Chicken Coops
More and more people are now deciding to keep chickens at home, there are a range of reasons on why this is as well as quite a few benefits and advantages to keeping chickens. One of the main benefits is being able to enjoy truly fresh eggs which have been laid a few hours earlier. Also there has been quite a lot of publicity in relation to where eggs have come from and whether they are free range or caged eggs. So if you keep chickens yourself, you can be 100% sure of where they come from and their freshness.
There has also been research to show that chickens that roam freely will produce eggs that are lower in cholesterol with increased levels of Omega 3 and Vitamin E.
So keeping chickens certainly has a number of advantages, keeping your chickens happy with a well built, quality chicken coop is vital.
Keeping chickens is no longer something that farmers are doing. In fact there are many families who live in cities and have chosen to set up chicken coops in their gardens. Just imagine what it would be like to get up each morning walk out to the coop and get some fresh eggs to have for breakfast.
However, before you go and purchase the classic chicken coop there are certain factors that you need to take into consideration beforehand. In this article we take a look at just what these factors are and which if you keep in mind will help to ensure that you select the right one for you.
1. How Much Space Do You Have Available? You need to be aware that for chickens to remain healthy and happy they need enough space. For each chicken you decide to keep you should allocate 4 sq ft of space for each one. So if you want to keep say 5 chickens then you need at least 20 sq ft of garden space into which they can be housed. However, if you can provide more than this space for them, you should. If the quality of your chicken’s life is reduced the quality and quantity of eggs they produce will be greatly affected.
2. Direction of Sunlight. If you want your chickens to be laying eggs regularly then the coop should be bathed in sufficient amounts of sunlight throughout the day. If it is going to prove difficult to provide these levels of natural sunlight for your chickens then you will need to install lighting in the coop also. For a small coop a light placed above their feeding and watering area will be more than adequate. Plus putting in an electrical source of lighting will also help to keep the coop warm during the winter months.
3. Is It Well Ventilated? Along with plenty of sunlight being able to access chicken coops they also need lots of fresh air to be able to get into them. Not only will it ensure that the birds inside remain cool during the hot months but will help to get rid of moisture and ammonia. A good coop will have a number of vents along the walls as well as a few windows that allows air to pass through the coop.
4. Does It Include Perches? Just like other birds, chickens naturally want to perch and therefore you need to provide a place where this can be done for them. If you don’t then they will use the feeders, nesting boxes or anything else in the coop to do so. Which you don’t want to happen as this will result in their droppings being left there.
5. How Secure Is The Chicken Coop? You don’t just what a chicken coop that protects the birds from bad weather. You also want chicken coops which will prevent predators from gaining access. Ideally look for those made using strong materials and which once constructed proves very difficult to move forcibly by you. Also any mesh used to protect areas that are vulnerable such as vents, windows and doors should be used using heavy gauge wire.
You may also consider a chicken coop with a run which can be great for giving the chickens a little extra space.
At Crocodile Trading we want you to be 100% satisfied with your chicken coop so we are here to help if we can.