Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: traacyken on September 19, 2009, 18:05

Title: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: traacyken on September 19, 2009, 18:05
got some large deep litter cat litter trays, as someone recomended using the old recycling containers, the rir girls are 20 weeks  and some at 18 wks now and no sign of any eggs still yet :unsure:, i put them in about 3 days ago with loads ov shavings. are these ok to use, and do you think they will lay in them as were pretty rubbish at diy and moneys tight at the min. theres alot of feathers about in and out of the coup so i think they could poss be moulting to, does this affect egg laying. sorry for all the quiestions but have been quite excited about getting our first eggs :)
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: karlooben on September 19, 2009, 19:44
hi there , you will be surprised on which the girls will  lay in . pretty much anything will do but just make sure that they dont toppled them over which the should not do  .  if your that stuck for money why not just get a bit of ply wood thats say 1 foot high an block of one end of the house  an just put bedding behind it , it'll be nice an dark an the birds would probably love that mine certainly did until they started breaking the eggs so i have now made my own nest boxes an it only cost £19 an that includes postage for the nest box plastic inserts that are already designed to make sure the eggs roll away safely .
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: themagicaltoad1 on September 19, 2009, 20:00
If they're moulting they will be putting all their effort into new feather growth rather than laying. You can help them by giving a bit of tinned cat food to them while they are moulting.
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: newatthis on September 19, 2009, 20:53
hi, what about the wooden boxs from a fruit and veg stall of a market, we have 1 near us and we asked what they did with them and they said they bin them, asked us why we asked and when we told them, they gave us loads, it helps me and helps them cut back on their waste... and they was the best price going FREE, if you dont ask you dont get, my o/h says...
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 19, 2009, 21:31
I seem to remember someone on here ages ago said they used cat litter trays, werked for them!!!   :D :D
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: nzdunn on September 19, 2009, 22:15
3 of my girls live in a large dog kennel, cosy for 3 birds definately, theres not much space at the back to fit in nest boxes but i have found that cassie, shes always the first to lay, she makes the nest just from all the straw and she creates like a bowl shape and thats were they lay   nickyx
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: snowflake on September 20, 2009, 00:36
with POL pullets I get cardboard boxes about   2 ft square tape up so you have a cube and cut a hole for them to go into. Some straw inside and they love it. If you pop a false egg or boiled egg inside to show them where to go.
Supermarkets are great and will give them too you.
My silkies have two plastic cat/dog carring boxes which were given to me. Hens are great they dont mind what they lay in. You may even find a egg in the run so keep checking. Good luck.
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: dizzylizzie on September 20, 2009, 02:52
We found an egg in a drain on Friday, so i think they will be fine, they really will lay anywhere!  :D
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: karlooben on September 20, 2009, 07:27
just make sure they cant get under any sheds  :lol: :lol:  :lol:
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: matilda duck on September 20, 2009, 08:52
We use the fruit boxes and so far we have found up to 5 chickens sitting in one waiting to lay :blink:
they are great to use!   Most fruit and veg shops will gladly give them to you!!
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: traacyken on September 20, 2009, 15:51
hi thanx all ive got some cat food i feed the fish in the pond so i will give them a bit. i will look out for thos e veg boxes, see if theres any in the skips when the indoor markets are finished. prob look like a tramp on the scavenge tho! :lol: if i bought veg etc regulaly of a stall id ask but i usualy get mine from the supermarkets, so id feel cheeky asking :wub:
Title: Re: will these do as nest boxes
Post by: newatthis on September 21, 2009, 19:35
we only get fresh veg once a week, if that, but we saw them breaking them up and putting them in a skip thing, so my o/h  went over and asked and they said yes help yourself... so he did,  :lol: