Building a chicken house has never been simpler; it is the best way to get the most value for your hard earned money. There is so much information available on the internet, all at the touch of the mouse and the level of advice you’ll find really easily on how best to go about building a chicken house is just amazing. Some people think that they can build a chicken house by winging it, I would really advise against that. You need to know what you’re doing when building something like this and that’s why I suggest this building a chicken coop Guide.
Important Things To Know When Building A chicken House
When constructing a chicken house, one of the most important things to think about is the size. After you have decided on the number of hens you would want to keep, you should do a little math. It is strongly suggested that each hen has around 3-5 square feet of space within the nesting/sleeping area and up to 15 square feet in an outdoor run area. This could be reduced slightly if the hens are allowed to free-range a couple of times a week. In addition to floor space, the more height you allow the better. Hens can jump and often jump a few feet off the ground where begin flapping their wings, that can bring them pretty high. So you’re looking at least 3ft in height is recommended, but again, if allowed outdoors, this becomes a less important aspect.
Let There Be Light
When building a chicken house, another significant element will be the windows. That’s right the Windows should be fixed in the correct locations in the coop. You need to do this to unsure a certain supply of light. Light is critical in a chickens’ life cycle. When it is getting dark, your flock of fowls sleep and they wake up when sunrise hits. Neglecting to furnish hens with ample light creates serious problems with egg creation, or your hens will begin to lay eggs during weird hours.
Looks Are Everything
building a chicken coop 300×250″ src=”http://buildingbackyardchickencoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/building-a-chicken-coop-300×250.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”250″ />When building a chicken house it is also ideal to make your coop look good within your backyard property or farm. Hence, it may be optional but it is also recommended to have some creativity in making its design and appearance very pleasing to the eyes of your visitors and viewers. Trust me in the end you’re going to want your coop to look cool and well built as you put the time in to build it.
The next thing to do after building a chicken house is to decide where to put it. Placing your coop in the right location is vital. This guide provides you will all the information you will need to know about where to locate your newly built coop.
If you are considering building a chicken house yourself, there are many factors which you should take into account before you begin. Whilst a DIY chicken house can be a great alternative to buying an expensive prefabricated version, building it wrong can also prove costly. In terms of the wasted materials, wasted time, and unhappy; possibly unhealthy hens. Done correctly though, a DIY pen makes excellent economical sense and can be built at a fraction of the cost of a pre-built one.
