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Follow on Google News | How To Build A Chicken Coop. Read This Before You Do AnythingKeeping chickens require some planning, especially when deciding what type of home you are going to provide them. It has to be cosy, comfortable and a tidy chicken coop for your hens.
By: Dave Summers • They are extremely cheap to raise and require little looking after. • Their droppings are an excellent organic fertiliser. • Pests are kept under control by the continual pecking and foraging of the birds. • They make good pets. • Home-laid eggs are healthier and cheaper than shop-bought eggs and so can save you money. Before you start to raise hens, they have to have a home. Somewhere to sleep, to roost, to lay eggs and to wander around. The home will consist of a warm, bedding/roosting/ 1. Land 2. Climate 3. Static or Mobile 4. Size 5. Windows 6. Plans/ Land: You have to consider how many chickens you are planning to raise. The type of land or soil that is available for the bird house must also be considered. These pets scratch and peck quite extensively and placing them on a well manicured lawn would not be a good idea. A backyard is ok, but they would miss out on pecking for worms, pests and dust-baths. Using an existing vegetable or fruit plot would be a good idea as their droppings would greatly help to organically fertilise the soil. Climate: They are very hardy but you need to ensure you take account of the weather when placing the chicken coop. It should preferably be in a South facing position for maximum sun, which they like, and it helps to maintain the building in a dry condition, which helps prevent the build up of ammonia and to eliminate the onset of disease, which would occur in a damp environment. Static or Mobile: Do you want the hen-house to be a permanent building or have the option of being able to move it around? Gardeners like to move it into different locations so that each part of the garden receives equal fertilisation during time. Size: This is very much like the land available; how many chickens do you want to keep? Always build a bigger building than you think you might need. The birds like plenty of space, they don't like being cramped. If the hens are close together, disease and pests can proliferate due to an accumulation of body heat. Ensure the door to enter the coop is large, especially for ventilation during the day. Make sure there are adequate roosting poles for the number of hens. How to build a chicken coop will very much depend on an initial design, so do not be afraid to sketch the intended design on a note pad, showing placement of poles, windows, laying box and sizes. Windows: Plenty of ventilation and light is essential for happy and healthy chickens. It is therefore imperative you plan the best position before you start building. South facing windows give most light, but could cause overheating of the building, which would be uncomfortable. North and East/West facing windows would be the better alternative. Plans/Materials: • Cheap, nourishing eggs. • Good company as pets. • Natural pest control. • Producer of organic fertiliser. • Recycler of leftover food. But in order to be a pleasure you must provide them with a clean, light, well-ventilated, insulated, weather-proof, and pest/predator- Bill Keene provides information and guidelines on how to build a chicken coop with the health and safety and comfort of the chickens well in mind. It is a great resource and, by following the guidelines in this wonderful publication, your chickens will be happy with their new home. Bill's book will help you make a well-planned, easy-to-clean- Visit http://how-to- End
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