Having a nice, cosy nesting box for your flock is essential if you want them to produce tasty eggs everyday. Also known as laying boxes, they should provide safe and comfortable space for your ladies. It's time to get creative because there’s no reason that their laying boxes should be limited to a simple bedding of straw.
Here are some lovely things you can add to your chicken’s nesting boxes to make it all the more inviting:
Herbs:
-
Lemon balm: As well as relieving stress and promoting calm among our chickens, Lemon Balm is full of antibacterial properties, and also a great all natural rodent repellent. To make sure you can harness all of this goodness for your girls, lay some fresh Lemon Balm in their laying boxes.
-
Lavender: Lavender is a great stress reliever for hens who might be a bit highly strung. It also helps to increase blood circulation, is a great natural insecticide, and of course smells heavenly! Add some fresh lavender to your coops nesting boxes to provide a bit of aromatherapy for your girls-they’ll love it!
-
Basil: Basil has antibacterial properties, so it will help to boost your feathery friends immune system - adding some freshly cut Basil to your laying boxes will keep your hens home at the height of hygiene.
You can put dried or fresh herbs into the nesting boxes - the chickens will love both!
Edible flowers are another lovely nesting box addition. Why not try some of these:
-
Dandelion
-
Jasmine
-
Marigold
-
Pansy
When we say edible, we mean just the petals of the flower - not the rest!
Adding some edible flowers to the nesting box will not just make it look gorgeous, but it’ll create a beautiful environment for your girls to lay their eggs in peace and comfort.
Adding a few nice little touches to your hen’s nesting box is a great way to make it more inviting and comfortable for your charming girls. It’s a great way to take advantage of all the beautiful fresh herbs and flowers that bloom in spring, and to usher in a new season of fruitful egg-laying!
Best Materials for your Chicken Laying Boxes
It completely depends on the aesthetic and practicality you are looking for when deciding on laying boxes for your ladies. You can be as basic or fancy as you want!
Ultimately the best materials to make your nesting boxes are those that are easy to clean and sterilize. You don't want materials that'll absorb chicken poop or chemicals from your cleaning products! Therefore, metal or plastic are the best bet to hold your cosy nests.
Many keepers also choose to use wooden laying boxes. They are convenient, easy to make and look country-cute! However, they aren't as easy to clean as other materials, so keep that in mind.
From spring blooms to keeping cool in summer, there are plenty of things to consider each season for your chooks' health and happiness. Come rain or shine, hot or cold, something we’ll never be able to control is the weather! It can be a worry and concern when thinking about the safety and comfort of your backyard friends.
Cluckily, you can prepare for all seasons thanks to our friends over at Chickenpedia. I recommend their brilliant Weatherproof Chickens course to all my readers! They have compiled a useful guide of everything you need to keep healthy chickens through the seasons (which is more than you think!) with a great set of checklists and downloads to keep. Dangerous conditions including dehydration and frostbite can be avoided with the correct information and actions. Whatever the weather, this course will help you keep your chickens happy and healthy all year round.
As chicken keepers, we want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends. Many chicken keepers struggle to handle chicken health or behaviour issues, especially in the first few years of having a flock. Chickenpedia have comprehensive online courses on everything you didn’t know you need to know and then some more! From healthcare to raising baby chicks to feeding and behavior, you’ll find beginner-friendly courses that’ll give you the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your chickens.
As a member, you will get access to ALL their fantastic courses. No need to wing it, become the ultimate chicken eggspert! Check out Chickenpedia and their amazing courses today!
