Nests for geese: sizes and tools, how to do it yourself

Geese are often bred by farmers because they are large and easy to care for. Birds are raised for tasty meat, fluff, eggs. To increase the productivity parameters of birds, they should equip places for keeping. Of particular importance is the organization of nests for geese, which must meet specific characteristics.

Nest requirements for goose and their varieties

When creating a nest for geese, it is recommended to consider the following features:

Sufficient size. The width of the nest is 50 centimeters, the depth should be 65-70 centimeters, the height should be 60-70 centimeters.
Closed rear wall. This helps to minimize stress and secure the bedding to the bottom of the structure.
Small plank in front. Its height can be 10-15 centimeters. With the help of such a board, it is possible to hold the bedding.
High sides. It is better for females who hatch offspring not to be distracted by the influence of negative factors. If there are several nests nearby, the walls help the birds not to disturb each other.
Preparation time. It is recommended to create places for masonry 1 month before the start of the breeding period. Female geese usually start laying eggs in the second half of winter. Therefore, nesting is recommended to be prepared by February.
The presence of doors. Thanks to this, the female will feel safe during the hatching period.
Comfortable entrance. To make it easier for geese to enter the nesting place, it is worth placing a board in front of the entrance to it. It is recommended to do this on a slope. One side of the plank should rest against the ground, and the other - against the extreme part of the nest.
The ability to choose. The place for incubation should please the female. Only in this case the process of breeding geese will be successful. Therefore, it is recommended to equip several structures at once.

In this case, nests can have different types. The most common are:

round - it is made from an ordinary basket or tire;
from construction mesh;
with wooden bottom and slate walls;
in the form of wooden sections - they are equipped with blank partitions and make a small entrance.

Differences between goose and chicken nests

Nests for chickens are usually made on a raised platform. Sometimes they are even multi-storeyed. In this case, goose nests are placed at floor level. If the goose cannot get into the nest, it will lay on the concrete floor. This will kill future chicks.

In a chicken coop for 3-5 chickens, 1 nest is equipped.At the same time, geese need more space. Goose nests do more than chicken nests. They should be in a quiet and secluded place. This helps keep the heat in. So that the bird can constantly hatch eggs, the place for this is made spacious enough.

Fit sizes

The following standard nest sizes are commonly used for laying eggs:

width - 60 centimeters;
length - 70 centimeters;
height - 60 centimeters.

Some farmers make nests larger to take care of geese - about 100x100 centimeters. However, specific sizes are selected taking into account the breed of geese.

Tools

To make a wooden nest, you will need the following:

slats;
dry oriented strand board;
roulette;
lining;
4 bars with a diameter of 5 centimeters - they are used for support;
fasteners - for this it is permissible to use nails or self-tapping screws;
saw;
hammer;
plywood or bottom board.

How to make DIY nests

The most comfortable nests are made in the form of rectangular compartments that include many drawers. They can be used for farms where geese are massively bred. To make an egg laying structure, it is recommended to do the following:

Prepare the slats. From planks or lining to make elements of equal sizes. The walls on the sides make 60 centimeters in length. This will require 2 walls. It is also recommended to prepare 2 end fragments of 50 centimeters. In one of them, you need to make a hole for the manhole.
Sheathe the frame. To do this, it is recommended to nail the strips to 4 bars. They should be the backbone of the building. Equal intervals of 5 centimeters are made between the planks.
Finish the front wall. It is recommended to limit it to 2 slats. Below it is necessary to make a threshold. Due to this, the eggs will not roll out, and the straw will not fall out.
To nail the bottom. The floor should be insulated with foam. After that, it is recommended to put the box.
Treat the surface with a special substance that will provide protection against parasites and high humidity. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the composition is harmless to birds.
Make a bridge and attach it to the threshold. This will ensure the free movement of the bird.

How to install and equip

When installing a structure, it is recommended to take into account many factors. First of all, it is important to monitor the maintenance of optimal temperature conditions in the house. To do this, you should choose a place that is not affected by wind and sun.

To prevent heat loss and moisture ingress into the nest, the structure should be placed on special devices. This will help to achieve air circulation and thermal insulation.

Hay, sawdust, dry straw should be used as bedding and a warming layer. Today, farmers are increasingly using fermentation material. It is a composition based on sawdust and bacterial powder. The advantage of such bedding is the generation of heat, which is a consequence of the activity of beneficial bacteria.

To prevent the active reproduction of harmful microorganisms, it is recommended to place a little ash on the bottom of the structure. In preparation for incubation, the female plucks her down, covering the top of the nesting area with it.

Building nests for geese has a number of features. To achieve success in breeding birds, this must be taken into account. At the same time, it is important to correctly select the sizes taking into account the breed and strictly follow the manufacturing technology.