Considering raising some chickens? This is not something that you want to on a whim. Although chickens are one of the easiest domestic animals to care for, there still needs to be planning done ahead of time before purchasing the chickens. One of the first big steps is choosing plans to build a chicken coop.
The first thing that must be decided is how much space is available for the chickens. Chickens generally need about 4 sq. ft per bird in a chicken house or coop. There will also have to be a fenced run for the chickens to exercise in. This will also take up additional space in the yard.
Once some thought has been given to the space it is time to pick out plans for a coop. There are tons of chicken coop plans on the internet for free. With this is mind, it is well worth investing some money in a well designed set of plans. These will be worth their weight in gold and greatly reduce the stress of constructing the coop. A large majority of the coop plans available for free are teaser plans. By this tactic, the entire plans are not included, thereby enticing you into buying other plans for large sums of money. Invest money up front on well-designed, proper plans and and save yourself the hassle.
There are 6 things to keep an eye out for when picking plans:
(1) Ventilation- does the plan include sliding windows that open or a ventilation opening to let fresh air into the coop?
(2) Access-are there access hatches or a door in the plans to allow collecting of eggs and access to clean the coop?
(3) Chickens need light to lay eggs. Make sure that the coop has enough windows to make it a well lit environment.
(4) Nesting area-Make sure the plans have a separate, private area for nesting. If this is not incorporated in the plans the chickens will lay eggs wherever they choose in the coop and run. A specific nesting area will allow for easy egg collection and will keep the eggs from getting dirty and/or stepped on.
(5) Roosts- Chickens' natural instinct is to roost in trees away from predators. Make sure there are roosts in the chicken plans that are chosen.
(6) Space for food and water-there should be a separate space for food and water away from the roosts. This will keep feces and dirt out of the food and water.
When looking at plans keep these 6 things in mind and it should be easy to find a solid set of plans that work best for you. 相关的主题文章:
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