Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Taking care Of Your Chickens

Water and Feed Availability



Depending on the size of coop you are wishing to build, you should have a couple feed and waters placed around for easy access. In order to avoid to high of a humidity it's actually best to keep the water feeders outside the chicken coop.

Finally, be sure that the height of the feeder is appropriate for the bird size you are housing, so that there is no struggle to get food when needed.

Ventilation

Mkae sure to carefully consider the ventilation source that you are going to use.As mentioned briefly above, the chickens will need a good source of air flow to bring in excess oxygen and remove ammonia or carbon dioxide.

If you are noticing that your coop has a build-up of dampness, this will be a strong signal that you will aren’t getting enough ventilation at the moment.
In most cases a small vent on the side of the chicken house will be sufficient. Don't forget good forms of insulations. Inorder to keep drafts at a minimum try not to put the vent on the side that typically gets the most wind in your area. 

So, keep these factors in mind when trying to decide the best position for your chicken coop. Doing so will help promote the healthiest chickens possible and prevent you having to worry about making future adjustments to the coop down the road.

Friday, May 15, 2009

3 Cheap Materials You Can Build A chicken Coop

There are a myriad of options what you could use as building materials when it comes to chicken coops.

Since there are numerous unique designs - depending on the size - you can go with, it's easiest to use the material that suits your chosen option the best.

For many people, one strong consideration when determining which type of chicken coop to build is price. While some plans will call for pricier varieties of materials to be used, others allow for more flexibility so you can effectively reduce down your building costs while still maintaining a very well built chicken coop.

Here are the 3 most popular, most cost effective material options



Wood

Pros: Normally a good option ( depending on the type )
provides sturdy structure
easy to paint or stain
good insulation if you choose the thicker variety

Cons: prone to shrink over the years



Plywood

Pros: low cost option
less "shrinkage" than regular untreated wood
some have been treated to be moisture resistant

Cons: the glue or adhesive used to make plywood can give off formaldehyde


Chipboard

Pros: another low cost option
easy to paint and decorate

Cons: its' basically pressed recycled paper and therefor not very well suited for any kind of wet conditions
not suited for larger chicken coops

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Where To Put Your Chicken House

Before starting out how to make your chicken coop, it’s important to think about the best way to go about placing it.

See more about Chicken House Plans

Depending on the character of materials you’re making your chicken house out of, it likely is going to be a pretty lasting position, hence being sure to take some elements in mind when planning it is a smart move. Here are the things to focus on when considering in for the best Position:

1. The Right Protection:

In addition to the regular protection from harsh elements; make sure the chicken coop has enough ventilation. Also don’t forget to make sure the area is well drained.

2. Sunlight

It’s much simpler to keep the chicken house well lit and warm when you place the windows south.

3. Predetors

Depending on the are you live in this might be a problem or not. Besides from putting the coop so that can be easily seen from your vantage point; you might have to consider some extra fencing etc.

4. Space

Your chickens need some space! In order for them to live corresponding to breed standards and get enough exercise - most chickens require 1-2 square meters (3-6 square feet ) on the inside of the chicken house - and 4-10 square meters ( 12 - 30 square feet ) on the outside.

That number will vary from breed to breed.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Tips On Selecting The Right Chicken House Plans

If you’re looking for chicken house plans , there are some essential things that you must consider first ahead of doing so. Many people just leap right into the building process and end up disregarding particular aspects which really cost them a lot of time and money in the long run.

By keeping the following construction tips in mind, you will be sure you’re forming all the right decisions when it comes time to building your chicken coop.

Here’s what you need to know.


Tip# 1: Always Factor In Chicken Number

The first thing to keep in mind as you go about construction a chicken house is how many chickens you plan to have. You are going to want a much larger chicken house if you wish to raise 10 or more birds compared to if you only want two to three.

Making sure that the size of chicken coop you choose is correct is vital otherwise your chickens are not going ot lay eggs properly.

Tip# 2: Think About Your Climate

Next up, in order to build the right type of chicken house you require to think about your climate. How much rain do you get? What type of temperatures do you typically experience?

All of these will factor in when it comes time to resolve what type of materials you want to use while building..

Tip# 3: Do You Want A Mobile Chicken Coop?

Third, think whether you want to have a mobile chicken house. Many people like being able to move their chicken coop around with them, either for cleanup roles or just because they wish to watch their chickens when they are inside the home.

Mobile designs typically work best when you have a smaller number of chickens due to the fact larger houses are much harder to ship around.

Tip# 4: What Is Your Price Range?

At Last, the fourth tip to keep in mind is cost. When you look at chicken house plans there are many different things you can do to keep your costs reasonable if you are on a restrained budget. In some cases, if you know some quick and easy tricks you might even be able to build a chicken coop for free. It’s all about understanding what types of materials can be applied and then factoring in the price of building and buying those materials if necessary.