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.

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