Country Lore: Easy Hen Nesting Boxes

October/November 2007
By Robert Gillette 
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Recycled kitty litter buckets make super nesting boxes.
ROBERT GILLETTE
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My wife and I live on a small farm. We raise chickens organically and sell their eggs. We also have six cats, so we go through a lot of cat litter — we usually buy the 35 pound buckets. Needless to say, we are swamped with large yellow plastic pails. So, I came up with a unique solution to reuse them.

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We usually have about seven hens laying at the same time, so we needed more nest boxes. I realized that the plastic pails were the perfect solution! They went up in minutes and the hens like the high snug sides! Every year we have a new batch of laying hens, so now we always have enough nest boxes. They are a snap to clean, also!

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  • Cathie Wolff 1/11/2010 7:22:24 PM

    Love the idea! I too have lots of kitty litter boxes and was online looking for plastic nesting boxes. This is better and I don't have to buy the plastic boxes or waste the fuel shipping. Kudos for the idea!

  • Terry 11/3/2008 11:26:13 AM

    Do the bigger breed fit in them, Great idea and I have lots of buckets. Also have you had any problems with the eggs falling out. I have 26 Chickens, not laying yet but soon.

  • kat 11/15/2007 1:17:40 PM

    I have been a subscriver to MEN for many years and have seen many
    changes in its articles over these years. I almost dropped my
    subscription due to the lack of off gridder subjects and old time
    mentions of old ways, which I wish you could add at least now and
    then. Who knows some things within our past that we made and used
    could help us now let the youngens know about so they can afford to
    do things for themselves in these expensive years. I am a four year
    off grid living lady and believe me there are ALOT of shortcuts we
    all have to do to live as serenely and happy as we do. Thanks for
    letting me spew off. By the way-----I just re-subscribed. Hopefully
    I will se more useful info this time around.

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