Chicken Coop / June 6, 2018 / Maryellen.
As do it yourself enthusiast who wishes to build own chicken coop you have two options. Option 1 is to consider the elementary requirements and sketch a simple design based on them and then proceed with building the coop yourself. This is cheap yet long and stress-fuelled process with uncertain outcome unless you are professional carpenter or similar. Option 2 is the smart approach that by-passes unnecessary stress while saving the time and the money. It involves getting a set of professionally designed chicken coop plans. With the health and well-being of your chickens in mind the plans present a wide selection of designs carefully produced to ensure that every coop meets legal requirements laid in the farming law. You simply choose the design that suits your individual requirements.
To protect your chickens from predators the best thing to do is to bury your outside runs with chicken wire all around the coop about 1 foot deep. This will prevent some very hungry predators such as raccoons cats and even dogs from digging underneath it. You may be wondering how to build a chicken coop that will not only keep your chickens locked up and protected from bad weather and predators yet receive the proper ventilation it requires. If so then you already understand the importance of draft free air movement from within the coop. Chickens much like humans need fresh air and oxygen. The same goes for the removal of unwanted excessive moisture and carbon dioxide. A chicken coop with ample air movement and proper ventilation will help remove the ammonia build up and dampness that may grow inside its walls.
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.
The worst error made is not planning ahead of time. It is very important to consider how many chickens will live in your coop? The size of the chickens is also very important. You also need to think about how many nests you want to have in your coop and how big they will be. How will the chickens be fed? Where will you place their food and water? Where will your coop be placed? If it is a shady area be sure to make room for more windows to let in sun light. Do you have enough room for a chicken run to allow easy access into and out of the coop? So there are a lot of questions to answer before you even begin to buy materials an draw up plans. You need to not only build a stable structure but also keep your chickens happy and safe. Planning properly will prevent a lot of problems in the future.
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.