Chickens have been around for about 5000 years and more and more people are starting to keep them than ever before. They are being kept as pets and as a source of one of the most nutritious foods on the planet - eggs! Chickens usually stay egg-productive for about 5 years. Intensively bred battery hens are only use for production for about 2 years and then disposed of. However, many people are now adopting the ex-battery hens and, apart from giving them a more comfortable "retirement home", we are rewarded by being given freshly laid, nutritional eggs. There are many advantages to raising poultry such as:
Climate: They are very hardy but you need to ensure you take account of the weather when placing the chicken coop. It should preferably be in a South facing position for maximum sun, which they like, and it helps to maintain the building in a dry condition, which helps prevent the build up of ammonia and to eliminate the onset of disease, which would occur in a damp environment.
Static or Mobile: Do you want the hen-house to be a permanent building or have the option of being able to move it around? Gardeners like to move it into different locations so that each part of the garden receives equal fertilisation during time.
Size: This is very much like the land available; how many chickens do you want to keep? Always build a bigger building than you think you might need. The birds like plenty of space, they don't like being cramped. If the hens are close together, disease and pests can proliferate due to an accumulation of body heat. Ensure the door to enter the coop is large, especially for ventilation during the day. Make sure there are adequate roosting poles for the number of hens. How to build a chicken coop will very much depend on an initial design, so do not be afraid to sketch the intended design on a note pad, showing placement of poles, windows, laying box and sizes.
Windows: Plenty of ventilation and light is essential for happy and healthy chickens. It is therefore imperative you plan the best position before you start building. South facing windows give most light, but could cause overheating of the building, which would be uncomfortable. North and East/West facing windows would be the better alternative.
Plans/Materials: It is far better to follow tried and tested plans to show how to build a chicken coop. Material such as wood must be of good quality and durable. Make sure the wood has not been chemically treated, unless the treatment is environmentally and animal friendly. Although chickens have feathers, it is advisable to have insulation fixed to the floor, walls and ceiling to ensure a warm home in winter and cool home in summer. The coop must be raised from the ground with easy access to the inside and to the egg laying compartment. Apart from their sleeping/roosting/egg-laying area, they must have outside space which must be totally proofed against predators such as foxes, or even other humans looking for a cheap meal. So chickens are a pleasure to keep, giving much in return including:
- They are extremely cheap to raise and require little looking after.
- Their droppings are an excellent organic fertiliser.
- Pests are kept under control by the continual pecking and foraging of the birds.
- They make good pets.
- Home-laid eggs are healthier and cheaper than shop-bought eggs and so can save you money.
- Land
- Climate
- Static or Mobile
- Size
- Windows
- Fence
- Plans/Materials
Climate: They are very hardy but you need to ensure you take account of the weather when placing the chicken coop. It should preferably be in a South facing position for maximum sun, which they like, and it helps to maintain the building in a dry condition, which helps prevent the build up of ammonia and to eliminate the onset of disease, which would occur in a damp environment.
Static or Mobile: Do you want the hen-house to be a permanent building or have the option of being able to move it around? Gardeners like to move it into different locations so that each part of the garden receives equal fertilisation during time.
Size: This is very much like the land available; how many chickens do you want to keep? Always build a bigger building than you think you might need. The birds like plenty of space, they don't like being cramped. If the hens are close together, disease and pests can proliferate due to an accumulation of body heat. Ensure the door to enter the coop is large, especially for ventilation during the day. Make sure there are adequate roosting poles for the number of hens. How to build a chicken coop will very much depend on an initial design, so do not be afraid to sketch the intended design on a note pad, showing placement of poles, windows, laying box and sizes.
Windows: Plenty of ventilation and light is essential for happy and healthy chickens. It is therefore imperative you plan the best position before you start building. South facing windows give most light, but could cause overheating of the building, which would be uncomfortable. North and East/West facing windows would be the better alternative.
Plans/Materials: It is far better to follow tried and tested plans to show how to build a chicken coop. Material such as wood must be of good quality and durable. Make sure the wood has not been chemically treated, unless the treatment is environmentally and animal friendly. Although chickens have feathers, it is advisable to have insulation fixed to the floor, walls and ceiling to ensure a warm home in winter and cool home in summer. The coop must be raised from the ground with easy access to the inside and to the egg laying compartment. Apart from their sleeping/roosting/egg-laying area, they must have outside space which must be totally proofed against predators such as foxes, or even other humans looking for a cheap meal. So chickens are a pleasure to keep, giving much in return including:
- Cheap, nourishing eggs.
- Good company as pets.
- Natural pest control.
- Producer of organic fertiliser.
- Recycler of leftover food.
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