Give them space!
Chickens in a happy space are productive chickens. Give your chickens at least 3 square feet each inside the chicken coop and around 6 feet in the run for each chicken. So once you have decided on the number of chickens you want to keep, you need to calculate the size of the chicken coop if you are planning on building a coop or buying a coop. Also know that you can come down a bird or two if you cannot find one of the size that you are after.
Let them breathe!
Don’t get confused between drafts and ventilation. Chickens need good ventilation during winter and summer. Typically ventilation should be placed near the top of the coop as warm air rises it can be removed through ventilation traps. Do ensure that there is sufficient fresh air entering near the bottom of the coop as well, to prevent the building up bacteria and condensation.
Give your birds privacy
Nestboxes should be in the lowest, darkest corner of the chicken coop. Hens are quite secretive when laying eggs and prefer to do this in private. Try to have at least one nesting box per four chickens with straw or wood shavings for litter. Make sure the straw smells fresh and is not dusty as this will be bad for the chicken’s health. Finally, make sure there is easy outside access to collect the eggs.
Put your birds on a Pedestal
Chickens like to roost on perches at night. You should allow 23-25cm per hen and ensure the perch has enough wide so the birds do not fall off at night. It is a good idea to look for a hen house that has perches at the same height, otherwise the chickens will jostle for the higher perch. Chickens do about 50% of their poop at night so to make cleaning the poop from your coop easy to do, make sure there is an easy to remove poop tray under the perches.
Protection from Predators and the Environment
Chickens can be vulnerable to predators like foxes, weasels and stoat so the hen house must be built securely. If buying second hand, ensure the henhouse is still robust and appropriate the protection you are looking for. If you live in a windy or wet area, the Hen House or Chicken Coop you are looking to build or buy must be appropriate for your environment. If your area is particularly wet, it would be prudent to ensure the chicken coop you build or buy is raised to avoid flooding.
Keep these basics in mind when looking for a chicken coop for your backyard to ensure your chickens are healthy and productive!
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