How To Easily Build A Chicken Coop
Before purchasing the fowl or fowls of your choice, it is necessary to have cages or coops to keep them in. These are not necessarily difficult to build, but must follow certain guidelines to be useful. If you plan on building your own chicken pen, with the right supplies and materials you can have an great coop built in very little time.
Choosing the best location is a necessary factor in egg production, warmth, and over all presentation. If you live in a heavily populated area, you may want to consider the appearance of your pen. Although it is not a law, it is common courtesy to make it look presentable so as not to cause hard feelings between you and your neighbors. You do not have to let their likes and dislikes dictate the type and form of your coop, but as far as the smell and outward appearance, it should be made to be presentable. A backyard shed or small garden house makes great chicken housing, but building your own is the only way to make sure you get what you want.
The type of coop is dependant on your surroundings as well. The predators where you live, either domestic or wild, should not be able to access the chickens in their housing. The types of predators will determine whether or not you will be able to manage free range chickens or whether they must be kept in an enclosed area not only for their protection, but also to keep them from wandering.
An ideal coop allows for 4 to 4.5 square feet of space per chicken kept, meaning the more birds you intend to raise, the bigger your coop will need to be. Try to determine whether or not you will be expanding in the future or whether you intend to simply raise a few at a time. If you plan on expanding your chicken holdings, it may be necessary to build a large building from the start and section it off to allow for future expansion, rather than be forced to put off expansion plans until the coop is built to specifications.
Most domestic chicken coops are mainly small in their keep and do not include plans for building a feeding and watering system into the building, but it is possible. difficult but possible. Most chicken farmers opt for store purchased feeding and watering systems that are made available at most feed stores, and can be ordered at those that do not carry them. Take a look at all your options before deciding on which system to use.
Allow for plenty of room for a full sized adult bird to move around in the pen for cleaning and egg gathering purposes as well as good ventilation for the chickens. Keeping the floor covered with at least four inches of suitable covering (Hay, wood shavings, corn husks etc.) ensures cleanliness and keeps the chickens from ingesting their own droppings. Whether or not you build an enclosed area or simply allow them to roam free, the chickens will need plenty of room to scratch and dig for bugs. The best amount to have is about twice the size of the housing.
Whatever style or design you settle on should work best for you and the chickens you will be raising and enable you to keep them safe, healthy and warm when necessary.
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