Build Chicken Coop

Build a Chicken Coop

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Sat, 21 May 2011 13:53:00 +0000

The media is full of horror stories about the additives injected into supermarket chicken meat. The information would make anybody turn vegetarian. Or, the alternative is to raise some chickens yourself. If this is the path you have chosen, you will need to have a chicken coop to protect your flock.

A chicken coop has to keep your chickens safe and healthy, provide you with easy access to the chickens and eggs and for cleaning, and not look like an eyesore. When building your chicking coop, you should take the following six factors into account:

Make a pretty chicken coop
A chicken coop should blend in with its surroundings, particularly if you live in a built-up area. If you don’t have a ready-made blueprint for the design, make your own before you start to build. Plan the color scheme for the chicken coop at this stage also. And, once you have the coop built, clean up any leftover materials and weeds that are left around the area.

Think intelligently
When you build your chicken coop, make sure you use material that will be easy to clean and disinfect. Use hinged doors that open inwards and windows that slide open. But the most important element of all is to have the floor sloping slightly, making it easier to hose out the chicken coop.

Build for Protection
A chicken coop needs to protect chickens not only from other animals, but also from the weather. A well-designed coop will not have any features that will cause harm to the chickens, and it should protect your investment from theft by other people as well. If you build the chicken coop in a high, well-drained place, it will protect it from damp. A chicken coop built to face the sun will have the added benefit of the sunshine naturally drying it after rain, and providing light inside. You should also build a fence around the coop with chicken wire, which should go about a foot deep into the ground. This will stop dogs etc from burying underneath the fence to get at the chickens.

Keep It Ventilated
A well-ventilated chicken coop will give the chickens lots of fresh air and stop dampness building up inside. You should also insulate the coop if you live in an area that gets cold weather during the winter. Chickens do not need to be kept warm, but they do need to be kept dry.

Let There Be Light
An electrical light inside a chicken coop will encourage your chickens to keep laying good quality eggs all year round. Otherwise, you can build the coop in a location where it will get lots of natural sunlight during the day.

Feeders and Water Trays
Do not leave your feeders and water trays on the floor of your chicken coop, as the chickens will scratch the food out onto the floor. If you have them slightly raised, the chickens will have to reach up to feed and drink, but will not be able to create a mess.

For a complete step-by-step guide on how to easily build a chicken coop, the best guide available is "Building A Chicken Coop" by Ken Keene.

You can find my full review of it here.

Chicken Coop Setup

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Like with any building, you should organize the set up for your chicken coop before you start to construct it. This will allow you to plan ahead and make sure you have all the materials you will need, and enough materials to build your chicken coop. Some time spent online will also give you feedback from other people on what you should and should not do.

Most chicken coops will have two parts to them: the coop and the chicken run. The coop is the building, whether made of wood or plastic, where the chickens will be housed. The chicken run is a wire pen outside the chicken coop, which will enclose a space for them to exercise, peck and scratch around in. Generally, the run will be four times as big as the coop itself.

However, it is essential to build a coop and run big enough to house the amount of birds you wish to raise. Whereas a coop that is too big can give you space to expand your flock over the years, a coop that is too small will require you to either rebuild or reduce the number of birds. The ideal amount of space per bird is 2-3 feet inside the chicken coop, and with 10 feet each allowed in the chicken run. You need to take these figures into account when buying or building your chicken coop.

A chicken coop is far different to a dog kennel or a rabbit hutch. It will need nest boxes for the chickens to lay their eggs in. These are also available to buy, if you do not wish to build them yourself. These nest boxes should be placed in a quiet, dimly lit but warm part of the chicken coop so that the chickens are attracted to the area for laying their eggs. It should be in a separate area from where you have set up the feeding and water trays. These can be placed in a brighter section, and should be kept in an easily accessible place for ease of access for replenishing and cleaning.

Proper ventilation is essential for a well-designed chicken coop. Windows and doors can be included to let fresh air into the coop and remove any odours and dampness. A chicken coop should also have a door the chickens will use to access the chicken run but it must also have a door you can easily get through to collect the eggs, reach any chicken that may be in distress and that will allow you to clean the interior thoroughly.

If this seems far more complicated than you originally envisaged, you can opt for one of the variety of ready-made coops available online (the lazy option!). If you wan the fun of building a coop by hand, the best guide available is "Building A Chicken Coop" by Ken Keene.

You can find my full review of it here.

How to Plan Building Your Own Chicken Coop

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Thu, 19 May 2011 13:57:00 +0000

If having free-range chickens in your own backyard is your dream, it may not be as complicated as you may think. There are many elements to take into account when building a chicken coop, but with a small amount of planning, you can ensure your chickens will be happy in their new home. You don’t need to spend a fortune on constructing the chicken coop, and neither do you need to be a professional carpenter. Here are some tips to help you along your way:

• The chicken coop should ideally be located on higher ground. This will reduce dampness and puddles accumulating whenever it rains.

• Consider how much space you have to build the chicken coop in. If you only have a small amount of space, you will have to settle for only a few birds. The recommended amount of space per bird is 2 square feet inside the chicken coop and 10 square feet per bird in the chicken run.

• Plan your chicken coop on paper before you start to build, or download a blueprint from the internet. Remember to leave space for a door large enough to allow you access to the inside of the chicken coop.

• Building windows into the chicken coop will help with ventilation. If these are on the south side, the coop will be warmed by sunshine all year round. They can also be left open during warm weather.

• Remember to include nesting boxes in a warm, dark area where the birds will be encouraged to lay their eggs, and perches they can use for sleeping on.

• When purchasing your building material, do not forget wire for the chicken run, straw for bedding and trays for food and water. You do not necessarily have to buy everything. With some imagination, material from around the house can be recycled to form part of your chicken coop. Make sure no toxic material is used, however. Try to source untreated wood if you plan on building it yourself.

• Slope the roof of the chicken coop so rainwater runs off easily. If you use shingles, it will help weatherproof the building and provide insulation.

• Slope the tops of your nesting boxes also, otherwise the birds may start roosting on top of them. A sloped floor will make cleaning far easier, as water will run back out the door, bringing dirt and excrement with it.

• Either use sliding glass windows or cover the opening with wire. This will prevent predators getting in but allow light to get through.

• Use chicken wire to build the outdoor run and encircle the chicken coop. If you bury the fence 1 foot underground, predators will be unable to dig underneath to get in. If you live in an area with hawks, etc, you may want to consider covering the top of the chicken run with wire also.

• Place strong latches or padlocks on the doors and windows. This will allow you to ensure your chickens are secure inside and prevent theft.

For a complete step-by-step guide on how to easily build a chicken coop, the best one available is "Building A Chicken Coop" by Ken Keene.

You can find my full review of it here.

Why build a chicken coop?

noreply@blogger.com (Roger) — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:17:00 +0000

Chickens can be a great source of entertainment for a family. Many people are now choosing to raise their own chickens in their backyard. They benefit from having a regular supply of fresh eggs and, unless they get too attached to the birds, having a source of additive-free meat when required.

Chickens are not that labour intensive. They will not need as much attention as a pet like a dog would. Also, they will eat almost anything, so will help cut down on the cost of disposing of organic waste. Once you invest in a flock, you will soon start to see individual characteristics amongst the flock. If you have breeding hens, the sight of the tiny fluffy chicks will no doubt warm your heart.

There are many options available to people who want to build a chicken coop. Ther are ready-made wooden and plastic chicken coops available, or you can find plans on how to build a chicken coop yourself online or in specialist books. However, the chicken coop has to be the right size for both your living space and the size of flock you wish to rear. If you only have a limited amount of space, you will have to keep your flock an appropriate size for the chicken coop. Overcrowding will distress the birds and cause health problems. It will also discourage them from laying eggs.

A chicken coop will need nesting boxes for the birds to lay their eggs in. These should be constructed to prevent eggs and straw from being pushed out over the edges. Chickens will also need perches to sleep on. These are high ledges, around 10 inches wide, which should provide enough space for the entire flock to roost comfortably.

You will also need a chicken run attached to the coop. This is an outdoor area where the chickens can run around freely, scratch and peck for insects. If you fence in the chicken run, it will provide an added protection against predators and keep your chickens in one area. Remember to sink the fence into the ground to a depth of around one foot. This will prevent dogs, cats, foxes etc from digging underneath to get at the hens.

The chicken coop will need to be well-aired. Chickens need fresh air, just as any other animal does. Good ventilation will also remove any odors from the chicken coop and stop dampness building up inside. Remember to also include a door that will allow you access to the chicken coop so you can collect the eggs and clean inside without hindrance. Doors and windows that are easy to close and lock will not only protect your chickens from animal predators but also from being stolen by human beings.

Planning and building a chicken coop may take some time and effort, but you will soon reap the rewards when you have a ready supply of tasty and healthy eggs and meat, and all from your own backyard!