Chicken House Plans
Chicken House Plans
There’s lots of plans out there for chicken plans, but how do you know which one is right for you?
Before you dive in and start going through all the chicken house plans you come across, it’s important to understand the main components of any good chicken house plan to make sure the one you select has these covered.
Failure to do so may mean you miss out on a vital aspect of the chicken house that’s going to cause you problems later on. Well built chicken houses can be used for a number of years and will allow the chickens to produce far more eggs than poorly made coops, so finding chicken house plans that incorporate all of the following is important.
Here is your prerequisite checklist.
Bird Count?
First things first, figure out how many birds you plan to keep in your chicken house. If you overcrowd your birds, they are going to feel cramped in and will not lay eggs properly. If there is one thing you must get right, this would be it. Always allow for slightly more space than you think you need, as this way if you decide to grow your chicken family, you’ve got room.
Remember That Chickens Are Morning Birds
Chickens are animals who really enjoy the morning sunlight so you want to find chicken house plans that help you to capture as much morning sunlight as possible. This is accomplished by positioning the chicken house in your yard correctly, as well as having built-in windows that allow the light to filter in.
These birds tend to be very sensitive to even small adjustments in the amount of light in the coop, so not paying attention to your windows will cause the chickens to feel uncomfortable.
Think About Your Flooring
Most chicken house plans put a lot of information in about the types of materials you will use to build the side walls of the coop, but don’t forget the importance of the floor. There are a number of different flooring types you can use – straw, sawdust, and sand are the main ones, so learn the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Since you want this chicken house to be a long term option for yourself, make sure you choose the ground that is going to be most appropriate for your needs.
Consider Your Predators
Depending on the area in which you are located, you’re going to have a different range of predators in your area. If you are in an area where all you really have to worry about is a few dogs, this is not going to be the same as if you typically have coyotes, foxes, or even wolves roaming around. These types of animals are a lot more viscous and you will really need to take safety precautionary measures to prevent them from digging underneath the gating to get in.
Think About The Winter Climate
Finally, you will also want to consider the typical winter climate you experience while going through chicken house plans. If the climate does get quite cold, you will want to make sure you have good insulation throughout the chicken house as well as an electric source of light, which will provide some heat as well as mimic the sun when it stays dark for a much longer portion of the 24 day period.
So, keep these points in mind. Finding the right chicken house plan to use is important so make sure you’re looking at a respectable source for your information.
Chicken House Plans
A guide on building your own coop.
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By Bob Keene Published: 4/30/2009 |
