Loving your hens is a natural phenomenon, as they are the source of your luxurious living. Yes! You can have a lavish life just by keeping a specific amount of hens. But these living organisms, like humans, require special attention. They can compromise on love but never on care. Honestly, I don’t love my hens. But I care for them like my children. Don’t take it as a joke. Seriously, I’m over-conscious about my hens. I’m even building a new chicken coop for their healthy existence.
Oh! My hens demand too much pampering. But they are not grateful. Their chicken coop will cause a luxurious house for my family and me too. Let’s leave these details and go for building a chicken coop if your hens are also requesting that.
In this article, I’m gonna share the five most important tips to remember while building a chicken coop. So, let’s start.
- Size Of A Coop:
Before taking any further steps, it’s crucial to have a perfect idea of what your coop size should look like. So you can find the location, material, etc., accordingly. Determining the size is simple, as there’s a rule of thumb. According to this rule, “consider a minimum of 3 to 5 square feet per chicken in the coop and minimum of 10 square feet per chicken in the run. Keep about 2 square feet in the coop per bantam. Also, create a nest box for every three to four chickens.”
- Location:
Unlike humans, hens don’t focus much on location. But actually, considering a perfect location is essential for the safety of your coop. So, build a coop on high ground to avoid moisture or any mud problems. If there’s no high ground, arrange an elevated coop for your hens.
- Material:
Now, it’s time to bring the most suitable material for your coop. There are plenty of options, but you definitely have to do research to determine what goes best according to your hens’ nature, location, and especially budget. I prefer plain, unfinished plywood for the flooring supported by a deep layer of shavings. If you can afford less, plywood is the best choice as you’ll get high-quality at a low price. Its durability is the most exciting factor.
4. Protection:
Never forget that your main intention is to provide safety and better existence to your hens. So, make sure the coop will save them from any predators or undesirable environmental factors. To protect from snakes and other predators, raising off the ground to 8-12 inches is recommended.
5. Suggestions From Professionals:
Remember: “Building a chicken coop is like operating a heart patient. Any single mistake is unforgivable.”
For example, during construction, you misplace any nail, and your whole chicken coop falls down. It’ll not only damage your money, hard work, and time but also innocent hens staying inside with their family.
So, it’s highly recommended to ask a professional to check your chicken coop thoroughly, and once they ensure everything is perfect, welcome your hens to their new home.
