Thursday, December 2, 2010

Tips For Building Your Own Chicken House

By Dana Goldberg


The chicken is a fantastic backyard pet to have. A conversation starter, a handy form of pest control, a source of fertilization, and best of all an ongoing source of healthy, tasty eggs! Those thinking about keeping hens should also think carefully about what kind of chicken house they are going to have.

When it comes down to it, looks don't really matter. The chickens wouldn't notice the difference if they were housed in a luxury cabin of quality woods or a shack constructed of scrap materials. What they want is a safe, dry place that is dark and quiet. If you can keep out the weather and animals that might eat your hens, the chickens will be pretty happy.

A good house will have easy access to food and water, good ventilation, and some light. Windows with sturdy mesh coverings are a good idea, and should be placed on either side of the hen house to allow cross-ventilation.

If your hen house is too big to benefit from a hinged lid, then doors can provide a way in for cleaning and collecting eggs. A ramp outside the door will make it easier for hens to get in and out.

The number of chickens you intend to have will decide how big their house should be. Make provision for individual nesting boxes and enough perching spaces to accommodate all of your chickens. There should be enough room for them all to flap and move about.

Dampness is bad for the health of your chooks. A concrete base or a house built up on wooden stilts can help keep your hens safe from moisture. They will be most comfortable if they have plenty of wood shavings or hay lining the bottom of their house and their nesting boxes.




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