When building a chicken coop it’s very critical to work out what size chicken coop you want before you build it. There are many factors that affect how large your chicken shed must be like how many chickens are you going to have and are they going to be egg laying chickens.
the most important factor in deciding how big your chicken pen should be is how many chickens you wish to keep. There’s a rule of thumb which says that each chicken requires at least 4 sq. feet to help prevent overcrowding. If your chicken coop is smaller than this there can be dire results. For example, if you chickens are crowded they’re going to start to peck at each other which can lead to the finish of a chicken.
I decided I wanted sixteen chickens so we’d be able to have enough eggs for breakfast and other cooking.
If each chicken was to get four sq. feet that works out to 64 sq. feet ; however, i decided to give them a little additional space ( five square feet each ). That works out to eighty sq. feet. To figure out how large your coop should be just find the multiples of 80. In my case a coop that was 8′ x 10′ worked out completely.
depending on how you lay out your chicken coop you’ll also must increase it’s size to accomodate the roosts and nests. Chickens naturally sleep on the highest point that they can reach as it’s a survival mechanism. If they’re off the ground it suggests that predators can’t reach them. The roosts are also where most of the droppings are going to amass.
In most cases you don’t need to increase the dimensions of the coop because you can just lay the nests out along the sides of the coop.
the final part is completely up to you. It’s good for the chickens if they can get outside so a chicken run is pretty essential when building a chicken cage.
There you have it. It’s best to build a chicken shack that’s bigger than needed. If your chicken cage is sized right your chickens will be cheerful and healthy and you’ll harvest lots the advantages of fresh eggs each morning for breakfast.
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Find the proper chicken coop size
Do you have poultry of respectable size but cannot seem to decide what size of a hen house should you invest in? Or, (gasp!) have purchased a Chicken Coop only to realize that it is way, way too big for your place? Read on to discover what size of chicken coop shall best suit you.
Consideration 1: Your Budget:
Of course you have to weigh in your wallet before you can decide what kind of a home your birds can live in.
a. A Chicken Ark: is the smallest and therefore the cheapest (not necessarily though). Materials needed include only some lumber and chicken wire. A ready-made chicken coop can cost you anywhere from $100 to $400 depending on the maker, the quality and finish and finally the kind of materials used.
b. A Medium sized Chicken Coop: A medium sized coop will typically set you back by around $250 to $300.
c. The Big, premium sized coop: these are a bit bigger than the medium sized. These can easily exceed $500 in cost if you add the Chicken run and are buying it from outside.
All of these prices are variables and can differ significantly from place to place, and seller to seller.
Consideration 2: Your poultry:
The number of birds you have should be the main determinant of what kind of Coop you should purchase. The standard requirement for chicken space is 4 square feet per chicken MINIMUM! (Note: This is as important as the first consideration).
a. Chicken Ark: are best suited if you have around 2 – 4 birds to take care of.
b. Medium sized coop: This is typically suited for 6 – 8 birds.
c. Large sized coop: These are best suited if you have poultry of over 10 birds.
Consideration 3: Your backyard space:
Again depending on the amount of space and where you are planning to build a chicken coop, you should decide upon your investment. Of course if you have less space to offer you should go in for a small chicken ark. Larger spaces can allow for the installation of a medium sized or even a large premium sized coop along with a chicken run for the birds.
Another important thing is whether you are living in a city or a rural area. This seemingly harmless detail can easily turn into a nightmare if your neighbors find it an irritant or if it is just not aesthetically done up so. In a country environment this may not be so much of a hassle. Do keep in mind this detail before you go in for your coop.
Did you know that the leading cause of chicken death is because of neglect? Even though most people have the best of intentions they simply lack the knowledge they require to maintain a healthy livestock. On my Chicken Coop Design Page I have discussed various things that you need to keep in mind when you are raising your poultry. You need to be careful about what kind of a coop you chose, what you equip it with, and finally how to keep those pesky predators out. If you are interested in knowing more about raising chicken then go to my chicken coop design page!
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