There are many points to consider before beginning and it is important that you take time in the planning stage to pick the type of chicken pen which is acceptable, based totally on the amount of hens you will be keeping and your garden.
As a rough rule, each hen should be allowed 3-5 sq. feet of space in the nesting area and up to 15 sq. feet each in the run. Glaringly, the outdoor space needed is regarded flexible as it is partially conditional upon whether they are permitted to free-range. In addition, you must ensure that the pen is at least 3 feet high as although hens don\’t fly, they like to leap and flap.
You should make sure that any plans you decide to use concentrate on the fact that you need easy access for both clearing out your hens and for collecting the eggs. Have a good look at the plans-do you have the option of having a door on the external part of the run? Are the door openings sufficiently big to see inside and to easily clear out the waste?
Check the plans thru to satisfy yourself that importance has been given to protection from predators. When building a DIY coop, you should be using materials which are fox and raccoon resistant, for example heavy gauge mesh. In addition, the construction should be robust-do not consider plans which seem to scrimp on screw points or at joints.
Ventilation is a crucial consideration. Ensure that any plans you use include provision for ventilation holes as failure to try this can result in a harmful build-up of gases from the hen\’s waste products, which can at last harm or perhaps kill the hens. You must ideally have ventilation holes close to the pop hole, which is usually in the run, and at the back of the pen. As the back is mostly exposed, these holes can be meshed for extra safety.
Another necessary part to have a look for in chicken pen plans is the supply of a nesting box and you must ensure that there is sufficient space within the nesting area to accommodate this. You will only need one box for each 4-5 birds and simple solutions are often the best. Some people will use an acceptable sized cardboard box as a nesting box and change it weekly rather than having to clean it out. Another option is to utilize a plastic cat litter tray which can be hygienically cleaned.
Build Chicken Coop doesn\’t have to be a difficult process if you know what you\’re doing. How To Build A Small Chicken House