To get the most out of your Chicken Coop, you will want to make sure it is well maintained. This will increase the life of it and ensure it remains safe and healthy for your chickens. I have found the following checks work well.

• At least once a month do a coop walk around. Make sure your chicken run and any fencing you have is secure and there have been no holes created by rats, stoats or other predators.
• Make sure the doors – the chickens’ door and the egg collection doors continue to open freely and easily. If they don’t, either replace or repair.
• Check your feeders and waterers daily to ensure they are clean and water and food continue to flow freely. Clean at least once a week with chlorine bleach.
• Regularly remove the build-up of poop from your coop. This is actually very good manure for your garden due to its high nitrogen and phosphate content. If left, flies and other parasites will be attracted to it and your coop will develop an unhealthy smell.

Follow these four steps to keep your Chicken Coop in good nick.

The type of Chicken Coop plan you choose will depend on the type of Chicken Coop you wish to build. This includes how big your backyard is, why you are raising your chickens, your environmental outlook and the type of predators you may be vulnerable against.

If you have a small backyard then you will most likely want a small all in one coop or a mobile unit. A small all in one coop is suitable for three or four birds and typically the design will ensure they have some room to run around outside and make sure they are protected from the weather and predators.

A mobile unit is also great if you have a small back yard as you can move the unit around and give your chickens’ fresh grass for them to forage and scratch around in. A larger backyard will give you the additional option of a larger chicken coop with run for your birds and the space for more birds.

If you are raising show birds, you will want to ensure you have a larger chicken coop to ensure they keep their feathers nice and don’t drag their tails around. These coops must be kept extra clean too, so that poop or grass does not stain the feathers. Sometimes chickens have a tendency to fight so as to establish what the pecking order is, so it may be a good idea to separate your show birds where possible.

Your environment is also very important to consider before selecting a chicken coop. If your climate is cold and wet or has a tendency for flooding you will want to make sure you have an elevated coop to reduce the likelihood of flooding or being snowed under. You may also need to set up some type of heating if you have a very cold climate. Chickens do tend to snuggle together when it does get cold. Ensure that your chickens are well sheltered from both the rain and the sun.
You will want to consider any council permits or restrictions if you are a city dweller. Additionally you will want to ensure your chickens are protected from kids and other predators!

Finally make sure that your chickens have boundaries. You don’t let your kids on the road, and you don’t want chickens roaming the neighbourhood either!

You will want to protect your chickens from predators as well. Chickens can ran fast, but foxes and aggressive dogs can run faster! Your hen house or chicken run should be well protected with fencing and wire that goes under the ground. This will also keep other annoying pests away as well including rats and stoats. Like you lock your door at night, do the same for your chickens as well.

What are the basics you need to include in your chicken coop to make sure you chickens are happy and comfortable? Be sure to consider these before deciding on the design of your coop.

Give them space!
Chickens in a happy space are productive chickens. Make sure your chickens have at least 3 square feet each inside the chicken coop and around 6 feet in the run for each chicken. So once you have decided on the number of chickens you want to keep, you need to calculate the size of the chicken coop if you are planning on building a coop. Also know that you can come down a bird or two if you cannot find one of the size that you are after.

Let them breathe!
Don’t get confused between drafts and ventilation. Chickens need good ventilation during winter and summer. Typically ventilation should be placed near the top of the coop as warm air rises it can be removed through ventilation traps. Do ensure that there is sufficient fresh air entering near the bottom of the coop as well, to prevent the building up bacteria and condensation.

Give your birds privacy
Nestboxes should be in the lowest, darkest corner of the chicken coop. Chickens are quite secretive when laying eggs and prefer to do this in private. Try to have at least one nesting box per four chickens with straw or wood shavings for litter. Make sure the straw smells fresh and is not dusty as this will be bad for the chicken’s health.

Finally, make sure there is easy outside access to collect the eggs.

Put your birds on a Pedestal
Chickens like to roost on perches at night. You should allow 23-25cm per hen and ensure the perch has enough wide so the birds do not fall off at night. It is a good idea to have perches at the same height, otherwise the chickens will jostle for the higher perch. Chickens do about 50% of their poop at night so to make cleaning the poop from your coop easy to do, make sure there is an easy to remove poop tray under the perches.

Protection from Predators and the Environment
Chickens can be vulnerable to predators like foxes, weasels and stoat so make sure you choose a chicken coop design that is appropriate for your environment. If you live in a windy or wet area, the Chicken Coop must also be built to withstand the climate. If your area is particularly wet, it would be prudent to select a chicken coop design with a raised floor to avoid flooding.

Keep these basics in mind when looking for a chicken coop design for your backyard to ensure your chickens are healthy and productive!

There a number of reasons why people choose to raise chickens. Some people choose to raise chickens for their meat, or to show their chickens. Most people tend to raise a few backyard chickens primarily for their eggs.

Chickens can also be quite entertaining and each has their own personality which makes raising chickens a pleasure.

Chickens can also be very educational for chicken, particularly if you are raising from chicks.

Raising chickens is not hard and only takes a few minutes each day to feed and water them. Find out more about raising chickens for eggs in this recommended eBook.