If you only have a limited area in your backyard or are city bound, then a small all in one chicken coop may be just the thing for you! These are great if you only want to have three or four chickens who will supply enough eggs for a smaller family anyway!
The units are similar in size to an aviary and have a small outside pen for the chickens to hang out together in during the day, with the coop itself typically accessible via a ramp for the chicken. Inside the chicken coop will be a small roost along with one or sometimes two nesting boxes.
Eggs are accessible through an outside door with food and water usually in the coop itself. This can be changed easily if it’s in the run area; however they can be more difficult to change if inside the shelter.
Whilst the convenience factor is certainly there for these smaller coops, chickens do like to have an area they can forage and scratch around in looking for bugs, grubs and other delicacies that only a chicken would like!
If you have the space to let your chickens be free for a few hours a day, you will indeed have happy, productive chickens, however these housing units do work well for a smaller area and smaller number of chickens.
All in One Chicken Coops can be built or bought as a kitset. Whether you buy or build a chicken coop depends on your handyman skills and time. It can be very rewarding building your own chicken coop, however you do need to take into account key tips such as ventilation, space for nesting boxes, roosts, feeding and watering containers and poop trays.
If you buy a chicken coop, you should still check these elements have been considered in the design. However, regardless of whether you buy or build a chicken coop, keeping chickens is a fun and rewarding experience!
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