2009 September | BuildingAChickenCoopFast

Chicken Coop For Sale – 3 Tips to Help You Find a Chicken Coop For Sale

September 12, 2009 By Terry Leave a Comment

Now that you have decided to raise your own chickens, you must find a chicken coop for sale or build your own chicken coop.

Purchasing a chicken coop is a great option if you do not have the time or energy required for building your own.

This somewhat simple task of buying a coop can become daunting though as there are many types and styles of chicken coops available.

There are 3 main factors to consider when buying a chicken coop.

1. Size – Does the chicken coop fit?

Before buying a coop, you need to make sure you have sufficient space in your backyard. Take measurements of your yard, accounting for other outdoor activities. This helps avoid the purchase of an expensive coop which might not even fit in your yard.

2. What about safety of the chickens?

Built-in safety mechanisms are a must if you live in an area known to have predators. These include windows and doors that function properly. A wired fence built around the coop is also ideal, for added protection.

3. Is ventilation of the chicken coop an issue?

Proper ventilation is essential when buying a chicken coop. Without proper ventilation, there can be a build-up of carbon dioxide and ammonia that can damage the health of your chickens and influence the quality of your chicken’s eggs. Also, if the coop is made from wood and is without proper ventilation, the coop will rot from moisture.
There are a variety of chicken coops for sale through the Internet or from local sellers. Before purchasing, be sure to take into account the above and your chickens should be healthy and happy in their environment.

Your next step is to look at the various breeds of chickens available to see which breed of chicken suits you best.

Breeds of Chickens – What Are the Best Chicken Breeds

September 11, 2009 By Terry 1 Comment

So what breeds of chickens do you choose once you’ve decided you want to raise chickens and you have started building a chicken house. There are different types of chickens to raise. Which one you choose will depend on whether you wish to raise chickens for their eggs, meat or for ornamental purposes.

Good for you. The easy part is over. It’s now time to choose what breed of chicken you’re looking for, and there are several!

There are a few tips that any new chicken owner should adhere to when deciding what chicken is best for them:

A big factor in choosing your breed of chicken is considering where you live. A small garden in the middle of the city isn’t exactly ideal for thriving chickens. Neither is a small coop.

Pekins and Silkies

If it’s eggs you’re after, the Pekins and the Silkies are your guys. Purebred chickens tend to be more fragile and prone to illness than those which have been crossbred, so if you’re looking for a good breed, crossbreeding a Silkie and a Bantam has been reported as one of the best breeds of chicken you can get, as they are quite laid back.

Leghorn

If you are just after inexpensive egg laying, then you should choose the leghorn. Not as pretty as other chickens, they are the cheaper method. However some breeders have reported them as being high-strung

Cochin Bantam

Some people aren’t after chickens for their eggs and if you’re one of them, than the Cochin Bantam is your bird. With a sweet disposition, it is exceptionally well-mannered.

Americaunas

If you’re looking for beauty, than a good choice is the Americaunas. These are incredibly beautiful because of their feathers, resembling a Falcon in both colour and hooked beaks.

Filed Under: Chicken Raising Tagged With: best chicken breeds, breeds of chickens

Building a Chicken House – 6 Crucial Tips

September 10, 2009 By Terry 1 Comment

See yourself as a bit of a D.I.Y. expert? The tips below should be a great help to you in the building of your own chicken house quick and efficiently.

1. Coop Design

Before you do anything, think of the design of your chicken coop. Think about the use of colour if any, how you want it to look, etc. By sketching out your design on a piece of paper, you will get an idea of how your finished chicken coop may look and it will help you to focus on the task.

2. Use Good Judgment

When designing the structure of the coop, you must use firm judgment. For example, when choosing building materials try to opt for those which will be easy to clean and disinfect.

The doors of your coop should open inwards, not outwards and it is ideal to install sliding windows. To avoid puddles on the floor of your coop when hosing or spraying it, when building slope the floor slightly towards the door so that the water will flow out, avoiding the puddle problem.

3. Protection of your chickens

In order to protect your chickens from elements such as predators and harsh weather, you want a well-built chicken coop. To achieve this, you need to build a draft free coop, in which the windows and doors can be opened easily.

Be sure that both have a screening system installed, for example heavy gage mesh wire. Building the coop on a high, well drained area that faces the sun will guarantee minimum dampness and will allow for the coop to be dried by the sun after it has rained.
Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock
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To protect your chicken from predators, bury your outside runs with chicken wire all around the chicken house about 1 foot deep. This will prevent predators from digging into the coop.

4. Ventilation of your coop

Chickens need oxygen just as much as humans. The build-up of carbon dioxide and unwanted moisture can damage the health of your chickens.

Proper ventilation and sufficient air movement can help to remove excess carbon dioxide and ammonia, thus creating a healthier environment for your chickens. The walls of the chicken house must also be insulated, so that the chickens are kept dry. When they are dry they can handle the cold weather, but humidity and cold weather will cause health problems.

5. Light of your chicken house

If the chicken coop windows are facing the south, they will receive sunlight throughout the day as well as light and warmth throughout the year. If you want your chickens to produce great eggs all year round however, perhaps you should look into an electrical source of light.

6. Water Stations and Chicken Feeders

These should be placed where they are easily accessible by the flock, yet still placed so that the chickens will not be able to make a large mess. The chicken feeders and water stations should be placed roughly at the height of the chicken’s back, so that they can’t reach either with their feet. Make sure to keep the water stations full of clean fresh water throughout the day.

These 6 tips should aid you in building your very own chicken house. And you can also check out using chicken coop kits..

Filed Under: Building a Chicken Coop Tagged With: Building a Chicken House