Breeding chickens for meat and eggs is one of the classic ways of running a household farm. But standard methods of care do not always bring the expected results. Therefore, you have to look for fresh and non-standard ideas. You can, of course, buy ready-made versions, but the one made by yourself can be many times better and more convenient to use. Let’s consider how to make a nest with an egg collector for chickens with your own hands. This option solves several issues at the same time – proper care of chickens, quick collection of eggs.
Types of nests
Building nests or perches is a must. In the absence of special places, birds begin to roost in various places that they consider suitable for this. You will have to look for eggs all over the site – in grass, hay, nooks and crannies of the poultry house, and in other hard-to-reach places. But if you create soft and comfortable artificial nests, the chickens will get used to it and will roost in a certain place necessary for the owner.
Another important point is that chickens often eat laid eggs. Some individuals specially wait for the moment of laying in order to glaze the eggs immediately. Therefore, the shell is fragmented and damaged, which reduces the total amount of collected products.
Installing nests for laying hens with an egg collector solves both problems. The devices allow you to collect all clean and whole eggs during the entire calendar year.
There are several types of devices. Some can be collected independently, others – only purchased. To choose the best option, you need to know the pros and cons of each type.
Boxes or booths
The equipment with the simplest design is a small box with thin wooden walls. The front part remains open. With the help of boxes, you can accustom young chickens to lay in one place – the outer side is closed for several days. Doors are made of plywood or metal mesh.
The disadvantage of such cages is that chickens have constant access to eggs, which does not exclude their damage and pecking. The advantage is that the simple design allows you to install a large number of boxes in one birdhouse, make them and repair them at any time with your own hands. The drawing is designed based on the size of the carrier birds (determined by the breed).
The number of nests with an egg collector for chickens is calculated based on the number of laying hens. There should be a maximum of five birds per booth.
Hinged
The main difference is the location. Nests with or without an egg collector are installed on the outside of the chicken coop, fixing on vertical walls. On the one hand, the owners do not need to go inside small rooms, and on the other hand, in regions with a cold climate and excessive temperature differences, the nest needs additional insulation, for example, foam.
Farmers rarely use only hanging boxes for laying hens. Most often, they are combined with other types of devices.
With container
The main purpose of nests with a container is to keep the eggs whole and intact. A special feature is the sloping floor, thanks to which the eggs roll smoothly into a special box.
To deprive the laying hen of access to the clutch, it is necessary to cover the egg collectors. A dense opaque fabric is usually used. Periodically, the partition is checked and changed – the chickens tear the soft material with their claws and beak.
The compartment is located at the bottom or on the side. Lateral placement is used for outdoor perches, less often – for classic boxes inside the aviary.
With a double bottom
Nests for laying hens with an egg collector are often used in households. A hole is made in the floor of the box. A pallet with an inclination of about 40° is installed from below. To protect the masonry, the surface is lined with soft material.
The double bottom makes it possible to keep the eggs whole, prevents pecking by laying hens. All products are rolled into one container, which greatly simplifies collection.
The dimensions of the nest with the ovipositor
Arrangement of the poultry house obliges to observe certain norms. There are standard sizes for boxes:
- in length and width – 30 cm;
- in depth – from 30 to 40 cm.
The specified sizes are used for any breeds of laying hens. Deviations in size can complicate collection, can confuse the bird – if there is more, there will be a lot of space, and the products may not get into the right container.
Smaller sizes can lead to the fact that the hen will refuse to stay in the nest with the egg collector and lay. The result will be laying in all places convenient for chickens. At the entrance, a small threshold (saddle) is arranged – about 6-7 cm. And in front of the box, a threshold for take-off is installed – approximately 25 by 45 mm. Roofs, like the bottom, are made at a 45° slope.
The upper part – the roof, must be tilted. Otherwise, the chickens will sit on top and possibly brood. This threatens masonry in undesirable places.
You can make drawings for making nests with an egg collector yourself or use ready-made ones. The advantage of the first option is the ability to calculate the number of birdhouses and the location of a specific house for birds. Drawings are necessary to understand how to make and install the box. Standard sizes are used. The average thickness of the walls is from 1 to 2 cm.
How to do it yourself
A plus of the devices is the possibility to make a chicken nest with an egg collector with your own hands. The first thing to do is a drawing. At the same time, the size of the chicken coop and the number of boxes are taken into account. Then collect the tools:
- plywood, thin wooden sheets (chipboard, fiberboard);
- sandpaper with a large grain;
- fasteners (nails, screws, nuts);
- hacksaw for wood;
- hammer;
- screwdrivers;
- material for upholstery of pallets;
- scissors, glue.
The box can be taken ready-made, if it fits in size. These can be unnecessary boxes made of wood, cardboard or boxes. The bottom of the nest is lined with hay and sawdust to create a soft and natural litter. Do-it-yourself box for chickens step by step:
- wooden sheets are cleaned with sandpaper;
- cut 35 x 35 mm squares (future partitions and walls);
- a round hole is cut in several, so that the chickens can enter inside the boxes;
- a threshold is installed in front of the entrance for convenience;
- make bars with a length equal to the walls of the boxes;
- the first “house” is assembled from the resulting squares, the edges are fastened with bars and self-tapping screws;
- the lower and upper parts (roof and bottom) are fixed at an angle;
- litter is laid inside, but if a second bottom is provided, another layer is made.
When making nests, it is necessary to constantly inspect the products. There should be no chips, cracks, or other significant defects that could harm the chickens.
Professionals do not recommend attaching boxes with an egg collector directly to the walls or placing them too tightly. If the climate in the region is cold, it is necessary to provide additional insulation. The best option is a warm poultry house.
Wooden
Chicken nests with an egg collector are most often made of wood. The material is common, easy to cut and repair. A significant plus is natural heat exchange, which creates comfortable conditions for the bird. Plywood is used often, but it is not durable.
Wooden nests are made with and without a double pallet. The main thing is to install the roof and bottom at a certain degree. Without an additional tray, the eggs will roll to the lowest place. At the same time, it is important to collect products on time or cover them.
Metal
Nests for laying hens made of metal are reliable and durable. The material does not crack, does not break, it is not afraid of the claws and beak of chickens. Other materials will be needed for similar boxes with egg collectors:
- metal profile and sheets;
- nails;
- mesh with small honeycombs;
- latches (according to the number of boxes);
- pliers, hacksaw, hammer.
The frame is made of squares of standard sizes. It is desirable to install stiffeners from below. The floor is made of two planes at a distance of 10 cm – the upper one at an angle of 10° so that the eggs can roll to the lower shelf. The edge of the lower part is made in the form of a chute so that the products move further into the container. Each is lined with soft hay, sawdust and other natural material.
From improvised materials
Making a nest for laying hens with an egg collector is a common option for setting up a poultry house on your own plot. Handy materials can be any: wooden boxes or rails, cardboard boxes, remaining metal elements. They use the details that are in the household.
The first stage is drawing up a drawing taking into account the dimensions of the poultry house (shed or other similar premises). The standards are common to all materials and options. Then the tools are selected, depending on the used base of the boxes – wood, metal, other. The assembly scheme does not differ from the classic one.
Rules of installation and care
Ready-made boxes for laying hens are installed in two ways – on stands or directly to the walls. The second option is more often used when nests are fixed from the outside of the chicken coop. It is advisable to avoid direct contact between the back of the box and the wall.
Placement of nests is of decisive importance. If the bird’s “workplace” is uncomfortable, the chicken will simply ignore it and roost in other places. Therefore, it is better to install boxes in shaded rooms. The best option is a cozy dark corner of the poultry house, where nothing can disturb the chickens. If the bird house is small, it is allowed to install it in the form of a rack.
Nests are placed at a height. The minimum distance from the floor is 30 cm. The take-off board is located 10 cm from the entrance. The board with the flooring should be mesh or with ventilation holes.
Soft bedding – hay, dry grass, sawdust, etc. must be regularly changed and cleaned. Chickens often bring garbage and dirt into their nests. Timely inspection and repair are necessary conditions. Chips, long nails, cracks pose a danger to the bird.
Errors are possible
Before building a chicken coop and nests, it is necessary to correctly calculate the ratio of the number of hens and boxes. There should be 2-3 birds per box, the maximum permissible number is 5 chickens. The dimensions must meet the standards. Nests that are too big or too small are one of the most common construction mistakes.
Litter made of natural materials is mandatory – sawdust, hay, straw, dry matter. The use of non-natural resources can scare off laying hens. To prevent the eggs from falling out, the nests are equipped with an additional threshold. A small curb in front of the entrance is also necessary.
A perch with an egg collector
It is not always convenient or possible to build a large structure from boxes for chickens. In this case, a perch with an additional box for collecting eggs is suitable. The difference is the absence of walls and a roof. Perches are ordinary slats on which the bird sits. The main thing is to make sure that the selected materials and construction can withstand the weight of laying hens.
Small boxes are installed so that the eggs do not break due to the considerable distance between the rails and the floor. The floor is covered with soft materials.
When installing the perch, it is necessary to minimize the access of chickens to the laying, in order to avoid damage and pecking.
In the lower drawers, a double bottom is made – the upper bar is inclined with a guide channel. This design is not suitable for every laying hen, it will take some time to accustom the chickens.
Pros and cons of a nest with an egg collector
Nests with additional egg collectors are installed more and more often. Such arrangement of the poultry house allows to simplify the collection and counting of products. This option saves time and effort of the farmer.
Another advantage is preserving the integrity of the eggs. Protected containers and crates block chickens’ access to nests. Correct filling and soft bedding allow you to collect whole and clean eggs.
The design has some drawbacks. Nests with an egg collector are more difficult to design and build compared to a classic perch. Installation will require a significant amount of materials and time. It is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations and established standards. Otherwise, spoilage and splitting of the eggs cannot be avoided. If the decision is made to build a rack, it is necessary to put a separate egg collector for each floor separately.
It is not difficult to achieve high productivity of chickens and egg quality in household conditions. The main thing is to ensure comfortable, dry and warm conditions in a dark place of the poultry house. Nests with an egg collector will simplify the collection of clutches and prevent spoilage of eggs. The design is simple, it can be made with your own hands from materials at hand.