Have you been thinking of how you could reduce on your greengrocer cost while helping to save the planet?. A fantastic way to do both is to make a backyard chicken coop. Not only will you aid the environment, have great tasting fresh eggs - at a fraction of the cost of store bought ones - but you will also have some beautiful new pets that your kids will adore! Buying a brand new coop is simple and expensive option but taking the time to put together a backyard chicken coop all of your own makes great sense financially. If you were to construct a coop yourselves you could even get the children involved - I bet they have some superb imaginative ideas Besides, most poultry coops that you buy from a shop need to be created from a flat pack anyway, so by erecting a backyard chicken coop of your own you would save money on materials. By using recycled materials, old off cuts from other projects or even PVC piping you can greatly reduce the cost of your coop. It is not advisable to use MDF or similar low quality, low water resistant timber. So what else do you have to to do to build a backyard chicken coop? As with anything a little DIY, you do need to be able to handle a hammer, count to maybe a little over 10 and be willing to spend a bit of time, maybe a weekend, putting together your pen.You will need to consider some essential rules for designing, constructing and managing a poultry hutch before you get going. Room Make sure that there is enough floor space per bird. A minimum of 4 square feet per bird is the recommended amount for the pen. This will ensure that they have plenty of room to move. Exercise Content fit chooks need exercise, just like us, so if your girls won't be free range, then a fair sized hen run is a must. The happier your birds are the more steadily they will produce eggs and the better their eggs will taste! Ventilation Ventilation is necessary for three reasons. Chicken droppings contain a large concentration of the gas ammonia which is very harmful to the chickens and to humans. Chooks are also prone to disease caused by damp air and damp hutches, by planning to have sufficient ventilation you will not only reduce the fumes in the chook hutch but you will also help out to dry it out. By allowing air into the enclosure you will also help to keep the temperature consistant and comfortable for your birds, especially on warmer days. A significant point to take in; 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 make 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 areas that are prone to intense cold you might even want a heat lamp to make sure that your hens are comfortable. Lifting your backyard chicken coop is also a really excellent idea. This will help out to prevent the pen flooding during flash flooding. The last thing that you should to think about is how you are going to defend your girls from other animals. Actions such as fully fencing your chicken run, shutting windows and doors at dark and digging the enclosure fence at least 1 foot underground, will really make a difference toward keeping your chickens safe and sound. As a final tip, once your girls have moved into their fantastic new home you should make sure that they frequently have clean water and food available and that the enclosure 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 oodles of fantastic tasting eggs!
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Whether you are new to farming chickens or have downsized your farmyard, a backyard chicken coop is the ideal solution for many people. Not only is it super simple, you can also build your own coop 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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