5 Benefits In Constructing Your Own Coop Instead Of Buying A Pre-made One

By Author: dave mathews
Total Articles: 27
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When you want chickens, you need to know how to build a chicken coop. These diy chicken coops are where the birds will stay and there are several things that you need to know about before even planning your coop. First you will need to know how to take care of the birds and what to feed them before you even start construction on their coop. Second, you have to choose the materials that are best suited to your area. Here is an example of what I mean. If you live in cold areas, you might want to consider slider windows for your coop.
However, if you live in warmer areas, then your chicken coop would need to be made of wire netting or mesh. Your diy chicken coops must also be made to keep out unwanted visitors such as foxes. The ideal coop is 12 inches into the ground and 60 inches high. Another thing that you need to plan for is the presence of bird flu. You can assure protection by putting protection on top of the coop so that other birds don't come and visit. Now with that being said, how do you construct a coop?
Your positioning of the chicken coop should be in a good location that has protection from the elements ...
... and predators. These diy chicken coops need to be in a high spot and you need to determine how big the coop has to be. A rule of thumb here is to use 1 ½ to 2 square feet for each bird. In the yard area, it needs to be 8-10 square feet per bird. You will need to create a design that has a door large enough for you to both clean and collect eggs. Ventilation is also a must such as windows on the south side for both ventilation and warmth.
Nesting boxes are next for your chicken coop. You need one nesting box per each 5 laying birds with 6-10 inches of perch space. Make sure that you have the proper building materials for the diy chicken coops. Build your coop by facing the front and yard area to the south and make sure to slope the roof so that rain can't get in. If you have windows, cover then with wire to keep predators out. Put a latch on the door to secure it, and then install the nesting boxes.
You will then need to install the fence for the coop with the appropriate fencing materials. Bury the fencing at least a foot down into the ground. You will also need to cover the yard with netting to prevent owls and hawks from attacking your chickens. The last step will be to hang the waterers and feeders in the yard. Position them so that they are at the height of the chicken's backs. You also need to keep them off the ground to prevent dirt from getting into their food and water source. This is basically how you plan and build a coop for your chickens.

If you'd like to get step by step plans for building diy chicken coops then do visit our site for more free information. The author is an online marketing expert with LinksTonite, an Internet Marketing Firm helping firms get targeted traffic thru higher search engine rankings.