In these days of food miles and recessions the focus is on reducing spending and saving the environment. A great way to do both is to put together a backyard chicken coop. Not only will you help out the environment, have fantastic tasting fresh eggs - at a fraction of the cost of store bought ones - but you will also have some attractive new pets that your children will adore! You could acquire a brand new enclosure but taking the time to build a backyard chicken coop all of your own makes great fiscal sense. You can put together a coop that suits your wishes and even the family can get involved adding their own creative flair. Besides, most hen houses that you buy from a shop need to be put together from a flat pack anyway, so by constructing a backyard chicken coop of your own you would save money on materials. The materials that you use will be the largest discount to you as you can replace new lumber and hardware for recycled or even plastic in some instances. It is not advisable to use MDF or similar low quality, low water resistant timber. So what else do you need to do to erect a backyard chicken coop? You do need some fundamental do-it-yourself ability; being able to manage a hammer is a great start. Being able to measure out timber, netting and the size of other materials would be an help. Oh, and time. With the appropriate plan in place there is no reason that you can not create your backyard chicken coop over a weekend.There are some simple rules for planning, constructing and running a good healthy chook house that you should keep in mind when you get started. Legroom Make sure that there is plenty of floor space per chook. A minimum of 4 square feet per bird is the recommended amount for the hutch. This will guarantee that they have enough room to move about. Exercise Happy healthy chooks need exercise, just like us, so if your chickens aren't going to be free range, then a fair sized chook run is a must. The happier your birds are the more regularly they will produce eggs and the better their eggs will taste! Ventilation Ventilation is necessary for three reasons. Have you ever been inside a hutch that has not been cleaned out for a few days? That smell is ammonia and it accumulates in concentrated amounts in chook poo. This gas is really harmful to humans and chickens Chooks are also susceptible to illness caused by damp air and damp coops, by planning to have plenty of ventilation you will not only minimize the gas in the hen house but you will also help to keep it dry. By allowing air into the hutch you will also help to keep the temperature consistant and comfortable for your girls, especially on warmer days. An important point to be aware of; Make sure that any ventilation you put in is designed in such a way that it doesn’t leak in bad weather or cause cold drafts on the birds. You also should make sure that when you build a backyard chicken coop that has some sort of temperature control. It can be as simple as ventilation in hot climates or insulation in cold climates. If you live in climates that are prone to intense cold you might even want a heat lamp to make sure that your chickens are contented. Lifting your backyard chicken coop is also a really good idea. This will aid to put a stop to the coop flooding during downpours. The last factor that you need to consider is how you are going to shield your chickens from other animals. Measures like fully fencing your chicken run, closing windows and doors at night and digging the enclosure fence at least 1 foot under the ground, will really make a difference toward keeping your chooks safe and sound. As a final tip, once your birds have moved into their wonderful new home you should ensure that they often have fresh water and food available and that the house is cleaned on a regular basis. Like any pets they need to be taken care of properly so that they have a long happy and healthy life - while providing you with many of fantastic tasting eggs!
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Do you want to build a backyard chicken coop? It can be difficult to find a small hen house that is also well designed so here are a few tips to help you out without breaking the bank!
Fortunately there are a great selection of plans available for when you want to build a backyard chicken coop that contain all the essentials with easy peasy step by step instructions. This makes building your own fantastic chicken coop a breeze - In fact I bet it even makes your neighbors jealous and your eggs taste better! www.henhouseplansonline.com
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