When you build a hen house there are a ton of things to think of. Most of your time and energy over the last few days will have been taken up with the necessary questions about light, air and protection for your flock. Now that you have provided those important needs I bet that you are keen to get your flock moved in so that you can start collecting those eggs. I'll also bet that one of the last things that you want to be thinking about is having to build chicken coop accessories right? It is such a relief to have finally completed the chickens new home that to find out that you now need to accessorize it can be completely frustrating! I recollect thinking "how terrible would it be if we didn't bring in a nesting box or two?" and "what the flip is a roost?". "Why should they need a water trough or feeder? Can't they just gobble off the floor and doze on the ground? They are just birds after all, why must we worry with trying to build chicken coop accessories". There must be a reason, so I thought a bit harder. Yes they are birds which is exactly the reason why we have to reflect on their wants. Chickens are animals and their needs are basic. Safety and comfort when laying, eating and sleeping are the only two elements that your flock will need. That is it. If you fancy their eggs, then you need to make them contented so that they will happily give you those eggs with as little drama as possible. So when you build chicken coop accessories try to imagine that you are a insignificant, almost flightless creature and ask yourself where you would feel the most safe. I bet that 'up high' should feature quite highly! Here's a quick description of some of the more common chicken coop accessories Nesting Boxes; Nesting boxes are for your birds to lay their eggs in - If you thought that they were for sleeping in, you are just like I was when I first started! These can be made out of pretty well anything. Ensure that if it is made out of material that will absorb moisture or that will break down over time that you replace it on a regular basis. They can be packed with straw, paper, shavings or hay, but this also wants to be replaced on a very frequent basis. I understand that we inundate you with stories about hens needing their space, but when it comes to the nesting box they certainly like safety in numbers, so allocate for 4 or 5 birds per box rather than making individual nests. The Roost; The roost is where the sleeping is done. Think of the highest branch in a tree, this is the roost, so it really only wants to be a strong bar. So long as it will hold the weight of the birds and they can wrap their talons around it securely most anything will do. An important note when you build chicken coop roosts is that just as in the wild, chooks will scrap over the highest branch, so make all the roosts the matching height. This is one area that your hens will like their legroom, so make sure that there is sufficient room on the roosts for all your chooks. This will avoid major arguments and help promote a calm environment. A big tip here; Do not situate your nesting boxes or any other accessories beneath your roosts! Chooks do the majority of their defacating while they sleep - and I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be that keen on producing an egg in a polluted nesting box! Feeders and Waterers; Pretty obvious - there are a excellent variety of preset systems around that will guarantee that your chooks have a ready supply of fresh food and water. Sand Baths; Sand Baths are just about the only indulgent item' in the hutch. Most people put sand in the bottom when they build chicken coop runs - which acts as flooring as well. Heaters; If you reside in really chilly areas then these may well be installed in your enclosure with comparative ease. There are several heaters available, but many also present a huge fire danger so installing a heater in your coop should really only be done if absolutely necessary.
Article Source: http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/articlesubmit
So you have sorted out the basics of building a hen house, but have you remembered to accessorize? Your girls will soon get antsy if they move into their new home and find that you have forgotten to build chicken coop accessories for them!
Fortunately there are a great collection of designs available for when you want to build chicken coop accessories that contain all the essentials with easy peasy step by step instructions. In fact it is so simple I bet it even makes your neighbors green-eyed and your eggs taste better! Click here for the best advice on building chicken coops that really work
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 5 4 out of 5 3 out of 5 2 out of 5 1 out of 5
