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Don’t Forget The Chicken Nesting Boxes When You Build Your Coop
Chickens are natural nesters, and they enjoy a clean environment in which their daily habits are separated. Chickens like to eat in one area, sleep in another, and play in another area. Don’t try to coop your flock up into tiny compartments because they will be unhappy and won’t yield as many eggs. In the wild, hens prefer to have ample padding in their nests, and on their backs as they lay their eggs. It’s best to put your nesting boxes a little bit off the floor, and in a way that they are easy to get into. Tops can be placed on the boxes as well. Plan on having one nesting box for every two hens. You want to be sure your flock has enough room to lay their eggs. If you try to do with less than this, and you begin finding eggs outside of the nests, you should add a few more boxes, as this is a clear indication there are not enough boxes for the amount of hens you have laying eggs. Just be sure you have enough so each hen can have her turn in a nest each day. Traditionally, nesting boxes are made of wood, but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can utilize any material you have on hand, as long as there is enough space for your hen to feel comfortable. Make sure each box is large enough for your hen to comfortably turn around, but still snug. If you have a mixed flock of hens, have the right size box to accommodate large and smaller sized birds. Hens prefer to lay in a dark and dry area. Pay attention to where you are placing your nesting boxes, and never place them in direct sunlight. It’s equally important not to place your boxes underneath the roosting poles, as this is where chickens tend to go to the bathroom, and you don’t want your chickens going to the bathroom on your eggs! Chickens prefer to live and lay in clean environments, so with this in mind, keep your nesting boxes as clean as possible and this will yield the best possible egg production. Provide quality bedding for your birds. Hens prefer straw and soft hay, but you can also use wood shavings and shredded paper. If using wood shavings, be sure they are dry and have not been treated with any chemicals. Pine is the most recommended wood for this use. Make your bedding at least 1 inch thick; 3-4 inches of bedding is preferred as your chickens will kick through the bedding and it will be matted down after awhile. Remember, the cleaner the nesting, the cleaner the eggs. Change the bedding every six months and spot clean as needed to avoid ammonia build-up. In general, chickens prefer a clean area to nest in, so as long as your chicken nesting boxes provide this, your chickens will be happy and healthy and will lay many eggs. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Make sure you include chickens nesting boxes in your backyard chicken coop. They will help your hens with their egg production because hens like to have a nice nesting place and happy hens make happy layers!. You can pick up a FREE Mini-Course about building chicken coops/ that will give you a great deal of information on building chicken coops as well. |
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