Building a Chicken Coop can be done quite quickly once you have completed your research and decided on the design of your Coop. Use these tips to help you build the best coop for your chickens.
Keep Your Chickens Safe – Whatever design you choose when building your chicken coop or hen house, you must ensure it will protect your chickens from the weather and keep predators out. Ensure your coop design factors in your cold or wet climate or provides sufficient shelter if you live in a hot, sunny area.
Ensure it is easy to clean and maintain – A chicken coop should be easily cleaned and maintainable. If this is not the case, your chicken’s health will suffer and they may stop laying eggs. The best looking chicken coop may not necessarily be the easiest to clean or maintain. You should plan to give your coop a really good clean at least once a week and if the coop is not easy to get into to do this, then human nature will usually mean this chore gets put off.
Keep your Chicken Coop well ventilated – A well ventilated coop will ensure that you have healthy, happy and productive chickens. Chickens don’t like stuffiness, nor do they like drafts. Ensuring they have good fresh air will ensure you have happy productive chickens.
Size – Despite what they say, size does count when you build your coop. Make sure you build your coop sufficiently bigger enough for the number of chickens you are planning on keeping. Calculate at least 4 square feet per chicken.
Roosts - Place roosts 2 to 3 feet off the ground and allow around 1 foot of space per bird. Keep these at the same height otherwise the chickens will jostle for the higher perch. Ensure the roosts are wide enough so your chickens don’t fall off during the night.
Poop Trays for your Coop – Place poop trays under chicken roosts as chickens do around 50% of their poop at night. This makes it easier for you to clean and remove the poop for reuse.
Nesting Boxes – Nesting boxes should be placed just off the floor in a dark corner. Chickens are quite secretive when laying eggs and like to feel protected. Allow one nesting box per 4 chickens. Also, chickens like to think about laying eggs, so place a perch just in front of the nesting boxes as well.
Location - Place your coop in a well drained location which is not subject to flooding particularly if you live in a wet area. If you live in a cold environment then be sure to insulate your chicken house.
Accessibility - Ensure you build your coop so that it is easy to maintain and you have easy access to the nesting boxes for the eggs.
Feeders - Make sure the feeders will support all your chickens feeding at the same time. Chickens are a social bunch and like to eat together.
Waterers - Ensure your waterers are at a good height for your chickens. General recommendations are to hang them at about the height of the chicken backs. Automatic waterers are good as they provide continuous fresh water to your chickens.
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