Elegant 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!