It’s not always easy to keep chickens and many people don’t know where to start. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a chicken coop, from planning and building it to feeding your chickens inside their new home. It’s also important that you keep them protected from predators! In this article, we will cover all the steps necessary to set up a chicken coop for your backyard farm.
Table of Content
Build Coop – Or Just Buy One?
There are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not you want to build your own chicken coop. You have two options: building it yourself, which is more time-consuming but doesn’t cost anything additional if you already have the tools and materials on hand, buying a chicken coop kit from any major retailer will be quicker and probably cheaper but costs money upfront. Building your own can also help save some of those extra eggs for breakfast by giving you an opportunity to collect them fresh daily!
Key Points of the Perches for Chickens
No matter what kind of coop you choose, the perches for your chickens are one thing that will make or break their comfort. Chickens are very particular about this! For every three to four hens in a flock, there should be at least two feet of perch space. More is better when it comes to chicken coops and cages – they need enough room to stretch out while still being able to get away from each other if necessary.
Key Points of the Nest’s Box for Chickens
The nest’s box for your hens should be about twelve inches square. This is enough room for them to lay their eggs, but not much more than that – once the coop starts filling up with other equipment like food dishes and water fountains, there will be little space left over! Make sure it’s easy to reach into so you can collect the eggs daily without disrupting too much of their routine. You’ll want a nesting material available (like straw) inside this part of the coop as well, they use these materials when laying eggshells around where they’ve laid an egg before covering them back up again.
Key Points of Feeders and Water Supply
You’ll need to provide your chickens with food and water every day. The feeder should be easy enough for you to fill, but hard for the birds – they will often perch on top of them if that’s an option! You can also purchase a gravity-based system that works by feeding out a small bit at a time as needed; this is less work on your end but requires more diligence from the chickens themselves. Water fountains are great because not only do they make it easier to keep clean, there’s no way for the chickens to disturb their flow accidentally either (they don’t like getting wet). It may take some trial and error before you find what kind of setup works best in your coop though so try.
Key Points of the Sand Bath
Clean, dry sand is the only thing required for a good sand bath. The chickens will find it when they need to scratch and dust bathe in order to keep clean and healthy. Some people use small containers of dirt or potting soil set out for this purpose instead, but be aware that if there are any toxins present in your garden you could contaminate their bathing water! Sand baths should always have an easy access ramp with no obstructions so the birds can get on top without too much trouble – remember how big these guys are getting! It’s best not to place them directly beneath perches because then everyone gets dirty from walking over them.
Windows and Lighting
In order to be well-adjusted, healthy chickens need at least eight hours of daylight each day and some degree of protection from bad weather while they are still growing new feathers (usually about six weeks). The amount of light your coop receives will affect the internal temperature so it’s important that you consider this carefully if you’re planning on housing chicks, young, or egg-laying hens there throughout winter you will need chicken coop heaters.
Natural lighting is excellent for giving your birds access to vitamin D but windows can cause problems too – depending on where your coop is situated remember that direct sunlight in summer could overheat them whereas frosty glares in winter could leave them very chilly!
How to Equip the Entrance to the Chicken Coop
The most important part of a chicken coop is the entrance. It must be secure and protected from predators. Make sure that it closes tightly to keep chickens safe inside at night.
It is best to use automatic chicken coop door openers. It can be easily attached, closes securely at night to keep predators out.
