subject: Hen Ark Plans – Building Your Hen Ark Right [print this page] Hen Ark Plans Building Your Hen Ark Right
If you are planning on building a hen ark then build it right the first time. There's no worse feeling then finishing your ark and then realizing you've done it all wrong. Deciding to do all the building yourself will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. But before you do so, there are a few things you will need to consider.
First and foremost, you will need a set of hen ark plans that provide you with all the necessary blueprints and instructions. In the hen ark plan, be sure they mention three basic things you chickens need: A place for feeding, a nesting area, and a large for the chickens to hunt and peck for food.
These three things really come down to location. If you are looking to build a stationary coop then the outdoor section needs to be divided into two parts. These parts will be identical, but their separation has a purpose. Chickens will tear up the ground when placed in one spot; it is in their nature to hunt and peck for food. Even though you will be providing food and water, chickens still live off instinct and are prone to look for grass and bugs to eat. That is why you want to separate outdoor areas, when one are gets depleted you can just move you chickens over to the other area to give the ground some much needed rest.
When you start building, you hen ark plans will call for two main materials: wire and wood. The chicken wire you will need will be heavy gauge but has small spaces, no larger than 2 inches square. The small holes and heavy gauge will prevent predators from getting into the ark when they can hurt your birds. In addition to the wire, dig a 12 inch trench around your ark. This will add an extra element of protection by preventing predators from trying to dig under your fencing and prevent them from escaping. The wood need not be anything pricey. You can probably get away with using plywood. Just remember that the materials you end up using should be weather-treated so that you will not end up with a rotting ark, insect infestation, or metal corrosion. You will have to pay a little more up front, but in the long run you will save a lot of money and a lot of time by not having to rebuild.
There are other things to consider in you hen ark plans before you actually begin building. Be sure to include one or two windows for your chicken coops to allow for light and ventilation. But be sure to include shutters on the windows so that the windows can be closed up when it's rainy or very windy.
The least enjoyable part about own an ark is the cleanup. But with the right hen ark plans cleanup can be fairly easy. The thing you need to build in is a large hinged door. This is so you can get inside to clean. Not only does it help in cleaning but it will also make gathering eggs and removing chickens an easy job. With proper planning and good hen ark plans, you will be able to enjoy your birds more and spend less time working to keep up the coop.
