How to Build Chicken Nesting Baskets

Proper nesting containers are essential for the safety and health of your chickens. Laying hens are very particular and may refuse to nest if they are uncomfortable. Hens will often lay eggs and abandon them because there are no nesting containers in their coops. A nesting basket can be made of a variety of materials and will help contain eggs and keep them from breaking during incubation.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood sheet 4 empty buckets, 5 gallon capacity Flexible measuring tape Permanent marker Saw Power drill Screws Straw
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Lay your plywood on a work bench or table and mark where you want to place the nests. Four nests fit will on a standard 4-foot-by-8-foot sheet of plywood, and should be evenly distributed near the corners to keep the sheet balanced. Use the permanent marker to place an X in each nest location.

    • 2

      Set one bucket on the work bench and place a mark 8 inches up from the base. Cut away the top of the bucket with your saw, repeating the process with each of the remaining three buckets.

    • 3

      Hold one bucket base over the first mark on the plywood and screw it to the plywood with the drill. The bucket should be attached with the bottom pointing down to form a circular nest basket for the chicken. Mount the other three bucket bases in the same fashion.

    • 4

      Place the finished nest unit inside the chicken coop and screw it to the wall. Choose a back or side wall away from entrances to keep the nests from getting chilled or windblown during severe weather.

    • 5

      Add a layer of clean straw to the bottom of each bucket to finish the nest baskets. Make sure you use clean straw free of mildew or mold that could make the hens or chicks ill. Straw helps insulate the eggs and keep the hens warm while sitting in their newly constructed nest baskets.