How Do I Build A Chicken Coop?

The number one rule about chicken coops is that the chickens should not be cooped up together. They should have at least 5 feet of space per chicken in the coop. A coop should contain nests and perches for the chicken. It should be regularly cleaned, so the cleaner should have easy access to the coop.

The coop should not be built on low-lying areas because there is a risk of flooding. The floor of the coop should be made of concrete as this will prevent pests from entering the coop and burrowing into the ground. The coop could have high walls or a roof. If there is a roof there should be a provision for ventilation. A roofless coop will not be protection from hawks and eagles. A properly trained guard dog should be enough to take care of theft. But take care to keep the dog well fed, just so that he does not get tempted.

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Concrete is a bad idea for the chickens health. If you build the coop right, it will take care of the pests. Do not use the 2x4 type fencing because the newly hatched chicks will get out. You should have a roof, acess to the eggs, a lift gate to keep the floor clean, a hanging feeder, and water holder for cleaness as chickens love to scratch. They must have an area to stay out of rain, but still be outside, and also must be able to get sun as there vitaman d supply comes from the sun. They need shade. And grass. What I do is throw in cut grass after mowing the lawn. They also love to scratch in bailed hay. Go buy a bail at the co-op, cut the strings, and throw a couple of sections in. They and you both will be greatly intertained. You need a rooster in the pen for the hens sake, as they feel safer this way and will complain less. One rooster to six hens is kind of a general rule. If you can, keep a game rooster outside the pen to keep the pen rooster riled up as this help with the social life of the whole coop. If you cannot have a rooster outside, then put a young one inside with the older. Mix the hens up. By this I mean have different breeds. Great layers are, dominecker, rhode island red, blacks, and bufforbington. You will be able to reconise the hens eventually by the eggs as each hen has her own shape of egg. There will be a dominant hen that will regulate the nest sitting times and keep the coop running strong. These are amazing lettle creatures. Really makes ya think of the Almighty God in a whole new light.
Incase anyones interested, I do build and ship. My email is headsup111@charter.net, drop a line if ya need more help.

JP&ME

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Hello, JP&ME, we are bringing back an old coop to life, but the floor is so poor over dirt with holes and rodents that I want to rip it out and put in concrete. You say concrete floors are good but then you say it is a bad idea for their health. Do you mean concrete walls is not good for their health?

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