There are many things to take into consideration when you are embarking on a project to build a chicken coop:

1. How many chickens do you intend to house?
2. How much egg production do you anticipate from your chickens?
3. What kind of predatory threats do you need to keep your chickens protected from?
4. What kind of weather conditions will your chickens be faced with year around?
5. Do you intend to allow your chickens the freedom to come and go from the coop into an enclosed yard?
6. Do you intend for your chicken coop to be mobile, on wheels, so that you can move it from place to place as required? Or do you intend for your coop to remain stationary and permanently fixed in one location at all times?

These are just some of the questions that you would need to take into consideration before you start building your coop. There are many sample chicken coop building plans available for you to use as a template for building your own coop, that address each of these issues. Whether you regard your chickens are an asset, as family pets, or members of your family, you need to do whatever it takes to provide the best care for them, the best environment for them to grow and subsist healthy and active, and product healthy eggs. So it is for this reason that you should make your best effort to build the right chicken coop for your birds. You should not try to cut corners and take shortcuts. Doing so can put the safety of your chickens at risk and could potentially invite harm to come to your chickens.

So if you want to learn more about chicken coop building plans, you need to realize that you are not just building a structure but you are nurturing lives, you are making an investment, and you are protecting an assets. You don’t have to be a carpenter or an expert at building things. You just need to be able to follow simple directions. This way you can avoid making costly mistakes. Building a coop does not have to be expensive. In fact, if you follow the right building plans, you can reasonable expect to be able to save countless dollars and save a considerable amount of time, as well.

Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience, but knowing how to raise them can be a challenge sometimes. Check out my website if you want to learn more about raising chickens and Learn More About Chicken Coop Building Plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Washburn –

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!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_S_Williams
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You can give them dog food and they’ll peck it with full gusto. You can give them pig food and they’ll eat it without hesitation. Chickens are cleaners of garbage tidbits. They can even wipe out every insect, worm, or anything little and more vulnerable than they are. The good thing about raising chickens in your backyard is that it needs no feeding qualifications other than vitamins and boosters.

Grains can also be fed to your chickens. Scraps of food bits and peelings can also be fed. You see, feeding isn’t that hard for as long as you save some of those leftovers for your poultry to feed on. Chickens are also intelligent for they know when the bucket of treats is ready for lunch.

You can feed your chicken in many ways. You can either put it in a container in the chicken coop that is big enough to accommodate their number during mealtime. Scattering their food isn’t also a bad idea without the worry that it will go to waste and remain scattered. Bones with tiny bits of meat are also their favorite.

Now, when it comes to hens laying eggs, calcium is required for their diet. During the months when laying season is on its verge, you can feed your hens calcium just by including in their meal clam shells that are already crushed. Do not, by any means give clam shells that are whole. They may be at risk of recognizing these clams as their own egg shells. So you have to see to it that the clam shells are thoroughly crushed into pieces before giving it to them. These are available in your local feed stores.

The most advisable food for your chickens are feeds, pellets, corn and grains. Meat, fruits and vegetables can be given out too. But chickens can’t have all the fun gobbling everything up. Their diet must also be kept in observance because there are certain kinds of food that aren’t advisable for them to eat. These foods can either be harmful or worse, deadly. Aside from the foods mentioned below, basically, other feedings are safe.

Reason why chickens should not eat these types of food

Chicken If you were given the opportunity to eat the thigh of your neighbor, would you do it? Same reason why chickens will dearly object if served with their own kind. But they will not know this. They never will. That’s why, it is alright if you have included chicken bones to their meals. But the consequences can be outstanding because if given large amounts of chicken meat or parts of the spinal cord and brain, this may lead to the development of encephalopathy.

Apple: An apple every two weeks given to 4 birds is fine but if this routine is done every day, you could expect digestive problems.

Peelings of Potato: Chickens don’t really like the idea of eating roots crops. The taste isn’t that enjoyable either.

Orange Peelings: The toughness of this is too much for them to take.

Tomato: Given in small quantities, tomatoes can be good but be careful cause if given in excess, they might affect the chicken’s droppings.

Banana: For some reason, they just don’t like them.

These are just some of the foods that arenít really advisable to give to your chickens. Just take note: Root plants arenít on top of their list; hard fuits can never be favorite; if given in large quantities, whatever the food is, will give their digestive system a hard time.

Being a starter in the world of raising chickens, one of the important thing you should consider and is also necessary is the fact that you can protect your raised chickens without even being on a shot-gun watch for 24 hours every waking day; that is why you have to build a pen that will last for a very long period of time. Before building, planning and gathering is the very first step.

Location is the first thing to consider. Do you live in a rural or in an urban area? Your answer will depend on the chickens you can keep. Usually in rural communities, the number of livestock you want can be unlimited but when in urban settings, raising chickens can have restrictions regarding its number. Or sometimes, they are totally banned.

Another thing is the kind of chicken that you are planning to raise. If they weigh heavier, this will be an advantage because this kind of status will make it more difficult for them to fly away. A simple wire and post design pen can be used. But in most instances chickens are more prone to flying away. Especially if they are not used to the place, a fence with a higher walls or wires is more appropriate.

The place where you construct your chicken coop must be safe and sturdy enough to withstand any predator’s mark. It should be constructed in a way that your poultry are not easily snatched not only by scavengers but also by people who are pretty much interested in chicken stew. They must be protected and locked-in, especially at night.

What is a post and wire type of pen? It is by far the simplest kind of design wherein materials like posts, strong wires, fence staples are used. The tools needed to help you complete the job are the ordinary hammer, wire cutters, crowbar and sledgehammer. Gathering these materials are the very first thing you have to do upon planning.

Fence post can’t be bought one at a time but in bundles. If you became worried that the excess lumbers will go to waste once the fence is finished, worry no more. This is because fence posts can be used in incredible purposes like supporting beams for sheds. Chicken wire is usually used. But for safety purposes a stucco wire is stronger and is more recommended for holding building sides.

There are really no actual fence staples, that is why the local staples used for wiring can be used as an alternative. Skimping the staples should not be stressed. You need a lot while construction is ongoing and also additional supplies in cases of emergencies.

The sledgehammer is used to pound the post into the soil. Weight is the first thing that you have to take note of when choosing a sledgehammer. Make sure that it is not too heavy that you can’t lift it up and not too light that you will need to exert all your efforts just to pound your post.

The crowbar is used for digging a hole where the pole will be placed. Lastly, the regular hammer will be useful for those hardheaded staple wires to dig in the posts.

Now that all materials are properly intact, you can plan on the actual building of the pen.

There have been thoughts on what to do with your flock daily. Raising chickens can be quite easy but also needs maintenance to keep their environment safe and clean for both your chickens and your own happiness. Some owners hesitate to do such a grueling task. But in reality it is one of the easiest works you can do to give your chickens the welcome they deserve.

In this section, you’ll learn about what to do and what not to do daily.

• Keep their feed and water containers full at all times. Do not let them run out of these two essentials. They need these two things everyday to live. If you tend to leave your house for a couple of days, be sure to leave sufficient food and water so that your chickens don’t run out of their needs and will not reach the point of picking on each other.
• Keep them safe, warm and protected with a nice sized chicken coop. If you need ideas on how to build a chicken coop, check out the chicken coop plans that I found online.
  
• Clean their water canister. If their water becomes cloudy or if they sensed that it’s already dirty, they will refuse to drink it and in the long run, they will become dehydrated and eventually conjure illness and die.
• Every morning, observe for their health status. Look at their physical attitude. Do they look bright, active, and healthy? If they don’t look anything close to normal, then you should call or see the vet to ask for suggestions and answers.
• If you are the type who loves collecting eggs for breakfast or for selling, the moment they are laid, you can already get them from the coop. Put the eggs inside the fridge to maintain its freshness.
• From time to time, you will have the chance to visit their coop and look at your chickens. Before you leave, make sure that things are safe inside and outside the pen. If you see rat holes, block it. If everything seems fine, be sure to close the door. As dusk comes, that will be the time when all the chickens are in their nest. Not a single chicken in sight. Secure the area so that predators will not have the opportunity to get in.

Unlike other pets, you can leave the chickens for days. You have to keep in mind that they have to be provided with enough food and water supply. If you came back and found eggs, it’s still okay to collect. It still has its freshness.

Here’s a fact that you should know about an egg’s freshness: it will take you at least 12 days from the day that it was laid before it matures and an embryo develops inside.

Another thing that you should know about eggs is that upon collecting them, there will be chances that you will see slight smudges of dirt or feces on the egg’s surface. Do not attempt too scrub the dirt off no matter how the urge is killing you. Because one thing about eggs is that they are not ejected to this world without protective barriers.

Bloom is the term that is given to the membrane that is located at the surface of the egg itself. The use of the bloom is to protect the egg from bacteria and microorganisms that may insist on penetrating through the shell. If you scrub this, you take away the protective covering.

But if you are that type of person who wanted things to always be spiffy clean, like that of the obsessive-compulsive type, you can clean the dirty egg provided it will be under warm water and in a very gentle touch.

All of these are vital so that you’re fully satisfied with the chicken house you build and don’t spend any more money than you absolutely have to.

Now it’s time to move on and take a look at what you must do in order to keep your chickens protected.  Again this is a key element that must be taken care of if you want to keep your chickens for the long term because without protection, there is a very high chance that at some point or another, a predator is going to come around.

First you need to assess what potential predators you have in your area.  This would include animals such as coyotes, foxes, larger dogs, or rodents that may try and dig underneath the fence and get into the coop in that manner.

If you have no idea what types of predators are present in your surrounding area, you may want to consult with your neighbours and check and see if they’ve ever encountered a predator. This will give you a more precise idea of exactly what you’re dealing with so you can take proper precautionary measures.

Location

It’s important that you also identify the best location to place your coop.  As we’ve already discussed location is partially going to be determined by land forms already, but having the coop within a close distance (eye’s range is even better) will help you keep a closer eye on your chickens and ensure they are safe.

This is where having a mobile chicken coop comes in really handy since you can easily transport it to wherever you are going to be to really keep a watchful eye on them.

Type of Fence

It’s also vital that you factor in the type of fence that would be best to build with your chicken coop. Consider the type of predator you’re looking at and then research the different types of fences that are available to choose the best fit.

As mentioned above, if you’re going to encounter digging animals, it will be most important that you build the house low enough into the ground that it’s difficult for them to burrow underneath it.

If you are looking at the possibility of larger predatory animals, then you’re going to need a fence that’s incredibly sturdy in order to keep them out effectively.  This is why having a good guide to follow will help – it’s vital that you pair your needs with the variety of fence.  If you don’t, you may think you’re protecting your chickens, but you really haven’t done much but added a bit of decoration to your chicken coop.

So be sure you’re keeping fencing and protection in mind.  You could build the most perfect chicken coop ever, but if another animal decides to venture in, that perfect chicken coop could be no more.

Look forward to learning more information about understanding exactly where to position your chicken coop in the next newsletter.

maintain chicken coops

Since  we’ve gone over a great deal of the information you need to successfully build a chicken coop with our chicken coop plans, it’s time to talk about one last factor, maintenance.  Since you’ve put in a good effort getting your coop up and running, it would be a shame to let it start to disintegrate over time due to lack of care. Fortunately, maintaining and repairing a chicken coop isn’t all that difficult provided you stay on top of things regularly.

Here are some of the main things you should know about.

Pay Attention To The Door

Since the door is one area of the coop that’s going to be constantly moving as you go in and out to feed the chickens, it’s something you’ll want to watch and maintain regularly.  If the latch is becoming loose, be sure you fix this immediately so your chickens don’t find a way to escape out.

If you find that you’re regularly having issues with it, you may want to consider either replacing the door altogether or else just finding a more secure latch and being sure it’s bolted to the door properly.

Each farmer will have their own preference when it comes to the opening door so figure out what works best for you.

Regularly Check Your Fence

Another aspect of the chicken house that should be monitored at least once a month is the structure of the fence.  If you do have predators that come around frequently, they may attempt to get in which can impact the stableness of your fence, calling for some rebuilding if necessary.

Some fences are also quite prone to falling over after so much time, so walk around and test various areas of the fence to see how well it’s standing up still.

Check The Feeders

Keeping a close eye on the feeders located in the chicken coop is also vital since these will be used on a daily basis.  In some cases if the feeders are very beat up it could be a signal you should consider installing another one into the coop as the chickens may be constantly fighting over food and picking at the feeder.

You also want to watch how your chickens are responding to the feeder height.  In some cases you’ll get chickens who prefer a feeder to be slightly lower or higher than how you placed it, so adjusting this as time goes in is important for the overall comport of your chickens.

Usually it just needs to be adjusted an inch or two, but this makes a huge difference in how easily they can access their food.

So, don’t neglect the maintenance of your chicken coop. If you decided to go with a mobile chicken coop you’ll find that maintenance does tend to be quite a bit easier since you can just move the coop to wherever you are. If you didn’t, than that just means regularly planning maintenance into your weekly or monthly schedule as you see fit.

The groups that chickens live in are called flocks Chickens are very social birds. But they are often aggressive toward each other.

They have a “pecking order” which is the order of the weakest bird to the strongest. Chickens dominate the weaker birds especially when they are competing for food or a nest.

Chickens are noisy like many other birds. They often cluck at each other and roosters’ cock-a-doodle-doo at dawn. Even from the top of the chicken coop.

Chickens are not very fond of water. So instead of taking a bath in water, they like to take dust-baths. They like to keep their feathers in good condition so they also stroke themselves with their beaks.

When chickens aren’t feeding or exercising, chickens enjoy taking a nap by perching about the ground on a branch or pole. Most times the chickens stand on one leg. The muscles lock into place so when they are resting, they won’t fall off of the perch.

Like back in the day, chickens still peck and scratch at the ground to fine yummy food for the day. Even though it is many years later, chickens are still the same animal as before.

You can hang your waterer and feeder from your rafters and that will keep them from pooing in the water and feed, plus they can not dig out all the feed to get to the stuff they like best. Most chickens like things like watermelon rind and veggies too, so we always gave those to our birds as a treat, they will pretty much peck a rind till you could read the paper thru it!

If you have a lot of chickens, you may want to buy lice dust just in case wild birds give them lice, that’s a mess to get rid of and the lice will get on humans also.

Oyster shell for grit and calcium and a good chicken feed is about all you need for feed. They love green grass also, so if you have them in a lot where there is none, you can take grass clippings, ONLY FRESH ones , and give them those too as a treat.

Chickens need a safe place from predators so make sure nothing can get into your chicken coop. Even a 2 inch hole will let rats in and we lost some chickens to raccoons who found a 4 inch hole in the floor, still have no idea how on earth the raccoon got thru the hole , but he did!

Good luck with your chickens and your chicken coop plans, fresh eggs are great!