Five Crucial Elements of Building a Chicken Coop : plans for chicken coop

Building a Chicken Coop

When constructing a chicken coop, you should follow these guidelines:

Appearance and Design:

Your first step should be to put your design on paper. Plan out all the details, including the colors for the roof and walls and the materials you wish to use. The design should be aesthetically appealing, always be considerate that if your neighbors can see the coop, it should not be a defacement or distraction to its surroundings. Once it is finished, try to remove any garbage or weeds that may grow around it. You could also maintain a pleasant landscape around the coop in order to enhance the overall appearance.

Use Sound Judgment:

Using sound judgment is essential when you are planning out your chicken coop. For example, the building materials you use must be easy to clean and disinfect. All doors must open inwards, and it is preferable if all the windows are sliding ones so that the chickens don’t roost on them. A tip to avoid puddles when you hose down the chicken coop is to make the floor slightly sloping. In doing so, the water will flow out and will not collect in puddles.

Protection:

A well-constructed coop will shield your chickens from elements like bad weather as well as hungry predators. Make a draft-free coop with doors and windows which can be closed and opened when needed. These windows and doors should have wire mesh screens. The coop can also be elevated from the ground. Also, the chicken wire that goes around the run should be buried at least a foot deep to keep away predator that might dig their way through.

Light Source:

Our chickens will need a healthy source of warmth and light on cold days and a proper ventilation during the warmer months. If the coop faces the couth side, it will get direct sunlight all day. However, if your aim is to produce eggs all year, then you could consider electrical lighting inside the coop.

Placement of Water and Feeders:

Your chicken must be able to access the feeders and water easily. However, be careful of their placement as chickens make a mess out of everything because of their scratching habits. To avoid this, put the feeders at the same height as the chickens back so that their feet can’t reach them. Follow the same rule with the water, and be sure to keep them filled throughout the day.

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