Independent production of nests for brooding hens and layers
When keeping any bird, special attention should be paid to its home and nests. How to make nests for hens When equipping a hen house, it is imperative to make nests for laying hens, in which they can safely lay. At the same time, it does not matter what kind of bird is bred by the farmer. In the nests for chickens, birds of both egg and meat production or meat production are carried equally. They differ from each other only in size, but not in the principles of manufacture and the general structure. The arrangement of the nest in the hen house is the business of the owner and then the chickens rush there, increasing the total number of eggs as in the photo.
DIY nests for laying hens
What chicken nests should look like
Even before you start making nests for laying hens with your own hands, you need to understand what is required of them. At the same time, it is worthwhile to understand that it is impossible to do without these places, otherwise the birds will begin to lay eggs not in the nests, but where they please. This applies not only to chickens, but also to ducks, geese or turkeys. It is worth being able to make these nests for layers with your own hands, so as not to spend extra money on their purchase. Fortunately, the design of a do-it-yourself nest for chickens is not very difficult, it is easy to assemble it even in the absence of the necessary drawings. Here are the requirements for chicken nests:
- First, do-it-yourself chicken nests
in a chicken coop it should be made of durable material that can last for a long time, so you should not resort to using paper, cardboard or other similar resource. - Secondly, the places for laying hens are always located away from the light, since birds do not like to nest in open, lighted places. This is due to the instinct that all birds obey, regardless of the species. Domestic birds act just like their wild cousins.
- Thirdly, the place should be chosen so that the laying hen does not suffer from drafts and high humidity. It weakens her health, increases her risk diseases and reduces egg production, so you should not install simple nests for chickens near the entrance to the chicken coop, next to the ventilation holes or close to the walls of the room.
- Finally, nests for layers should be made reasonably comfortable so that the chickens are comfortable in them. Untreated wood with splinters, sharp protrusions, tips of nails or self-tapping screws - all this should not be, otherwise the bird may get hurt or simply refuse to rush in such nests.
Laying nests are made in several ways, depending on the design chosen. How to make a chicken nest? But there is nothing complicated in this procedure, and if the farmer was able to build even the simplest chicken coop with his own hands, then he would not have any problems with assembling the nest.In principle, he does not even need blueprints, although it is quite possible to use them. You can also watch the video itself and a photo with the structures in section, so that it is more convenient to deal with certain differences of various structures.
Making simple nests for layers
In general, the arrangement of the nesting site looks about the same as the nests for laying hens, from which eggs are constantly taken (and they should not be confused with various nests), but the size of the nests for chickens should correspond to the volume of birds. You can even use ordinary paper, wood or plywood packing boxes, but birds are not always comfortable in them. Such packaging should be sanded with your skillful hands and cleaned from splinters so that the bird does not get hurt. It is also worth checking to see if there is a nail or screw protruding somewhere in the slots that held the wooden box together.
You can remove the top cover and cut out an opening in the wall for carrying chickens, and put a soft bedding inside. Another option is to make a round hole through which the bird will pass inward. In this kind of house or booth, she will lay eggs. But if the chicken is to be carried in such a house, then its dimensions must be larger than that of an open structure. In an open box, the side sides should be 15-20 cm high, and in front - 10 cm.The length and width of it are 0.35-0.4 m.
In case if perches are arranged in several rows, their height should be 0.35-0.45 m. It all depends on the size of the birds, which, in turn, is influenced by the direction of the productivity of this breed. In front of the perches, it is worth making perches on which the birds will jump when entering and leaving the nests. All this is quite possible to do with your own hands. But when making a nest for a chicken, for laying or for breeding offspring, you need to make it according to certain rules. And even when making simple perches, these rules should be taken into account.
Assembling the place for laying eggs
When making a nest for laying hens, you must first make a suitable frame for the structure. It will be correct to collect it from sanded slats, on which there are no splinters. The height and width of the structure depends on what size chicken will sit inside. The height is also influenced by whether the perch is closed or open. The walls of the nest are made of thin plywood or planks. They are attached to the frame with nails or self-tapping screws. The front wall is made about 10 cm high so that the chicken can easily climb inside.
Even at open nests, high sides are sometimes made: in centimeters it comes out from 20 to 30 or more, because although chickens rarely have nightmares and, when they sleep, they do not toss and turn, they are quite capable of falling out. When the wall is ready, you need to put it inside bedding... It is made from sawdust, pure hay or straw. It is difficult to say how much is required. In any case, the bird should be comfortable on this bedding. Many farmers recommend using sawdust as it is more difficult for the chicken to throw around.
The bottom of the nest can be made from plywood, or from a fine mesh. The net is more difficult to attach, but the birds are comfortable on it. It is also necessary to take into account that the litter gradually pours out through the net, so it is worth first laying the fabric, and on top of it, pour the litter. If the perches are located on top of each other, it is worth making sloped roofs for them so that sawdust, straw or any other material does not fall on the heads of the bird that sits on the lower floor.
Egg collector nests
Some farmers cannot afford to constantly check how well their chickens are laying eggs. There is one device that you can build in the nests yourself - these are nests with an egg collector so that the eggs roll one by one and stay in a special compartment. The owners may not have enough time for constant viewing, especially if only one egg has added to the clutch.In order not to constantly check the condition of the clutch, you can make a nest with an egg collector. An egg collector, in principle, is a very useful and convenient thing that does not differ in its large size or complex device. It is quite possible to make it with your own hands from improvised materials that are in any courtyard.
The egg collector is made in such a way that it is not necessary to train the hen to constantly collect the laid eggs. In this design, this process, so to speak, is automated. At the same time, a socket of this type does not require additional materials for assembly. All that is needed is wooden slats and plywood. the floor is made at a slight slope of 8-10 ° C. At the same time, he must protrude beyond the perch. Another similar nest is to make a soft bedding on the floor made of cloth or other similar material.
When making such home-made dwellings for birds, it must be borne in mind that eggs will be collected in one part of the flooring. And you need to arrange there a bunker closed on all sides, which would avoid damage to the eggs. In this case, it is better to do the floor without additional bedding from sawdust or hay, so that it does not interfere with the rolling of eggs. Such clever designs allow you to check the masonry only once a day, without fear of their safety. And hens quickly get used to such a nest.
Containerized egg perch
A container egg collector works in exactly the same way as a regular egg collector, only it has a slightly more complex design. Laying hens' nests with a collector should be made with exactly the same sloping bottom without additional bedding. In this case, the floor does not protrude beyond the dwelling, but, on the contrary, does not reach the rear wall. The distance between the floor and the wall should be such that the egg falls into it calmly. Attach a soft material like linoleum or rubber to the floor to keep the eggs from breaking.
A container lined with a soft and springy material is attached to the nest with a similar egg collector from below. It does not require a lot, up to 5 cm, with a container depth of 10-15 cm. Making a nest for laying hens with your own hands is not difficult: an ordinary plywood box is made, the bottom of which is covered with soft material. It is used to receive and store eggs. True, they are not used to a nest for chickens with an egg collector, they still need to accustom the laying hens to it. And the point is not the disappearance of the eggs, but the fact that it is not very convenient for birds.
Wicker nests for chickens
Some farmers make their own wicker dwellings, but you need to know the size of the chicken nest. They are well ventilated, easy to carry and install, and they are also easy to clean, and they are inexpensive, because suitable rods can be obtained in any area, and birds rush in them with great pleasure. But first you need to learn how to make them yourself, and this is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Here is what knowledgeable farmers write about this on the forums:
“Wicker chicken nests are very handy and practical. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and the birds feel very comfortable in them. But in order to be able to make such a dwelling, one must first learn how to weave such baskets. And then you will have to learn either from the video, or take the appropriate master class, and this leads to additional costs of time and money. But if you still figure out how such chicken nests are assembled, it will not be difficult for the farmer to provide his birds with normal housing. "
Installation and placement of nests in the chicken coop
After the manufacture of nests for the chicken coop has been completed, it is time to install them. They can be placed either close to the wall or on pre-made stands. The number and dimensions of the stands depend on the number of nests, and it is not at all difficult to make the necessary calculations. In order for the hens to get used to the new dwelling, it is worth installing near it feeders and drinkers... But you should not pour them food inside the dwellings so that they drink and peck right there. It is better to teach them to eat next to the nest, and not in this house.
Chicken nests are placed 30-40 cm above the floor. At the same time, they should be located parallel to the floor of the chicken coop so that the eggs do not roll to the edge of the bird's dwelling. Making and installing stands does not take much time, and if possible, it is best to place them where they will not interfere with the birds or the farmer. It is better to arrange the nests when the entire complex has already been installed and is waiting for residents. What does it mean to equip a chicken nest? Put a litter in it, and also install feeders next to it.
It is also possible to place it not on stands, but along the wall. But you cannot attach the nests directly to the wall. In this case, the chickens rush worse, since cold and moisture come from the walls. This arrangement also leads to diseases of the chickens if they are hatched by the brood hen. This type of installation requires an additional layer between the wall and the nests in the form of a dense board and insulation. What could be said about this insulation? The board or timber should be thick and without cracks, and the insulation should be incapable of harming the inhabitants of the chicken coop.
Conclusion
Nests for chickens are a very simple thing to make, but without them it is impossible to breed these birds normally, so every farmer must master the general principles and rules for their manufacture, because the time and resources spent on assembling them will quickly pay off.