Inspirational Chicken Coop Maintenance

Now that you've built your very own chicken coop, you should also understand how to take the best care of it. Since you've worked so hard to construct your chicken, it would be a shame to see it disintegrate because of lack of maintenance. Fortunately, just like maintaining a car, repairing and caring for a chicken coop isn't that difficult if you stay on top of things on a regular basis. Here are some tips for keeping your chicken house in top condition through the years.

Pay Attention To The Door  

Since the coop is one item that will be constantly moving, it is extremely important that you watch it regularly. If anything is wrong with it, such as a loose latch, be sure fix it immediately. Not being careful about the door is one way to guarantee that your chickens will "fly the coop". If you continually have issues with your coop door, you may consider replacing it altogether, or at least installing a more secure latch. If you do install a latch, make sure it is bolted to the door properly and securely. Everyone has their own preference on how they like to open the door, so do what works best for you.

 Regularly Check Your Fence  

Another part of the chicken coop that needs adequate maintenance is the fence structure. The fence should be checked regularly, at least once a month. Not maintaining the fence properly could lead to predators coming in and harming your chickens and/or eggs. Predators can also impact the sturdiness of your fence. This may require installing or rebuilding your fence.   After some time, some fences may fall down in some places. Walk around your fence and test different areas to see how well your fence is holding up.

Check The Feeders  

The feeders in your chicken coop also deserve your attention. Feeders are used on a daily basis, and their upkeep is vital to the health of your coop. If your feeders appear too beat up, it could be a sign that you need to install another one. A beat up feeder could also be a sign that your chickens may be constantly fighting over food and picking at the feeder.   You also should notice now your chickens are responding to the feed height. Some chickens prefer a feeder slightly lower, and some chickens prefer a feeder slightly higher. Watch your chickens, and make adjustments as necessary. This is important to the overall comfort and well-being of your chickens. Adjustments are usually only a matter of one to two inches, but can make a huge difference in how easily they access their food from the feeder.

Best of 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.

New Portable Chicken Coop

A portable chicken coop has many advantages over fixed structure coops; it just depends on your needs. Since to keep chicken healthy they need a constant supply of bugs and other pests that are naturally in the ground around most plots of lands. A portable chicken coop can not only help to provide this by being able to move the hen house around but also help fertilize different areas of your land at the same time.

The biggest worry most chicken farmer have is at night when the largest number of predators are on the prowl. This is the feeding time for owls, coyotes and raccoons. But not all predators feed at night. Hawks fly over the landscape during the day looking for their prey. Chickens that are free range are a good meal. A portable chicken coop can provide protection from these flying predators by giving your chickens a protective shield over their heads while they are feeding. Since in most rural areas field mice and rats are also abundant, a protective shield of chicken wire over the feeding area of your chickens will not only save their lives but save your investment.

Another advantage of a portable chicken coop is in case of a bad or sever storm. The mid west has many of these during the spring and summer months. A portable chicken coop can be moved into a barn or shed so high winds will not blow your flock away. This is also a good way to help protect your chickens during the colder months of the winter. Chicken have always lived out doors but even then they are a warm blooded animal and a sever drop in temperature could kill off your investment. A storage shed with multiple light bulbs can be sufficient in most cases to keep your hens warm.

A portable chicken coop is a smart way to keep the chickens safe and warm while helping their diet as well.

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!

Elegant Chicken Coop Barn

Chicken Coops are no longer just for farmers and you yourself can have one right in your backyard today (well maybe not today, but very shortly). A chicken coop barn, or coop as they are referred to, is starting to pop up all over the place, including next door. Everyone is starting to consider if this is the right thing for them. With today's economy and today's healthier lifestyles people in all rural areas are beginning to build chicken coop in their backyard.

But your thinking, eweeeee....they smell, they take so much work; they make a lot of noise, and so on. Well, surprising as it might be, chickens are one of the easiest animals to care for. They don't really smell, and if you build your coop with good ventilation you will not have a problem with that smelling either. Now, yes you will have to clean it regularly, but again, if build correctly, this will be a quick easy task that doesn't really require a hazmat outfit.

OK, so you now have that problem under way, but now you're considering how the heck you're going to protect the chickens from predators. Well, this has to be taken into account also. If you go through the trouble of building a chicken coop backyard, you're not going to want to give it up that easy. So, consider possibly putting in a cement floor. This will protect your precious egg laying poultry from snakes, rodents and insect infestation. Also, make sure your chicken run has been buried in the ground and has a cover of chicken wire or fencing over it to protect them from dogs, coyotes, and other wild animals.

And most importantly to avoid your own egg laying poultry from each other, you must make sure the size of the chicken coop barn is appropriate for the amount of chickens you are raising. General rule is 4 square feet per chicken, so make sure you hold fast to that rule, because they will begin to peck each other and fight.

Anyone can build raise chickens, so don't feel like you are fighting a loosing battle, it's not as hard as one may think. Plan ahead and enjoy it, you will never forget the experience!

Lovely Build a Chicken Coop

You can get farm fresh, organic eggs right from your own backyard. Not only are these eggs easier to get, provide many health benefits, but your build the chicken coop. Compared to store-bought eggs, the eggs from your own hens will have 1/3 less cholesterol, ¼ less saturated fat, 2/3 more vitamin A, 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids(good fats), 3 times more vitamin E, and 7 times more beta carotene. The health benefits from home grown eggs are overwhelming.

However health benefits are not the only reason to build a chicken coop. You will be able to sell your eggs for a substantial profit. Farmers markets, friends, and family are always looking and eager to get something home grown. No one knows what is fed, and done to chickens that produce eggs in mass amounts. There is no reason to deal with the high cost of eggs when you can get them for free and even make money of of them.

In as little as 3 days you could have your own coop, with chickens laying eggs. As long as you can hammer a nail into a piece of wood you can build a chicken coop. Low cost materials, and a little or a lot of space and you are on your way to producing the best eggs you will ever eat. Don't worry, you don't need to plan a single thing. Chicken enthusiasts have compiled many different chicken coop plans so that anyone can build a chicken coop.

The plans outline each material needed which can easily picked up at a local hardware store. There is nothing to build a coop which is why many people are building one to save money. Having a second source of income, as well as a consistent stream of food is a necessity in this ever changing time.

Lovely Chicken Coop

Fancy a fresh egg every single morning?

Keep chickens as a fun and interesting hobby and you'd have a fresh supply of eggs in your back garden. Build your own Chicken Coop, pick your birds and enjoy boiled eggs for brekkie every single day of the week.

If you thinking about keeping chickens you'll want to provide them with a comfortable home and a large Chicken Coop will provide luxury accommodation for between 4 - 8 birds in total. Coops are available to buy through pet supply stores that sell cat baskets and a Dog Bed.

Before you rush out and buy your first Chicken Coop though, there are a number of things that you might want to consider and picking the right birds for your Chicken Coop should be at the top of your list.

Which bird?

The big decision! Which chickens to place in your Chicken Coop? If you are just starting out keeping chickens it could be worthwhile looking for point of lay hens that should start laying fresh eggs as soon as they are settled in the Chicken Coop. Although your average Dog Bed pet shop won't sell hens, you'll find good quality suppliers online that stock a great range of breeds.

Some garden centres have started to sell hens as well and here you can get a good idea about various breeds and the size of Chicken Coop that you might require. In general, Sussex light and Rhode Star hens makes great layers, producing a good yield of eggs each year.

Choosing the Chicken Coop

You know the breed of chickens that you are going to buy and now all you need to do is provide them a decent home. When choosing a Chicken Coop you'll be given plenty of choice, and a good quality Dog Bed pet store should be able to provide you with a spacious residence for your egg-laying lady hens.

Don't overcrowd your hens; make sure you buy a Chicken Coop that is suitable for the numbers of birds that are in your care. Styles are available that come with raised feet for extra protection and opening roof sections that make the Chicken Coop easy to clean.

Hens are easy to look after, they are friendly and affectionate once they become settled in their Chicken Coop, and they'll produce the best tasting eggs if they are raised in a loving environment.

Elegant 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!

Unique Designing Backyard Chicken Coops

When designing backyard chicken coops, there are several considerations. Are you intending to breed chickens for your own use only? Are you intending to sell chickens and eggs to others? How much space do you have to work with? How much can you spend? Your answers will determine the required sizes of any backyard coops. Coops will suit small breeders who intend to raise only a few chickens and have limited space, whereas medium coops can be used to conduct business with more chickens. Backyard chicken coops may or may not be appropriate for larger serious businesses; you will need to determine this yourself.

When breeders have decided on the size of their backyard housing, they must also determine whether or not the coops must be permanent or portable. Permanent backyard coops can be built more sturdily and with a greater number of amenities. Portable backyard fowl coops can be built so that they can be easily moved around the property, reducing the amount of toxic soil created over time.

Backyard chicken houses will contain as many amenities as is possible given space, size, and cost restraints. Nesting boxes are required to allow an area where the chickens can lay eggs. Roosts are required in order to provide a safe sleeping area overnight, secure from predators. Access for the breeder is needed; a human-sized entry door is standard on many backyard chicken coops, and hinged access doors to the nesting boxes and roost are a good idea for cleaning and egg retrieval. Backyard chicken coops may also include a small exercise area, either within the coop itself or just outside. Breeders may fence off a small area on one side of the building where the chickens can roam freely during the day.

Entry to the exercise area can be from the main access door, or from a small chicken-sized door that can be opened and closed as needed. Feeding areas in backyard chicken coops may be either permanent parts of the coop itself, or can be units that are hung within the coop. Hung units can be removed as needed.

Chickens make an enticing meal for many predators, and a potential chicken breeder quickly learns about all the possible animals from which they need to provide protection. Rodents are notorious at chewing through wood and wire, and can enter through the smallest openings. Once inside backyard chicken coops, they can wreak havoc with any eggs inside, as well as injuring the chickens themselves. Foxes are extremely agile and intelligent creatures that can easily figure out simple latches and exploit weaknesses in wire mesh.

Foxes will kill and eat any chickens they find, so backyard chicken coops must be built to protect against them. Even dogs cannot resist the lure of an easy meal, and many dogs are capable diggers, getting underneath a mesh fence and exploiting any backyard chicken coops that have been built without floors.

Beautiful Instructions to Build a Chicken Coop

Building a chicken coop is a very fun project for the entire family to get involved in. This entire adventure can become about not only the chickens and what they are doing for the family, but also about the family. I'm always looking for special things to do together and have found that building a chicken coop is a perfect project for everyone, even the little ones to get involved in. All you need is some instructions building and materials and you are well on your way to having not only farm fresh eggs right in your backyard but also a great family bonding experience. Trust me, this will be a short term adventure you will never forget!

To build a chicken coop you will need:

Supplies (inexpensive supplies that is)
Basic Tools
And Time (usually 1-2 weekends will be enough)

As we all know children love to help out with project and working on something like this will give them pride and even encourage them to help care for their new project. So what are you waiting for?

Before you begin, please consider these factors:

Space and Size, do you have enough room, and what size coop will you be building? General rule of thumb is 4 square feet per chicken.

Ventilation is a must, for one you don't want your chicken coop stinking up the entire neighborhood and it's not good for your chickens or yourself. This will make your life much easier in the long run.

You will also want to consider how you will protect your chickens from predators. No one wants to explain to the family what happened to their precious pets if predators should find their way inside. Also, remember, snakes, rodents, and many insects can burrow underneath, so a cement floor is recommended, but not necessarily of utmost importance.

Feeding your chickens can become an issue if you don't plan out how you will do that ahead of time. Along with cleaning this is an important aspect for making your life easier in the long run.

And those are the basic things you must always consider before begin to build a coop. Like I said this can be a great, fun, exciting adventure for the entire family and there is no reason not to give it a shot. If your worried that you don't have all the details in place, look up Chicken Coop Plans Now for more information.