Building Chicken Coops
Tips And Safety Advice For Building Chicken Coops
Building chicken coops has become a very popular thing due to the amount of people that are choosing to raise their own chickens for the egg supply but, there is a need to keep them housed in a safe place away from predators and the elements.
The coop should not be built as an eyesore but rather as a decorative place to house the chickens. It is important to use materials that are sanitary and easy to keep clean.
When installing the doors make sure to build them to open inwards as opposed to outwards and use sliding windows to prevent them from nesting on the window. It is necessary to build the floor of the coop at a slight slope to prevent build up and puddles of water from hosing the inside. The slope should be downwards towards the door to allow for water going outside.
Maximum protection is very important for the safety of the chickens. The building should be sturdy enough to withstand extreme weather such as snow, rain, hale and extreme coldness. It also is necessary to make the building safe against predators, injury and theft as well.
Use windows and doors that are easily opened or closed and they should have the correct screening. Use a heavy gage wire mesh for the most optimum protection. The area where the coop will be built should be in one that gets a lot of sunshine to keep the building warm as well as prevent water from building up on the soil under the coop. The outside runs should have approximately one foot of buried wire to prevent animals from getting inside. If the mesh is buried it will prevent scavenging animals from digging there way inside and harming the chickens.
The chicken coop requires proper ventilation to allow oxygen and fresh inside. Using fan ventilators such as those installed on the roof of a home are good choices as they allow good amounts of air to enter but will keep other animals out. The walls should have good insulation to protect them against the cold as well as it provides a protection against unhealthy chickens.
The windows of the chicken coop should face the south in order to provide a maximum amount of sunshine during the day which is good for providing warmth and light. To help with egg production, install an electrical light source. The warmer the chickens are kept the more it helps to have better egg production.
When building chicken coops one of the most important parts is remembering to have feeders and water supplies in easy to reach areas. The correct height should be approximately even with their backs. This height will allow them to stretch for the feed but prevents them from getting the feed all over the floor. The water supply should be put at the same height and near the feed. It is very important to provide them with fresh clean water every day and to keep the inside as well as the outside of the coop clean to avoid any illness that may occur to the chickens.