The best chicken coop designs are the simple ones. First and
foremost, the coop has to provide healthy and comfortable housing for your
birds. Obvious, really, but I continue to be amazed by hen house plans that put
human convenience and external appearance before the needs of the intended
occupants.
What, then, are the essential features of a chicken coop,
from the perspective of the birds that will occupy it?
Construction
First and foremost, the hen house must be large enough to
house the birds safely and comfortably. Many people use a rule of thumb that
allocates 4 square feet per bird. This is probably about right for average
sized hens, giving them plenty of room to move around inside the coop. For
bantam varieties you could provide less space, and perhaps 5 or 6 square feet
for larger breeds. Have a look at these 30 pictures of chicken coop ideas for construction options for your backyard.
The coop must be strongly constructed and weather-proof.
Most are made of wood. If your climate is usually wet you might want to use
treated wood to reduce the threat of rot but remember that this material is
poisonous to animals, so paint at least the interior of the coop properly to
protect the chickens and thoroughly seal all joins.
You probably want your new coop to look good and be an
attractive addition to your garden or yard. The key is finding good chicken
coop plans that achieve this without sacrificing any features essential for the
hens and their welfare.
Access
The hens' access door needs to be large enough for them but
no more, and it needs to be predator-proof. Remember that racoons are very
capable of opening doors with conventional handles! It is a good idea to
position this door a few inches above floor level, to stop the chickens kicking
bedding out of the coop. Most good chicken house plans can be adapted to allow
this.
The other door is for you! This is where you will enter the
coop to clean it out, change bedding, refill the water and feed trays, all the usual
upkeep and maintenance chores. A good idea is to mount the feeders on the
inside of the door, so that they are easy to reach when you open it.
Nesting Boxes
Allow one box for every 4 or 5 hens. These should be mounted
lower than the roosting perches, and it makes sense to design them as
attachments to the outside of the coop and at a height that makes egg
collection easy for you. Check that your hen house plans include, or can be
modified for, this feature.
Ventilation and Light
Fresh air is super important for chickens. Don't worry about
them getting cold - they have feathers to keep them warm! But they must have
fresh air, otherwise they will get sick and fail to lay those lovely free range
eggs that you crave. Many chicken coop designs have wire mesh floors, with the
coop mounted a foot to 18 inches above ground, to ensure a flow of air in to
the coop.
This is also true for the lighting conditions inside the
coop. Hens do not like the dark. They simply fade away and die. Make sure they
have plenty of light.
Location
Beware of predators! Although most operate at night, when
your hens should be safely shut up in their coop, there are some such as dogs
and birds of prey that can attack by day. If possible, place the coop within
sight of your kitchen so that you can keep an eye on it.
The chances are that you will decide that your birds would
be safer with a pen or hen run attached to the coop. Chicken pens allow them
the exercise and foraging that they need without exposing them to danger from
predators. Even so, pens need to be able to withstand diggers like rodents,
foxes and dogs. Bury the wire mesh sides in at least 12 inches of soil if
possible. If raptors are around you will need to cover pens as well.
Best Chicken Coop Design
All of the above features will be included in the best
chicken coop design layouts. Get the construction right; make the coop airy,
light and comfortable for the hens; keep predators at arm's length; and give
the birds plenty of exercise room during the day.
That way your hens will be healthy and happy. This is a good
basis for productive egg laying and smiles all round!
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