6 Crucial Decisions To Build A Hen House-building A Chicken Coop

See yourself as a bit of a D.I.Y

See yourself as a bit of a D.I.Y. expert? The below tips should be a great help to you then in the building of your own chicken house quick and efficiently.

1. Coop Design

Before you do anything, think of the design of your chicken coop. Think about the use of colour, if any, how you want it to look, etc. By sketching out your design on a piece of paper, you will get an idea of how your finished chicken coop may look and it will help you to focus on the task.

2. Use Good Judgment

When designing the structure of the coop, you must use firm judgment. For example, when choosing building materials try to opt for those which will be easy to clean and disinfect. The doors of your coop should open inwards, not outwards and it is ideal to install sliding windows.

To avoid puddles on the floor of your coop when hosing or spraying it, when building slope the floor slightly towards the door so that the water will flow out, thus avoiding the puddle problem.

3. Protection

In order to protect your chickens from elements such as predators and harsh weather, you want a well-built chicken coop. To achieve this, you need to build a draft free coop, in which the windows and doors can be opened easily. Be sure that both have a screening system installed, for example heavy gage mesh wire.

Building the coop on a high, well drained area that faces the sun will guarantee minimum dampness and will allow for the coop to be dried by the sun after it has rained. To protect your chicken from predators, bury your outside runs with chicken wire all around the chicken house about 1 foot deep. This will prevent predators from digging into the coop.

4. Ventilation

Chickens need oxygen just as much as humans. The build-up of carbon dioxide and unwanted moisture can damage the health of your chickens. Proper ventilation and sufficient air movement can help to remove excess carbon dioxide and ammonia, thus creating a healthier environment for your chickens.

The walls of the chicken house must also be insulated, so that the chickens are kept dry. When they are dry they can handle the cold weather, but humidity and cold weather will cause health problems.

5. Light

If the chicken coop windows are facing the south, they will receive sunlight throughout the day as well as light and warmth throughout the year. If you wish for your chickens to produce great eggs all year round however, perhaps you should look into an electrical source of light.

6. Water Stations and Chicken Feeders

These should be placed where they are easily accessible by the flock, yet still placed so that the chickens will not be able to make a large mess. The chicken feeders and water stations should be placed roughly at the height of the chicken's back, so that they can't reach either with their feet. Make sure to keep the water stations full of clean fresh water throughout the day.

These 6 tips should aid you in building your very own chicken house.

by: John O Toole

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