Expect to get a lot of advice if you're a first time chicken owner and planning to build your own chicken coop. And, it will range from the bizarre to the technical to the practical and finally to something you can actually do. But the best advice, and something that we most often forget, is that if you give your chickens food, a place to sleep and lay eggs, you've already done your job as a responsible owner.
This perspective is the reason why, wherever you are, whatever kind of weather you have, you are already capable of raising them if you give them a good coop. Here are some ideas on how to build your own chicken coop - anywhere.
In an apartment building rooftop
Together with the rise of rooftop gardens, raising chickens are becoming the leaders in the growing real-food movement. The real-food movement, which has now found its roots in the urban jungles of New York city, advocates that people grow their own food and produce for health and ethical reasons.
According to recently conducted studies, almost any individual that starts a rooftop vegetable patch, in time, also starts to raise chickens or vice versa. Aside from complementing each other - chicken waste as fertilizer and insects from the patch as chicken feed - it has also emerged as a source of extra income for some, by selling their homegrown produce to local restaurants or bed and breakfasts.
Which is the reason why more and more people are starting to build their own chicken coop in the city. So, if you want to build your own chicken coop, here are a few factors to consider:
- Chickens need to exercise, so make sure that they will have space in the rooftop to do so. So, when making your chicken coop, keep in mind to give them a long chicken run.
- Make your chicken coop twice as sturdy to accommodate the weather. Since the rooftop is prone to strong winds and have no protection from the rain or snow, make sure that your chicken coop can stand against the elements.
- Don't forget to check your building codes and rules before starting to raise chickens. Although there are no strict rules against keeping chickens, it's better to check first than get in legal trouble later.
In a suburban backyard
It's a common misconception that the men are the ones who raise chickens. When, in fact, it's mostly women that do so. They are the perfect pets for a busy housewife, because chickens are relatively low maintenance. All you have to do is let them out the yard to get their exercise and in the afternoon just let them roost.
And the benefits of raising chickens is having your own supply of eggs. Depending on how many chickens you're raising, you're sure to be very busy in the kitchen if you have a laying breed. The good news is, a lot of people agree that homegrown eggs are tastier than store-bought ones.
If you want to build your own chicken coop in your backyard make sure that:
- Your coop has protection against predators. A good tip is to keep your coop at least a foot off the ground, so that rats can't get inside the coop.
- Make sure that you clean your chicken coop regularly. Aside from keeping your chickens healthy, it's also to make sure that your neighbors don't complain.
In a very cold place
Although warm weather is ideal in raising chickens, it's also possible to raise them in cold weather. Look for breeds that are very hardy - a chicken's quality which refers to being able to withstand colder weather. Usually, heritage and rare breeds have better hardiness than other breeds.
If you plan to build your own chicken coop in cold weather make sure that:
- You have extra lights in the coop. Aside from providing more heat for your chickens, it also (no pun intended) egg them on to lay more.
- Your coop is properly insulated. You can use thick styrofoam boards as your insulators. Some use old bedding for extra warmth.
- You clean the coop regularly. Bacteria can grow easily in damp weather and diseases can quickly develop.
Looking for simple chicken coop plans?
You can check out simple and easy-to-follow instructions on Best Chicken Coop Guide and start building your own backyard chicken coop now.
You can check out simple and easy-to-follow instructions on Best Chicken Coop Guide and start building your own backyard chicken coop now.
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