If you're thinking about building a chicken house, it's important that you keep in mind a few key variables that will influence how successfully your chicken coop is.
By making sure you've taken the time to get these covered, you will ensure that you get your chicken house off to the right start and it will last you for years to come.
Here are the main five things that you should double check you have.
Enough Space The first thing that needs to be present is enough space for your chickens to move around.
When your chickens begin to feel cramped, that's when they will not lay eggs properly and you may find you're going complete without.
Ideally you should build larger than you think you'll ever need because you can never go back and add more space once the chicken house is built.
Also keep in mind that once you get the feeders and waterers in there, that will also take up room inside.
Windows The second thing that should be present in your chicken house are windows.
Windows are going to be what lets light in so the chickens are fully able to stay healthy and function properly.
It's important to maximize the window space you have available so you can get best results.
A good building guide will walk you through this process.
A Chicken Fence The chicken fence is going to be the primary thing that keeps predators out and away from your chickens, so it is a must for sure.
Keep in mind that predators can burrow underneath or climb over fences, so take all angles into consideration.
A Chicken Run One area that many chicken farmers forget about is a chicken run.
Chicken runs allow for exercise and good health.
When the birds are not getting out regularly, this also can influence how well they lay eggs so it's something to consider.
Also, if you have the run you won't need quite as much space inside, so it'll save you slightly on material costs.
Ventilation Finally, be sure you implement a good ventilation policy in your chicken coop.
This will keep the air fresh and circulating so that the birds stay nice and healthy.
Windows typically are best for ventilation purposes, but in some cases you may consider adding a small vent as well.
By making sure you take care of each of these things you will get better results as you build your chicken house.
By making sure you've taken the time to get these covered, you will ensure that you get your chicken house off to the right start and it will last you for years to come.
Here are the main five things that you should double check you have.
Enough Space The first thing that needs to be present is enough space for your chickens to move around.
When your chickens begin to feel cramped, that's when they will not lay eggs properly and you may find you're going complete without.
Ideally you should build larger than you think you'll ever need because you can never go back and add more space once the chicken house is built.
Also keep in mind that once you get the feeders and waterers in there, that will also take up room inside.
Windows The second thing that should be present in your chicken house are windows.
Windows are going to be what lets light in so the chickens are fully able to stay healthy and function properly.
It's important to maximize the window space you have available so you can get best results.
A good building guide will walk you through this process.
A Chicken Fence The chicken fence is going to be the primary thing that keeps predators out and away from your chickens, so it is a must for sure.
Keep in mind that predators can burrow underneath or climb over fences, so take all angles into consideration.
A Chicken Run One area that many chicken farmers forget about is a chicken run.
Chicken runs allow for exercise and good health.
When the birds are not getting out regularly, this also can influence how well they lay eggs so it's something to consider.
Also, if you have the run you won't need quite as much space inside, so it'll save you slightly on material costs.
Ventilation Finally, be sure you implement a good ventilation policy in your chicken coop.
This will keep the air fresh and circulating so that the birds stay nice and healthy.
Windows typically are best for ventilation purposes, but in some cases you may consider adding a small vent as well.
By making sure you take care of each of these things you will get better results as you build your chicken house.
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