Chicken Coop / June 3, 2018 / Maryellen
A portable chicken house by its very nature has to be movable and therefore is less likely to be as robust as a fixed coop. However if you have a good set of construction plans for your coop will ensure that if you choose a portable coop it will be as strong as possible. Earlier we mentioned predator fencing around your coop and getting a good strong fence in place around the perimeter of the coop is vital to protect your investment in the birds as well as to ensure the well-being of the hens. Naturally at the planning stage for building a coop you also should be considering material requirements and costs for a protecting fence as the size of the hen house will have a direct impact on the size of the fence required.
Speaking of walls the chicken coop walls should have proper insulation installed which will help keep the chickens dry. As long as chickens are dry they can handle cold climates very well but humidity plus cold weather will cause health issues for your poultry. Therefore insulated walls are a must! If you want a good source of light and warmth for your chickens during the cold months of the year and a solid source of ventilation during the hot months then be sure to install the chicken coop windows facing the southside where they will receive direct sunlight throughout the day. On another note if your goal is to raise chickens that will produce great eggs all year round then you should look into an electrical source of light. You should be able to easily install an electrical light at the height of the chicken coops ceiling which will help keep your chickens warm and help them lay better chicken eggs throughout the year. One ceiling light should be enough for a small scale chicken coop for larger chicken coops though try to install one electrical ceiling light per every 30 - 40 feet.
You should place windows in your chicken coop in a way that will allow your flock to get as much sun as they only can. Especially in the mornings. Most of the windows in your chicken house should be in a direction of the sunrise. Second use for windows is creating air circulation inside your chicken coop. They allow your chickens to breath with fresh air and save you from dealing with bad smells while you are cleaning the chicken coop. Failing to supply your chickens with an appropriate source of light will decrease their performance and cause them to lay eggs less frequently or during weird hours. So if for some reason you cant supply them with natural light try to substitute it with electrical. This however should be done under supervision of someone who knows how to build a chicken coop.
Intellectual Property Protection - Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
© 2019 Bonaveo. All rights reserved.