There is no one consummate chicken coop design . If there were , its creator would be extremely wealthy , because allow for your flock a dependable place to sleep and pose their eggs is one of the most important volaille - guardianship decisions you may make . Coops vary in size , materials , and figure , with many factors being personal preference . However , there are several authoritative feature that all good pattern incorporate . Here are some thing to consider when building or buying a coop .
1 . SizeAllow 2 to 4 square feet of interior floor space per biddy , depending on the size of it of your chickens ( i.e. , bantam need less space , Jersey Giants need more ) and how many ignite hours they spend in the coop . If your hatful spends all sidereal day loose - ranging out-of-doors , then you may credibly get away with 2 straight metrical unit per hen .
Consider the eventual size of your flock . It ’s far easier to start with a larger chicken coop than to sum up on to your be hencoop when your flock grows from five to a dozen or more , so build up big .
2 . FlooringCoop floor is another important consideration . Predators can easily grok and burrow under dirt level . While concrete floors are impregnable , they can be expensive and often not a DIY option for beginner coop builder . Wood floors can domiciliate mites and other parasites , as well as mold and moulder if they get wet .
Consider covering plywood with cheap vinyl flooring . This have for well-fixed cleanup position and create an inhospitable environment for mites . Simple to cut and staple down , vinyl radical is also sluttish to supercede as needed .
3 . ElevationRaised cage are more secure from predators than cage specify directly on the ground ( unless you pour a concrete floor ) and will prevent a wooden floor from rot underneath . recruit your coop 8 to 12 inch off the ground allows chickens to easily fit underneath , providing them receive tax shelter from sun in the summer and from sleet and Baron Snow of Leicester in the winter .
Rachael Brugger
4 . RoostsProvide a lower limit of 8 inches of roost space per biddy . Again , plan on enough outer space for the eventual numeral of hen you ’ll be raising . Using 2×4 beam of light with the 4 - in side facing up works well for roosting bar . The wide , unconditional side of the board will help keep your chickens ’ feet protected from frostbite in winter .
5 . Nesting BoxesYou should bring home the bacon one nesting box for every three to four hen , though the realism is that no matter how many boxes you have , all of your chicken will want to lay in the same one — at the same clock time . That ’s just the way chickens are .
Boxes should be approximately 1 solid substructure by 1 base high and positioned humble than your roosts so your chickens wo n’t be allure to sleep in them at night . If you live in a very stale climate and frozen eggs are a concern , think interior boxes that you require to enter the coop to approach , instead of exterior box that are accessible from outside the coop and therefore more reveal to abject temperature .
Rachael Brugger
6 . VentilationOne - fifth of your hencoop ’s rampart infinite should be give vent . Good ventilation is very of import year - round . Even in wintertime , some vents should be provide clear to allow for air flow , as frostbite is make more by wet than by actual cold . Place vent high than the roost , though depleted venthole that can be left open in the summer and close during the cold month are important , as well .
Cover vents with 1/2 - inch hardware cloth to prevent predators from gaining access . raw material or nail the wire in billet , and then secure it by screwing furring strip strips or screw and washing machine along the edges . Chicken wire is not sufficient to keep out predators . mouse , weasels and Snake River can fit through the large maw , and raccoon , dog and foxes can easily pull it .
7 . LatchesCoop doors and nesting- box covers should be fitted with unafraid latches . raccoon can turn knob , untie knots , undo bungee cords , airlift latches and microscope slide deadbolts . A predator - validation eye sweetener with a spring - loaded catch works well on nesting - boxful lids , while a deadbolt installed at least 4 feet from the ground and a second low latch secured with a carabinier run well on coop doors .
comprise these features into your coop will get you well on your way to successful Gallus gallus guardianship . Protecting your flock from predators and provide a healthy surroundings is of utmost importance .
