there with
bunny ears on my head!)
Under already-built shelter with a floor, I have found that the old
common nest-box of adding a little hay or straw (again if you prefer the
astro-turf stuff, it could be used) inside of a milk crate works
great! (See example in middle picture above.) I have several Jersey
Giant ladies who prefer this box. One or two of them still decides the
floor is a more appropriate place to lay, or perhaps they do this when
those boxes are occupied.
If you don't have a shelter already that you can equip with a nest box,
or don't have any milk crates, try something like this: I used a large
plastic storage tote (something bigger than 22 quart, you can buy them
at Wal-Mart for about $5 or less), a little duct tape (our lives are
not complete without it) and somewhat optional but helpful if exposed
to the weather, a fridge rack from an old refrigerator (an old oven
rack might work nicely, too - or use your imagination) and straw or hay
to line the inside. I cut a square opening in the side of the tote so
that the birds have to step UP and through, otherwise the hay will be
scattered and the box useless. For a pic of the box in use see pic
above at right, but I don't intend to make another one for a bit so
you'll have to wait for other views. I had my husband, Frank drill
holes in the tote lid* (tote is placed upside-down and this way if
water gets inside it drains, likewise the fridge rack offers keeping
any eggs up out of the bottom of the tote which may be wet.) I
thoroughly duct-tape the lid in place and the cut from the top of the
tote to the opening (you'll see in the photos) as I cut an overall,
squared off "P" shape for the hole. It can be easy to crack the tote
when cutting, I used a pocket knife if that is helpful info. Remember
to cut away from yourself so if the knife slips you don't get cut.
*Yes, I am perfectly capable of doing this myself, it isn't
particularly difficult but he was available and willing to help, it was
something he could do and feel productive having done...I see it as a
win/win situation!
Place the box on the ground in the corner of the chicken pen, with the
opening away from the direction of wind/rain. The tote is lightweight
and may blow around if just left anywhere, you could probably devise a
better way to stake it down or perhaps lift it up 2 - 6" from the
ground to keep the nest more dry. Check the bedding often, especially
after rain or snow, and replace wet nesting material immediately. If
you raise the box very high at all, you may want to construct some sort
of ramp or ladder up to it. Raising it up will help prevent rats or
possibly snakes from eating eggs, although I've only seen one snake
that decided my chicken eggs were food. This was a mistake he only got
to make once! Also, gathering eggs frequently and never allowing them
to sit overnight in a nest box helps keep egg-theiving predators to a
minimum.
As for a renter we had once who stole eggs from the boxes...these
tactics do not work well. Guineas, however, make great tattle-tails!
The problem is that if they are used to someone, that person becomes
"normal" to them and they may not sound out. My chickens typically fuss
if someone new comes in, also. Maybe a good time to put an old
baby-monitor to work?!
In any case, here are just a few ideas for relatively inexpensive nest
boxes without being talented in carpentry or spending big bucks. Keep
in mind that moving the boxes often or frequent changes of litter may
upset your hens, they might lay elsewhere or otherwise go on strike
temporarily. With a little creativity, you don't have to spend a
fortune to keep your birds happy and healthy!
Furthermore, I suggest a thorough cleaning of any nest-box and
replacing the bedding about once a month or so. If you have a broken
egg, or someone soils the nesting material, you should immediately
refresh the nest with a thorough cleaning and replace any "disposable"
nesting material, such as straw or hay.
Back to Home
