Backyard Chicken
Coop
More and more people are becoming aware of the fact that growing their own vegetables and eating freshly laid
free range eggs is a way of promoting good health. For this reason keeping your own chickens has become
extremely popular and the backyard chicken coop can now be seen in many suburban homes.
If you intend to erect your own backyard chicken coop then you must first establish the best
place in the garden to position it. The points to consider are that the coop must be in an area where you will have
access all around the outside of the coop and run for easy maintenance. It should be in a position where it will
reap the benefit of plenty of natural sunlight and not be too close to bushes or undergrowth where predators may
hide.
Obviously you must decide how many chickens you intend to keep as this will indicate how many feeders and nests
you will have to make allowances for. It’s necessary to make a rough drawing of your intended coop so that you can
estimate the materials you’ll need. Bear in mind also your coop will need plenty of ventilation and insulation. The
ventilation is necessary to avoid the spread of disease and bacteria, and insulation to protect the chickens during
the cold winter months. You can in fact obtain good quality chicken coop
plans from the internet, but whether you’re going with your own sketch or a professional drawing the next thing
is to buy the materials needed for the job.
Click here to learn how to build your backyard
chickencoop using the right materials
It’s best not to skimp on the timber as you want something that will be sturdy and long lasting. When building
the chicken run allow for digging down round the outside and having the wire and posts below the surface in order
to alleviate the possibility of predators getting under the wire.
Make sure the floor of your coop is slanting towards the doorway as this will make cleaning easier. Also ensure
that the coop allows easy access for regular maintenance, cleaning and egg collection.
If you live in a climate where several months of the year are very cold, it’s worth installing an electric light
as this will help with keeping the coop warm and also with cleaning on dark winter days. When you paint the outside
of the kitchen coop remember that it’s best to paint it a colour that will blend in, particularly if you have
neighbours who overlook your garden. Also try to place the coop where it will get the most direct sunlight, but be
sheltered from heavy rain and gale force winds in the winter.
Another aspect many people overlook is the fact that a storage area near the coop where the bedding and food may
be stored will make life a great deal easier. It must of course be waterproof and vermin proof if at all possible,
but it will certainly help in making feeding and cleaning an easier prospect.
There are many advantages to keeping chickens and a backyard chicken coop will make this possible.
If you want to buy ready-made chicken coops, check out these coops below. Click on the image to get more
details.
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Chicken Coop, Portable, for 3 to 5 hens
Sale Price: $499.00
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Designed for the backyard and urban farmer, the Portable Chicken Coop is an affordable and space efficient home for your backyard chickens. Modeled on the classic chicken ark that has served British hen-keepers for decades, the coop provides a healthy, predator-proof home for up to 3 medium laying hens or 5 Bantams...
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Solar Nite Eyes - Predator Protection System
List Price: $39.27
Sale Price: $19.55
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The concept is simple, but it WORKS! Predators believe the flash to be the eye of another animal and feel threatened, so they stay away. Multiple unit locations are most effective. Units are completely sealed, protecting against moisture and are high/low temperature resistant...
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Large Chicken Coop, Portable, for 5 to 7 Hens
Sale Price: $799.00
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Our large portable chicken coop is designed for the backyard and urban farmer. It is an affordable and space efficient home for your backyard chickens. Modeled on the classic chicken ark that has served British hen-keepers for decades, the coop provides a healthy, predator-proof home for up to 5 medium laying hens or 7 Bantams...
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