easy way to make nest boxes??

[chicksducks84]

Hi All

my pullets are about 5 weeks old, and I need to make next boxes, I have 8 pullets in total, I have 5 unsexed silkies babies coming today, so I hope to get a few pullets out of this batch. What is a simple way to make a next box? Needs to be inexpensive, and easy, as I am a single mom on a budget, and not overly handly! lol! Any help would be much appreciated!

Sarah

 

[dan06]

Milk crates work good if you cut the mesh out of the front of them

 

[Alaskan]

Truly, you can use ANYTHING!

Some stores have free cardboard boxes, and you can get two of those, simply replace when they get dirty. But, if you put the nest boxes lower than the perches, and duct tape the cardboard box flaps into a tent shape on the top, no one will nest on top of them, and they shouldn't get dirty too fast.

You can use any plastic tub too, a Rubbermaid tote, a cleaned up litter box, a five gallon bucket on its side. For the five gallon buckets, use one nail to nail it to the wall, or some scrap wood or rocks so that it doesn't roll back and forth.

You can also use a scrap piece of plywood and lean it up against the coop wall so the hens can hide behind it. Just be sure it won't fall over on them.

All of the super cute nest boxes are really for the HUMANS, the chickens could care less.

Chickens usually (but there are always exceptions) prefer a nest box that is a foot or so above the floor and a little dark.

If you use cardboard boxes, put them right on the floor, they aren't sturdy enough to hang on the wall.

If you find wood or plastic buckets or crates or totes of any variety, you can put one on the floor and nail the other to wall so that your hens have more choices.

Humm, I just reread your post, did you mean you will have 8 plus how ever many pullets you get from the 5 straight run?

In that case, you will need 3, maybe 4 nest boxes, not the 2 maybe 3 I was thinking.