Designs Of Chicken Coops

Are you considering keeping chickens? In that case, you’ll be glad to hear there are plenty of different types of chicken coop designs available in the marketplace. You will find that a number of these coops are the premium type whereas others are more modest in terms of construction. Regardless of the design you choose, there are several essentials which you must keep in mind. Choosing chicken coop designs is not so hard providing you pay attention to these suggestions.

Plan ahead

As it’s your money you will be spending, it’s worth taking some time out to undertake a little forward planning. What often happens is that people begin with a small quantity of chickens and add more at a later date. It’s usually better to allow yourself the option for expansion now rather than having to construct another larger chicken coop later on.

Provide your chickens with ample room

When considering chicken coops designs, ensure that you select one which will give your chickens an abundance of space. Overly crowded conditions can create health problems and other problems for your chickens. They will thrive better if given enough space, and you will reap more from your investment. Each chicken requires roughly four square foot of room overall. If they are always confined, then no less than 10 square feet per chicken is recommended.

Sufficient ventilation of the chicken coop is key

It’s a fact that all land mammals need clean air and satisfactory ventilation for optimum health. Chickens are just the same, so be sure you keep this in mind when looking at chicken coops designs. Equally, it’s not good for the coop to be excessively affected by windy conditions as that may harm your chickens as well. If the ventilation level is not sufficient it can lead to air impurities which can make your chickens sick. Appropriately placed vents will allow the air to circulate while stopping cold drafts. Predators are still a concern though so put some wire meshing on the vents to deter them.

Keep the rain out

Rain is not a good thing for your chickens, so when you are choosing chicken coops designs, select one that shields it from this. Assuming that the health of your chickens is important to you, ensure you follow this advice.

Stop infestation from rats and other rodents

Rats and other rodents will infest your chicken coop unless you take appropriate measures to keep them out. Since they love to burrow, you need to make sure that they can’t get into the coop from the ground. They can eat their way through timber and chew right through regular chicken wire.

In the event that you are considering choosing chicken coops designs that have no floor, you will want to put fencing in place that has top grade meshing which consists of very small holes in it. Bury not less than twelve inches of it into the ground around the perimeter of the chicken coop. By doing this you are going to be minimizing the danger of any critters getting into the coop by burrowing into the ground. It is important to note that a solid floor made from tiles or cement will add another layer of protection for your flock.

Protect your flock from predators

Even if you’ve had no prior problems with predators like coyotes and hawks, they will be attracted by your chickens. Do not think you are safe from this if you live in an urban location, as your chickens are still at risk, so choose one of the chicken coops designs that will guard them from natural predators.

Standard wire for chicken coops has pretty big holes so this isn’t enough to keep your chickens safe by itself. Good quality mesh wire can be firmly attached to the wood all the way around the chicken coop. Setting up lights with motion detectors round the chicken coop will help keep nocturnal predators away.

Picking out the very best chicken coops designs can seem like a daunting task initially. With everything said, by being attentive to the recommendations here, you will most certainly finish up with a wonderful chicken coop that takes excellent care of your flock.

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