Elegant My Chicken Coop Plan - Basic Chicken Coop Provisions

My Chicken Coop Plan - Basic Chicken Coop Provisions

In today's article, we are going to take a look at the key chicken coop provisions required. When you first develop your chicken coop plan, providing for proper housing and related features is absolutely necessary to keep your chickens in excellent physical shape, contented and happy. You will do best in your efforts if your chickens are as "contented as a cow," so to speak.

As I stated once before, you will do best if you consider your chickens to be pets instead of just livestock. Most people tend to take better care of their animals when they have the mindset that they are pets. The happier and healthier your chickens are, the faster and stronger they will grow and the more egg production you will get.

Perhaps the most important feature of your chicken coop plan is that of safety. You like to feel safe in your home right? Well, so do your pets. (Notice the pet mindset there!) Your chicken coop must be predator proof from all sides. Make sure that all openings are protected with the correct size wire mesh, typically 15 mm ( 5/8 inches) square so that no predator can reach into the chicken coop. Not even your cat! That's right, your cat should be considered a predator too!

Also, make sure the area surrounding the chicken coop is protected with the same 15 mm square fencing and buried at least 30 cm (1 ft) below ground level. This will prevent sly foxes and or wily coyotes from entering the chicken house.

Next, be certain that the chicken coop itself is well ventilated. This will help to prevent respiratory disease. Ever hear a chicken cough! Just kidding, they can't cough, but they can get sick!

Make sure the coop has a section that is not in the direct flow of air. Chickens can stand cold weather, but they cannot stand being in the direct cold air flow path for too long.

Provide roosting poles for the birds because that is how they sleep! (And you thought they needed beds!) Make sure there is adequate spacing so they do not crowd one another when roosting. You don't want to ruffle any feathers! They'll do that well enough on their own.

Then be sure the chicken coop is easy to clean. Place removable plastic trays under the roosting poles for easy removal of droppings. Yes, this is the nastiest job, but some ones gotta do it! Hey, maybe you can get one of the kids to do it!

Now also make sure you provide for nesting boxes. You should put one nesting box for four or five birds in a dark corner of the coop which will encourage the little ladies to lay eggs. The nesting boxes should be a little off the floor, but lower than the roosting poles inside.
You also need to make sure there is enough room for the the little buggers to roam around and play. A good rule of thumbs is 4-5 square feet per bird.

Then, last but not least, there must be a waterer and feeder. You don't want your pets to go hungry or thirsty do you?

Now for today's Stupid Chicken Joke!

Why did the chicken cross the "net?"

To get to the other site!

Oooh, that's a keeper!

Luxury Small Chicken Coops

Small Chicken Coops

Are you planning to get some hens for your small garden? You might be thinking about getting a house for them as well, like small chicken coops? There are some points that you should be aware of before you actually go and get yourself one such coop. Here I have mentioned what to look for when buying small chicken coops.

Let the Chickens Have Ample Space

If you want the chickens to be healthy and get you more eggs, you must ensure they have enough space. The coop should never be congested. Ideally a chicken should be provided with around 8 sq feet of space. Calculate accordingly considering the number of chickens you possess and purchase one of the small chicken coops for them.

Space is an important factor as it not only keeps the chickens happy, but adds to their health and productivity as well. Too much congestion will attract germs. The atmosphere inside the coop may even turn suffocative. This is not desirable at all.

Airy and Sunny Coops

Small chicken coops must have enough ventilation to let out the gases formed inside. Harmful gases like ammonia and carbon dioxide get formed in such coops and can harm your chickens. An airy coop will get rid off these gases and allow fresh air to enter the coop effectively. This can maintain a cleaner atmosphere inside the coop and keep the chooks healthy.

Enough sunlight should be able to enter these small chicken coops. This reduces the moisture collected inside during the wet rainy seasons, keeping the coop properly dry and clean. During the winter months sunlight can warm up the coop through the day and keep it warm during the night with the windows properly shut.

Ensure the Security

Try to look for the small chicken coops that are secured enough to keep rodents, cats, foxes and other predators at bay. Make sure the doors and windows of the coop can be locked properly and the coop is strong enough to resist the attacks from such animals.

Bear these points on your mind and you will definitely get yourself the best of the small chicken coops for your chooks to be happy!

Beautiful Chicken Coop Basics

Chicken Coop Basics

There are certain things that every chicken coop should have to make sure you are raising happy and healthy chickens.  Nobody wants to have a bunch of unhappy chickens running around, part of the reason of raising chickens is because they are so much fun!  So let me get into some of the basics that every chicken coop needs to have.

First off, you need a roost. Chickens love to sleep in the highest place in the chicken coop because it makes them feel the safest.  Chickens also go to the bathroom when they are resting, so it is very important that they do not sleep in their nesting boxes, you do not want to have your fresh eggs covered in droppings.  Because of this, you also do not want your roost located directly above your nesting boxes.  Your roost should leave the chickens enough head room also so they aren't bumping their heads when jumping up or down.  Don't worry about having excess space on each side of your chickens while sleeping, because they like to huddle up with each other to stay warm and feel safe.

Secondly and probably the most important is protection from any animals that might want to eat your chickens.  If you do not have a floor you need to have fencing buried under the dirt so no animals can dig their way into the coop, and make sure the coop and chicken run are all fenced in, especially if you know there are predators in your area.

Proper spacing for each chicken is required so they can lay their eggs and just feel comfortable.  So make sure you have at least 3 square feet for each chicken you have living in your coop, most people give them at least 4, but if you are cramped for space, 3 is alright.

Your feeder should be placed around the height of your chickens' backs.  You want it off the ground so it isn't getting scratched and things aren't falling in it.  You will also need a water heater so their water does not freeze if the temperature falls below freezing levels.  Also, buy a water container that hold enough water for a few days, this way you don't have to fill it every day and it won't be a problem if you forget.

The last thing I will list here is to make sure your chicken coop is well ventilated and that you can easily clean it out.  It will get pretty dirty from droppings and you need to make sure you can clean it out easily.  So if you can't walk in, make sure you can open the roof or side panel.

Those are my basics that every chicken coop needs to have.  Having these things will keep your chickens healthy and happy.  Have fun with your amazing pets!

Check out my site for some great blueprints for any type of chicken coop you could possibly need.

Unique Why Build a Backyard Chicken Coop

Why Build a Backyard Chicken Coop

If you are reading this article, I can confirm that you are interested on How to Build a Backyard Chicken Coop. If you think that you can build a chicken a coop by yourself then I definitely have good news for you. Please read on and find out how easy it is to build one.

There are many benefits in building your own backyard chicken coop, if you are to compare the cost of building your own chicken coop versus buying one, you can save yourself almost 50 percent. Almost all of the commercial coops available in the market will still need to be assembled once you get them. So basically you are just buying parts that are really over priced.

What do you need to build a Chicken Coop?

If you think that you need to have special equipment to build your coop, then you are mistaken. If you can use a hammer, and a saw then you can definitely build your own chicken coop.

All you need to do is follow a simple well designed plan on how to build it and you're off. If you are a professional poultry farmer then you will definitely need to build a big chicken coop and if you are just an enthusiast and would just like to have one in your backyard you will still need to follow a well designed enclosure.

Not only will you have a self sustained miniature-farm that produces fresh organic eggs everyday, recycles your food scraps and provides high quality fertilizer, but you'll be proud to know that you made something with your own two hands.

Things to Consider...

If you already have your heart set out to build your own chicken coop you should consider the following things.

- the number of chickens you will put in your coop
- the size of your lot
- the terrain of your lot
- the materials you will need
- and the proper design

Inspirational Building Backyard Chicken Coops - Tips to Design a Backyard Chicken Coop

Building Backyard Chicken Coops - Tips to Design a Backyard Chicken Coop

A chicken coop is a shelter place for chickens. It is a safe retreat place where hens lay their eggs. There are different kinds of chicken coop designs and plans available in the market. However, there are certain factors to be considered while building a backyard chicken coop.

Before planning and designing a coop you need to focus on three essential points so that the coop is comfortable for chickens:-

Have 4.5 sq. ft. of space between each chicken
3 nests shared between 8 chickens
9 inches of perch length for each chicken

Once you have decided on this then comes the designing part of your coop. Your design should consider certain important aspects for convenience of hens:-

Conserve
Conservation of your chicken coop means its maintenance. A perfect plan of coop contains a design of easy cleaning of the coop. Keep the floor of the coop slightly sloped towards the main door. This allows maintaining cleanliness and appealing appearance of the coop. When the water is hosed inside the coop, it will run out through the main door.

Ample Ventilation
Your plan of coop should have a design for proper ventilation. Sliding windows maintain proper ventilation inside the coop and allow fresh air to come in.

Ample Lightning
Proper lightning inside the coop do not only act like a light giving source but also as a good heat source. Design your coop in such a way that it provides ample of lightning even during cold days.

Use of Thick Wire Mesh
Plan your coop in such a style that it proves to be a protective house for your chickens. Opt for thick wire mesh fencing so that the hens are protected against becoming a prey.

Besides above mentioned criteria, what you need is an ideal chicken coop plan. Another thing to be considered is about the run out area for hens outside the coop. If you are in search of ideal designs and plans for the coop you need to take help of professional plans and systematic designs so that your chickens feel comfortable inside and lay maximum number of eggs.

Luxury Chicken Coop Buy - How to

Chicken Coop Buy - How To

So you're either a chicken enthusiast or you're a man with contacts who knows prospective chicken coop buyers.

And you want to buy and / or sell chicken coops, but you don't know the first thing there is to know about chicken coops. Or chickens, for that matter. And you don't really have time to do some research about them, but you're genuinely interested. What do you do?

First of all, you're reading this, so that bit about you not having enough time to research could very well be a blatant lie.

Second, you've come to the right place: keep on reading, and by the end of the article, you'll know all the basics about chicken coops, buying and selling chicken coops, and maybe a little bit about the chickens themselves.

First thing to remember is that chicken coops are designed to house chickens, so you want your coop supplier to be someone who's worked with chickens. Your coops should have enough room to hold at least a dozen birds.

They should also be well-made, but more on that later.

What are the basic parts of a chicken coop?

Buyers are liable not to know what these are, so you want to know them for future reference. It can be as easy as being able to tell that this part is where the hens roost, and this is where they eat, but you have to know what they're called, or else you wouldn't be a very persuasive salesman.

Learn what the interior of the chicken coop contains. Know what each part does. And then you can call yourself a chicken coop salesman.

Earlier, I mentioned that your chicken coops should be well-made.

How can you tell if you've got decent coops in stock?

The easiest way is to test their material. This is easier if you're dealing with local clients, since they share the same weather patterns as you do. You just have to make sure that your coops will withstand the tortures of the local weather, and keep chickens safe from harm, and you know you have good stock.

But if you're running multiple branches on areas with different environments, chicken coop buyer needs may vary accordingly.

Keep track of what the locality of your branch's weather is like, and adjust your stock accordingly.

And that's pretty much it!

Just keep these things in mind, talk to your suppliers, and keep yourself up to date on the current trends in the poultry industry, and you'll have an easy time attracting buyers.

Unique Chicken House Designs - 7 Critical Considerations

Chicken House Designs - 7 Critical Considerations

Here are 7 critical things you must consider when designing or building a chicken house. Missing any one of these points is very likely to end in disaster for either you, your coop or your chickens.

1. Bye Laws

Before you even start considering designing or building a chicken house you should check the local bye laws for any restrictions or licence that may be required. This will vary from country to country and even between states, cities and towns.

2. Appearance

Think about the appearance of your chicken coop. Remember that unless you are very lucky and have a large detached piece of land then your neighbours will almost certainly be able to see your coop. Although your chickens may not worry too much about appearances, neighbours will be much happier and better accepting if your chicken house is aesthetically pleasing.

A good appearance is also reflective of a good quality build. If you were looking to buy a car you would think that a smart, clean car with no dents reflects a well looked after vehicle and you would expect the engine to be in a similar condition. This is true for anything, including chicken coops. If it looks poorly made and poorly maintained then that will likely reflect on it's performance as a safe and healthy refuge for your chickens.

3. Size

Many people may tell you that size isn't important but in the case of a chicken coop is definitely is. You will need to consider how many chickens you intend to keep and possibly allow for some growth of your flock.This may need to be moderated by your available space, if you have a small yard for example, but you should never compromise your chickens requirements. If you have a small yard you may need to keep less chickens!

4. Location

The location of your chicken house is very important. Consider your local weather conditions I.e. prevailing winds. Ensure that any run off water from sheds or houses won't hit your coop. Your Chickens will also want plenty of ventilation and light so ensure this is incorporated into the design and not restricted by the location. Not much point in making a window if it sits 5cm from a shed wall!

5. Protection

A chicken coop has one main function and that is to keep your chickens safe and healthy. You need to consider any threats to your chickens and ensure that protection is built into the chicken house designs. Foxes, rats, cats and other predators can make short work of a flock. For instance, raising your coop off the ground can help protect against some predators and ensuring chicken wire is securely fixed and covers all appropriate openings. Rain and winds can threaten your flock so ensure that roof overhangs are enough to stop water dripping into doors or windows.

6. Feed and Water

Crucial to health of any animal is the feed and water regime. Chickens need a daily feed and water. They are not like budgies who can be given a large feeder of food and water and be left for some days or even a week. Careful consideration of the food and water vessels and placement is essential. If you simply put food and water in bowls on the ground they will quickly become fouled with droppings and that is a sure recipe for sick chickens. Also ensure that you have easy access for feed and water as you will need to get to them every day.

7. Cleaning

The final critical consideration in your chicken house designs, if you want to make your coop a success, is cleaning. Chickens make a lot of mess and the coop will need regular cleaning. If you do not include easy cleaning in your design, you will set yourself up for a lot of needless hard work. I.e. ensure the coop floor is raised off the ground and enable both sides to be fully removed leaving free and clear access to the inside. This also needs to be considered when locating your chicken house.

With careful consideration of all the above 7 points you can avoid most of the self made disasters that can hit new chicken house owners and keep happy, healthy and productive chickens.