DIY Chicken Coop

November 21, 2019   Articles   Comment  

For a DIY chicken coop the amount of success is directly related to the amount of planning . The first tools you need are pencil and paper. Use it to answer these questions:

• How many chickens do you plan to keep? Each standard sized chicken needs 4 square feet of space. Bantam breeds need 2 square feet per chicken, and the giant breeds, such as the Jersey Giants, need 6 square feet of space per chicken. The more space you can provide, the happier and healthier your chickens will be. More space means less squabbling, and cramped quarters make your chickens more prone to illness.
• What types of predators do you have to guard against in your area? Skunks and opossums will dig under fencing, hawks swoop from above, and raccoons can open any device short of a padlock. Your diy chicken coop must provide security from these dangers.
• What type of climate do you have? Very cold climates necessitate a snug, waterproof coop; hot climates demand good ventilation in the coop, although you still need to keep rain from coming in. You climate will also come into play when deciding what breed of chickens you choose. There are literally hundreds of breeds, some do better in hot climates, some in cold and others are great for tropical weather. Breed research is important when deciding which breeds will be best for you.
• No matter what your climate is like you will need to provide a run for your chickens. They need fresh air and sunshine as often as possible. The run gives them opportunity for exercise, bug hunting and snacking on surrounding vegetation or grass. This is part of keeping your chickens healthy.
• Do you want your diy chicken coop to be mobile, or is it going to stay in one spot? A chicken tractor, made to move around the yard to different spots is a great idea for small flocks. It enables the chickens to have fresh vegetation to explore daily.

One you have formulated a plan, it’s time to thing about your building materials. Treated lumber can be toxic, so it’s better to use wood that has not been treated to withstand rot or termites. Lead based paint is still available in many salvage building supplies. Chickens peck at everything – don’t use lead based paint – they will peck it and it will end up in your eggs.

Chicken wire is not a good choice for chicken pens. It can be ripped apart by determined predators. The only good place to use chicken wire is on the bottom of the pen. It absolutely halts predators that try to dig under to get in.

The fun part of your diy chicken coop is the design process. Decide whether you want a rustic look, or a coop that mimics the look of your home. You can design a chicken coop that is reminiscent of an urban apartment house, or that looks like a gingerbread house. The diy chicken coop designer is limited only by his imagination.

Source: chickencoopplansonline.com/diy-chicken-coop