5 Tips To Building A Poultry Coop

You are reading this article because you want to build a poultry coop. Though by far the most popular type of poultry to raise is the chicken for obvious reasons they are a constant supply of high protein eggs. However whether building a chicken coop or a coop for another type of bird the following tips are essential.

Tip #1 Protection.

\"Chicken Wire Fence\"

Though a chicken coop also feeds chickens and is designed to make them feel safe and there for lay more eggs the most basic reason why we create chicken coops is to protect our flocks. To protect against predators you need to get a strong chicken wire fence that goes a foot into the ground you also want good materials and make sure that your chickens are in their coop at night.

5 Tips To Building A Poultry Coop

But to protect against the elements (as well as predators) make sure that your windows have good screening. Also make sure that they all can be opened and closed as needed for ventilation and protection. You should build the coop on higher ground so that it dries faster after a rain.

Tip 2# General.

These are just some quick general tips that will make your chicken coop a lot better. You should install doors that open inwards not outwards. Also make all your windows slide to the side otherwise your chickens might open them and roost. Also you should make the floor slanted slightly towards the door so its easier to clean the inside of the coop.

Tip #3 Ventilation.

Ventilation is very important in a coop. It helps lower the build up of moisture as chickens should live in nice dry climates. It also helps reduce ammonia buildup which will poison your chickens without proper air flow. Plus if your coop really doesn't have any ventilation then your chickens could die without enough oxygen (though this is very unlikely). But of course you still want to protect the inside of your coop from the elements. To do this you can probably just keep the windows open most of the time. Also having insulation installed in your walls is a must. As dampness that might creep into the walls could be very bad for your chickens health.

Tip #4 Water and Food.

You should always install feeders and waterers where the entire flock will have an easy time reaching. However because chickens have such a strong urge to scratch and peck if you put the feeder to low then your chickens will spread their food all over the coop and that means more cleaning! Because of this it is best to install the feeder just a little higher then you would naturally so that they have to stretch their necks to eat. Same thing with water (you don't want chickens stepping in their water).

Tip #5 Lighting.

To make sure that your chickens are warm during the winter months I always install a heater lamp somewhere in the coop and just turn it on during winter. Also a great tip for extra light is to place the windows facing south. As this will give the chickens warmth and light throughout the day.

Lighting is more important then most people realize. However a chicken will only lay their eggs if they have a good dosage of light. Indeed their entire day is dictated by light. When the sun first rises they get up and go out to eat and lay their eggs. Then after they lay their eggs they just walk around and eat. Then at night they go right back to the roost.

5 Tips To Building A Poultry Coop

To learn more about Poultry Coops Visit my website at http://www.chickencoopx.com/ helpful tips and information on breeding, keeping, and raising chickens.

How to Build a Chicken Coop - 6 Crucial Elements on Building a Chicken House

When building a chicken coop, it is suggested that you follow the guidelines below for a successful endeavor.

Element #1. - Appearance and Design:

Chicken

Sketch out your design on a sheet of paper before you do anything else. Think of the colors you will paint the roof and chicken coop walls. Always keep in mind that if your chicken coop is clearly visible to your neighbors, (unless you live in a farm it will most likely be visible to your entire neighborhood,) it shouldn't ever serve as a distraction or defacement of its utmost surroundings. So make sure to design an aesthetically looking chicken coop so that your neighbors do not complain of its detracting appearance. Once finished, always remember to remove and dispose of any types of garbage or weeds from around your chicken coop. Try to maintain an appealing landscape around it to enhance its overall appearance.

Element #2. - Using Sound Judgment:

When designing your chicken coop structure, you must use sound judgment in almost every aspect of the way.

For instance, you want to use building materials in which the cleaning and disinfecting procedures will be quick and easy. The doors you install should open inwards, not outwards. You don't want your chickens roosting on your windows, so it is best to install sliding windows.

A question many people ask is how to build a chicken coop who's floors are easy to hose and spray down without much puddling? Well the secret to that is to slightly slope the flooring toward the door. This way, when you spray out the chicken coop, the water will flow out, hence solving your puddling problem.

Element # 3. - Protection from Hazardous Elements:

So you want to learn how to build a chicken coop with maximum protection?
Then listen up.

As you may know, a well built chicken coop will protect your chickens from hazardous elements such as bad weather (heavy rain, wind, hale, snow, cold climates, etc,) but they will also protect them from hungry predators, theft and injury.

So how do we accomplish that?

Easy. You want to build a draft free chicken house with windows and doors that can be opened and closed as needed. Make sure the windows and doors both have proper screening systems installed in them such as a heavy gage mesh wire. Building the chicken coop on a high yet well drained area with ensure the least amount of dampness of the coop. Be sure to build your chicken coop in an area that faces the sun which will help warm and dry the soil and coop itself after it rains.

To protect your chickens from predators, the best thing to do is to bury your outside runs with chicken wire all around the coop about 1 foot deep. This will prevent some very hungry predators such as raccoons, cats and even dogs from digging underneath it.

Strategy # 4. - Coop Ventilation:

You may be wondering how to build a chicken coop that will not only keep your chickens locked up and protected from bad weather and predators yet receive the proper ventilation it requires. If so, then you already understand the importance of draft free air movement from within the coop. Chickens, much like humans, need fresh air and oxygen. The same goes for the removal of unwanted excessive moisture and carbon dioxide. A chicken coop with ample air movement and proper ventilation will help remove the ammonia build up and dampness that may grow inside its walls.

Speaking of walls, the chicken coop walls should have proper insulation installed which will help keep the chickens dry. As long as chickens are dry, they can handle cold climates very well, but humidity plus cold weather will cause health issues for your poultry. Therefore, insulated walls are a must!

Strategy # 5. - Light Source:

If you want a good source of light and warmth for your chickens during the cold months of the year and a solid source of ventilation during the hot months, then be sure to install the chicken coop windows facing the southside where they will receive direct sunlight throughout the day.

On another note, if your goal is to raise chickens that will produce great eggs all year round, then you should look into an electrical source of light. You should be able to easily install an electrical light at the height of the chicken coop's ceiling which will help keep your chickens warm and help them lay better chicken eggs throughout the year. One ceiling light should be enough for a small scale chicken coop, for larger chicken coops though, try to install one electrical ceiling light per every 30 - 40 feet.

Strategy # 6. - Conveniently placed Wateres and Chicken Feeders:

Chicken feeders and waterers should be placed where your flock will have easy access to them. However, you have to becareful where you place them because chickens like to make a mess of everything they eat due to their chicken scratching instincts. I'm sure you don't want to see your chicken feed mix all over the coop floors so, to avoid this, place the chicken feeders at the height of the chicken's back. This way they will have to stretch their necks up to eat but won't reach the feeders with their feet. Same goes for the waterers. Just make sure to keep the waterers full of fresh clean water throughout the day.

There you have it folks. 6 quick and easy strategies that will show you how to build a chicken coop fast and efficiently. Whether you're building a large scale chicken coop or a small one, these tips should get you moving in the right direction.

Folks, did you know that the average american spends about 0 to build a chicken coop? Some even invest over 2 months of work trying to assemble the darn structure and in the end aren't even fully contempt with their product. Not very enticing is it? A great chicken coop plan can cut your time and efforts in half while saving you a vast amount money on building materials. To learn how to build a chicken coop with maximum benefits for your flock without investing a magnitude of your time and money , click here:
how to build a chicken coop.

How to Build a Chicken Coop - 6 Crucial Elements on Building a Chicken House

Dale Higgins has been raising chickens and poultry for over 20 years and is an expert in building chicken coops. You can visit his website here: http://www.mybackyardchickenfarm.com

Chicken Tractor Plans - 9 Tips For Building a Chicken Tractor

Chicken tractors are easy to build yourself but you will need good chicken tractor plans to make sure it is built solidly and has all the features necessary so that your chickens are happy and comfortable. A chicken tractor is a type of coop that protects your chickens from the weather and predators but is has no floor and it can be moved around the yard.

Chicken tractors are lightweight and portable - some folks even put wheels on one end to make it easier to move. The portability and small size makes them the ideal solution for those just getting started raising chickens. Chicken tractors can also be cheap to build if you find the right plans.

Chicken

In order to build a proper chicken tractor, you should consider these nine tips:

• Make the chicken tractor predator-proof by choosing the correct size of wire mesh. It should be 15 mm square at the largest.
• The area that the tractor is kept should be surrounded by a fence with wire mesh. The base should be buried at least 30 centimeters below ground to keep animals like rats and foxes from digging underneath it.
• The chicken tractor should be well-ventilated but the chickens should not be directly in the wind.
• Make sure to include roosting poles because this is where chickens sleep.
• Put one nesting box per four or five chickens in a dark corner and a little off the floor.
• You will need at least four square feet per chicken.
• To easily clean up droppings, put a plastic tray under the roosting pole.
• Make the entire tractor easy to clean.
• Place the feed and waterer inside the tractor.

Chicken Tractor Plans - 9 Tips For Building a Chicken Tractor

About this Author

After a lot of research, I found easy to follow chicken tractor plans and built my first chicken tractor. We now have four chickens who are taking care of the yard by eating bugs and weeds. We also get fresh eggs everyday which taste so much better than store bought eggs. Visit my site to see the chicken tractor plans I used and how easy and cheap the tractor was to build.

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