Overview
Welcome to my blog, where I share my journey of raising egg-laying native chickens right in my own backyard. If you’ve ever dreamt of having fresh, organic eggs at your fingertips, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of building a small poultry setup, perfect for personal egg consumption. From constructing a cozy coop to ensuring your chickens are healthy and happy, you’ll find everything you need to start your own mini egg-producing haven. Let’s get started on creating a sustainable and rewarding backyard poultry experience!
Raising chickens in your backyard can be a rewarding experience, providing fresh eggs and a sense of self-sufficiency. Eggs are extremely nutritious, offering a complete protein with a rich supply of key vitamins and minerals. They are a low-carb, low-calorie, and cost-effective source of protein. To enjoy a daily supply of fresh eggs, I decided to build a simple and small poultry setup in my backyard.
Creating a basic chicken cage with a nest is an excellent starting point for any aspiring backyard farmer. If this venture proves successful, you might even consider expanding it into a larger poultry business. In this blog, I’ll guide you through the steps of how I created a small yet functional and safe environment for my egg-laying chickens.
Planning of Small Poultry
My house is situated within an exclusive subdivision, so planning to build a small poultry requires careful consideration to avoid any violations or conflicts with neighbors due to potential issues like the smell of chicken poops or an increase in flies in the area. Therefore, I decided to raise only two chickens, which would provide enough daily fresh eggs good for two persons. With just two chickens, I planned to have a small, durable metal cage that fits in my backyard, featuring two nests. So I ended up buying an existing cage and modify it to suit my backyard setup and specific requirements.
This is how my chicken cage setup looks like:
This setup may seem expensive due to the materials used, but the advantage is that I don’t need to build the cage from scratch (though I could construct larger chicken cages from wood). This setup requires only a few materials and a short amount of time to assemble. Unlike starting from scratch, which involves gathering various wood/bamboo/coco lumber for the cage body and parts, nails, and chicken wire/mesh, this method is much quicker and easier. I don’t have the time to build a small cage from the ground up, and this pre-made cage only needed minor modifications to incorporate a nesting bed for my chickens. So if you’re in a similar situation, this setup could also work well for you.
Materials Needed
So if you still plan to build the same setup as mine, here is the list of materials I used to assemble my chicken cage:
- Metal Cage: For the frame and support structure, I purchased a 30 x 20 x 18.5 inch cage from a pet shop. The ones available online are collapsible due to shipping constraints, but the non-collapsible cage I bought from a physical pet shop is stronger and more durable than its collapsible counterparts.
- 2 Plastic Water Buckets: This is for nesting of chickens. I chose black color so as to create a sense of security for the chickens, making them feel that their nest is hidden and safe, thus encouraging them to lay eggs more freely. The buckets I bought has outer mouth diameter of 12 inches. You can also check out this link
- Metal Hack Saw: For cutting the steel grill and make a hole in the cage where the bucket can be inserted to (Check this link)
- Marker Pen: For marking the hole to be cut in the grills of the cage
- Measuring Tape: (optional) to measure and mark the sections to be cut.
- Roofing material: To protect cage from sunlight and rain, I just used a recycled corrugated polycarbonate panels found in my backyard for the roofing of my cage.
- Straw or bedding material: For the nesting buckets (use either straw, hay, or pine wood shavings)
- Electric Drill – (optional) For drilling holes needed in securing the connections/joints
Benefits of Having Your Own Small Chicken Poultry
Having your own small chicken poultry can provide numerous benefits, enhancing your lifestyle, improving your garden, and contributing to a more sustainable and self-sufficient way of living.
- Fresh Eggs: Enjoy a steady supply of fresh, organic eggs. Know exactly where your eggs come from and how the chickens are treated.
- Healthy Meat: Raise your own chickens for meat, ensuring they are free from hormones and antibiotics.
- Educational Experience: Teach children about responsibility and where food comes from. Gain knowledge about animal husbandry and sustainable living.
- Fertilizer: Chicken manure is a valuable fertilizer for your garden, rich in nitrogen and other nutrients.
- Composting: Reduce kitchen waste by feeding scraps to your chickens, which can then be composted along with chicken bedding.
- Self-Sufficiency: Increase your level of self-sufficiency by producing your own food. Reduce dependency on store-bought products.
- Stress Relief and Entertainment: Watching chickens can be relaxing and enjoyable. Interacting with chickens can be a fun hobby and a stress reliever.
- Environment Impact: Reduce your carbon footprint by sourcing food locally. Promote sustainable living practices.
- Economic Savings: Save money on eggs and meat. Potential to sell excess eggs to neighbors or friends.
Steps To Build Small Poultry At Your Backyard
Step 1: Plan The Design
Given that I plan to keep only two chickens, the size and design of my setup is straightforward: it consists of the cage I bought from the pet store, with the addition of two nesting beds where the chickens can lay their eggs. See below photo:
Step 2: The Nesting Bucket
Using a metal hacksaw, remove the handles from the two buckets as they will not be needed. Additionally, you can drill holes around the rim of the buckets to secure and tie them to the cage for added stability.
Step 3: Cut And Attach The Nesting Bucket
Using a marker, outline a hole slightly smaller than the mouth of the bucket on one side of the cage where the bucket will be inserted. Cut along this mark using a metal hacksaw. Repeat this process for the two nesting buckets for the chickens. Once the holes are cut, insert the buckets from the inside of the cage, allowing the tips of the cut chicken wires to act as a locking mechanism to prevent the buckets from slipping out.
Once done, your cage should look similar below:
Step 4: Create The Nesting Buckets
Place a wooden plank with a height of 3 inches inside the cage to prevent the buckets from moving forward. Secure the plank to the cage wall using wire. This plank will also act as a barrier to keep the hay inside the bucket. Then, add a sufficient amount of hay to the buckets to ensure the chickens are comfortable while laying eggs. Spread the hay or straw or other suitable bedding material inside the nesting boxes
Step 5: Install The Roof
When choosing roofing material for a chicken cage, it’s essential to consider durability, protection from the elements, and ventilation. Some of the best roofing materials for a chicken cage include corrugated metal sheets, polycarbonate panels, asphalt shingles, plastic or PVC sheets, and tarp or canvas. Consider the local climate, your budget, and the level of protection your chickens need when making your selection. Properly combining the roofing material with adequate ventilation and insulation will help maintain a healthy environment for your chickens.
To install your roof, just measure and cut your chosen roofing material to fit the top of the cage, allowing for an overhang on the edges to prevent the chickens from getting wet due to rain splatter. Secure the roofing material to the top frame, ensuring it is watertight to protect the chickens from the elements.
Step 6: Final Touches
Inspect the entire structure to ensure there are no sharp edges or loose components. Place food and water containers inside the cage, ensuring they are easily accessible for the chickens and securely fixed to the floor, as chickens are known to scratch the feeders with their feet while searching for food. Once everything is set up properly, the only task remaining is to maintain your chicken cage regularly.
Maintaining Your Chicken Cage
- Regular cleaning: Clean the cage regularly to prevent waste buildup and ensure a healthy environment for your chickens. The cage I selected comes with a poop tray accessory that collects all the chicken droppings in one place, making cleaning easier. You simply slide the tray out from the bottom of the cage and scrape away all the waste. To keep the tray dry, I always add a layer of garden soil before placing it back under the chicken cage to absorb any liquid droppings. Keep in mind that maintaining the chicken cage and surrounding area clean helps prevent flies. As for the scraped waste, I place it in my compost bin. Never apply it directly to your plants, as its high ammonia content can easily burn them. Instead, put the waste in a compost bin for 5 to 6 weeks to reduce its ammonia content before use. Additionally, temperatures generated in the composting process will kill most pathogens that can destroy your plants.
- Check for damage: Regularly inspect the cage for signs of wear or damage. If you find any damage, repair it immediately to prevent rodents, cats, or dogs from attacking your chickens. Keeping the cage secure will also prevent your chickens from escaping.
- Fresh bedding: Bedding in a nesting box does not only offer a soft landing for eggs but also provides extra comfort for your chickens. Use straw, hay, or pine wood shavings as bedding, as these materials dry quickly and provide cushioning and insulation for your laying hens and their eggs. To maintain cleanliness and dryness, regularly replace the bedding in the nesting boxes as needed.
- Food & Water: The egg production rates of laying hens reflect their overall health. Diet plays a major role in egg production, as the right food helps hens reach their full laying potential. To keep them healthy and productive, I feed them egg-laying mash and ensure their water pan is always full. Laying mash is specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of laying hens, providing the protein and energy they need to produce eggs.
Final Thought
Building a simple chicken cage with a nest in your backyard is a manageable DIY project that can provide numerous benefits. By following these steps, you can create a safe and comfortable home for your chickens, ensuring they thrive and produce fresh eggs for your family. Of course you can diverge from this design and customized your own chicken cage setup that will satisfy your own requirements and meet your available materials. Enjoy building your small backyard poultry setup!
Below are the other life hacks you can build in your backyard:
Growing Kangkong In A Bucket Using Hydroponics: A Beginner’s Guide
Salamat mga Ka-Butingting! If you find this post helpful, please share it with those who also might benefit from it. And don’t hesitate to share it too to your social media networks. God Bless!
