bucket nesting boxes

[ozark hen]

Quote:
Most of the time you can get these buckets for free or at most a couple bucks. It doesn't matter if they do break, crack or fall apart..much cheaper to replace if necessary than other nesting boxes that I can think of. We have had these for a short time but have come through some pretty cold temps. Of course, I don't expect them to last forever.

 

[karen71]

Hi all
I have no chickens yet but will soon , need husband to build coop and moveable pen- he want's to know if it is ok to use treated lumber on the floor or if this is bad for the chickens- appreciate any help or suggestions
thanks

 

[ozark hen]

Quote:
Take a look at this thread and see if it helps your dh

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39173

 

[DENALI]

Then , Please tell me what you use instead of hay ?

STRAW​

 

[OzarkCountryGirl]

I really love the bucket idea, and everyone's photos are great! In the past I've used both wooden boxes and milk crates, both of which get really dirty really quick, and with the wood...next to impossible to disinfect. So when my chicks that I have now get old enough to lay, I'm going to do the buckets.

 

[Parson's Wife]

You Go Girl! What a nifty little pair ya'll are! I showed my husband, and since the nest lumber is still in a pile in the backyard....I'm thinking this will certainly be accomplished a lot sooner! Plus, I'm thinking easy to clean...

 

[sBrickmanHouse]

CajunLizz,

I think Denali's reaction to second cut hay as nest material is because there has been a dire shortage of hay in many areas of the country for the past several months.

Drought, gas prices and other factors have caused there to be not a whole lot of hay available, and whatever was available was being sold at astronomical prices. People have been trying desperately to get by, feeding their livestock alfalfa cubes and other hay stretchers, but there were a lot of horses that went really hungry this winter, and a lot of otherwise healthy, sound animals ended up at slaughter because their owners could no longer afford to feed them.

So for those of us who tore our hair out this fall and winter, trying to figure out ways to stretch a dollar to keep our animals fed, if there was even hay to be found, kind of cringe at the idea of decent, nutritious hay being used for nest material.

 

[ml]

Quote:
I went and got a load of straw for that reason! My firends just paid 8.75 a bale for 60 bales yesterday. It was the only hay to be had other then the 600 lb bales that went for 85 each.

The thought of alfafa hay for my ducks to sleep on was a bit much for me right now.

Bedding I have used, sawdust, hay all types, straw and shredded paper. My ducks prefer sawdust and alot prefer hay/ straw.

ML

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
Is that sand you have on the floor of this coop ?


We have 25 chicks that are now 4 weeks old and we DO NOT plan on having anything but laying hens. AT LEAST for NOW .


dh made a 6 ft. long WIRE cage . 4 ft. high and 2 ft. deep for the chicks . WORKS great . MAN they sure do eat alot . LOL GROWING like wild grass ... NOW , he is building another cage for them to be turned LOOSE on the ground during day and COOP for at night .

 

[Flycropper]

I like that idea b/c you can move them around with ease when cleaning and probably even stack two high.