subject: Setup for Common Hen Ark Plans [print this page] Setup for Common Hen Ark Plans Setup for Common Hen Ark Plans
What is your vision of your hen ark plans when you dream of how you want them to be? Are you a big dreamer that will include all the bells and whistles? Do think in practical terms and want what's only needed to get the most out of your hen ark plans? Or are you one of the beginner builders and you are only looking to build a cheap ark that will allow you to get started with as little time and dollar investment as possible. Whichever of these you fall under that's ok because everyone starts out with same basic setup.
Let's look at the most common type of hen ark plans available to the chicken rancher. The basic 101 type of hen ark is a very simple A frame structure made from lumber and wire. The access is a simple swing hinge door to allow the chickens in and out traffic, and to give you access to change water and feed when necessary.
This type of plan can be drawn up very quickly along with a material list and you could build it in a few hours, depending on your carpentry experience. Even for a beginner this project would be a fairly easy task for a backyard rancher to build a 3ft. x 5ft. structure and it would be comfortable for about 4 to 5 chickens.
Now let's look at some advanced building ideas for the practical rancher who likes the idea of staying simple but still wants a little more.
If you are looking into ranching about 10-20 chickens and you want your ark to accommodate this number comfortably. This is what you need to do.
Take the same basic style of hen ark plans and add a little more comforts and accessibility. First when you are drawing up your hen ark plans your coop will be 5ft. x 10 ft., covering 50 square ft. which will be adequate for 10- 20 chickens. The hen ark plans also need to include plywood to for your chickens sleeping and egg laying quarters.
What you need to do when you're putting everything together is take your plywood and add it at one end of the ark. At the back end, you will cut a triangle piece of plywood that will cover the entire back end of the ark. At the top of the plywood, you will measure down 10" and cut across the plywood. Attach the small piece of plywood to the frame add 2 hinges for the top piece and the piece left from the original cut plywood. This will give you access to the chickens roosting quarters to add or change their bedding hay or straw which needs changing every week.
Now you need to cut 2 pieces of plywood for the sides of the housing cover from the top of the frame to the bottom then attach them to the frame. There you have some upgrades to your basic hen ark plans that will give your chickens a little more comfort.
