Key Factors in the construction of a Chicken Coop
Thinking about keeping some chickens in your backyard? Well then you’re going to need a chicken coop. Constructing a chicken coop doesn’t necessarily need to be hard but will require a bit of planning ahead. Also regardless of how complicated or simple you choose to make you chicken coop there are always a few basic guidelines to follow.
One thing to remember when building a chicken coop is the more room the birds have the better. Chickens with more space preform better than those kept in tiny cages plenty of times. If you do not a ton of land to build a chicken coop that large its fine. A general rule is to give two to 3 sq. feet of room per chicken.
Another major consideration is giving your chickens enough ventilation. If your coop is too stuffy and isn’t properly ventilated the fumes could build up to harmful levels. Putting the vents on the south and east sides of the coop will provide good air flow as well as protect from cold drafts. If you live in a hotter climate area you may want to place the vents on the north and south sides where the roof meets the walls. This can keep out wild birds who may carry sicknesses. Remember a well ventilated chicken is a happy chicken.
The next thing to consider is insulation. This is important to keep the chickens from over heating in the summer and freezing in the winter. Putting 1.5 inches of plastic between the walls and ceiling should do the job. During the summer you can put tin foil on top of the coop to reflect the sunlight and also paint the walls white because it soaks up less heat. In the winter you can stack hay bales round the north wall of the coop.
Another factor to consider when planning the design of your chicken coop is the easiest way to keep out vermin. Dogs and foxes may try and dig under the coop to get in and eat the chickens. Snakes, mice and rats can also be a problem if they get into the coop. This is countered by using a concrete floor. This may be expensive but dust and wood floors are less secure against attackers. If you do not have the money for concrete, wood is a better choice than dust.
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