Rules for arranging a chicken coop inside and outside with your own hands, mistakes

When arranging a chicken coop, there are many features to consider. In order for birds to feel comfortable and remain healthy, it is necessary to maintain the correct temperature, make perches, install nests and drinking bowls. Proper ventilation and the correct lighting mode are of no small importance. Before carrying out work, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the common mistakes of novice poultry farmers.

Space planning

Chickens can be placed in any room. However, it needs to be properly equipped. First of all, it is worth determining the number of chickens. There should be no more than 2-3 birds per meter of area.

When equipping a poultry house, it is worth considering the time of year in which you plan to keep chickens. For the summer, an ordinary uninsulated shed is enough. To keep chickens throughout the year, the chicken coop is insulated.

When planning a chicken coop, it is worth choosing a free area for birds to roam. This area is fenced off with a metal mesh, which is stretched over poles. The area of ​​the site should be 1.5 times larger than the barn.

The height of the enclosure should reach 2 meters. It is recommended to cover it with a net on top. This will help prevent contact with predators. Part of the territory should be covered with a roof. This place will provide reliable protection from rain and sun.

When arranging a place for walking, it is worth digging about 30 centimeters of mesh into the ground. Birds like to make tunnels. As a result, they can get out from under the fence.

Basic requirements for a chicken coop

When creating a building for laying hens, there are many key features to consider. It is important to select materials for the floor and walls in advance.

Poultry house walls

The most practical solution would be a frame. It is recommended to cover it with boards or slabs on each side. It is worth placing an insulating layer between them. Sawdust and straw can play its role. The inside is covered with boards. You can also use plywood or other similar materials.

It is recommended to paint the chicken coop with regular water-based paint. The aroma should go away and the paint should dry. An excellent solution would be to use lime for walls.

Chicken coop floor and bedding

The floor is made of wood or concrete. An adobe floor would be a good option. It is best to use wood. To do this, you should lay insulation on the rough layer, and then use edged boards.

It is important to ensure that the floor surface is smooth and level. This will help prevent damage to the chickens' feet.

The floor should be whitewashed with lime or use special compounds to protect wood.

It is recommended to cover the floor boards with sawdust or straw. The thickness of this layer should be 10-15 centimeters. This litter makes caring for birds easier. If the floors become dirty, there is no need to clean or wash the floors. In such a situation, it is recommended to remove the litter and add a new layer.

In winter, the thickness of this layer is increased to 20 centimeters. Otherwise, the chickens may freeze. This is very dangerous during oviposition.

Chicken coop microclimate

In order for chickens to feel good and not get sick, it is worth providing a suitable microclimate in the room.

Temperature

First of all, you need to choose the right temperature:

1. In summer, the temperature should not exceed 20 degrees. In hot weather, birds' appetite worsens, which leads to a decrease in clutch size.
2. In winter, the temperature should be at least 10 degrees. When the indicator decreases to 5 degrees, a natural decrease in egg production is observed.

To maintain normal temperature parameters, it is recommended to provide heating and ventilation of the room. In winter, it is worth using autonomous heaters and infrared lamps. You can also use incandescent lamps. It is important to install heaters as safely as possible so that they do not cause a fire.

If the winter is not expected to be too cold, it is enough to plug up the cracks in the chicken coop and make a deep bedding of dry peat or straw.Chickens should also be provided with the correct stocking density. This will ensure that the desired temperature in the room is maintained during the first frost. When the old layer is compacted, it is not recommended to remove it. In such a situation, fresh material is added.

Chicken coop ventilation

Regardless of the season, it is recommended to maintain normal ventilation. It is best to ventilate the room by opening doors and windows. In summer this method is enough.

In winter, this method will take heat away from the birds. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out passive ventilation using ventilation pipes. The supply air should be located below the exhaust. This will ensure normal functioning of ventilation.

Poultry house lighting

To maintain egg production, daylight hours should last 13-15 hours. For this purpose, infrared lamps or incandescent lamps are used. There is only enough natural light in summer. Shortening daylight hours indicates the arrival of winter, which can lead to a cessation of egg laying.

Internal structure of the chicken coop

Arranging a room with your own hands is not difficult. To do this, it is recommended to think about the location of perches, install nests, make feeders and drinkers for birds.

Perch location

First of all, it is recommended to make comfortable perches. Chickens spend maximum time on them. To do this, it is worth making poles from timber. Their cross section can be 4x7 or 5x6 centimeters.

Perches should be comfortable for birds. Birds will not be able to grasp very thick or thin poles, which will cause a loss of stability. Thin poles often bend under the weight of the chickens.

The timber should be processed with a plane. This will help make it round. Then sanding is carried out using sandpaper. It is important that the perch has a smooth structure and does not contain sharp protrusions or burrs.

The location of the perches is of no small importance. They are fixed horizontally or vertically, in the shape of a ladder. The first option is more comfortable for chickens, but it takes up a lot of space. The second type is more suitable for small rooms. It helps save space. However, birds may experience discomfort on such a perch.

When equipping perches, it is important to correctly determine their length. It is recommended to allocate 30 centimeters of perch for each bird. The length of the perch is selected taking into account the number of chickens. They should be fixed at a height of 50 centimeters. If the perch is located horizontally, it should be removed 25 centimeters from the wall. The rest are recorded at intervals of 35 centimeters.

Installing nests for chickens

When installing nests, you should choose a secluded area in the chicken coop. It is important that there is no draft. To increase poultry productivity, it is recommended that the structure be provided with sufficient stability.

Nests should be kept free. Depth - 40 centimeters, height and width of the structure - at least 30 centimeters. It is recommended to place bedding inside. To do this, use straw or sawdust. You are also allowed to use hay.

As a rule, nests are made of wood. The frame is made of boards or timber; plywood sheathing is used on top. It is also acceptable to use a box of a suitable size or any other container. You should definitely make a low ladder in the shape of a ladder. It is placed at each nest.

When choosing the quantity, it is worth considering that one nest is enough for 4 layers. But qualified poultry farmers recommend using 10 egg-laying sites for 20 chickens.

Feeders and drinkers

In summer, birds dig the ground all the time in search of food.Therefore, it is recommended that they pour out the food on the floor. Chickens will be able to find it even under the litter.

It is better not to use this method in winter. This is due to the impressive thickness of the litter. In addition, over time the food will begin to rot. It is recommended to use feeders at this time. You can purchase them or make them yourself. A good solution would be store structures that have a mesh division on top.

When arranging the premises, it is worthwhile to provide drinking bowls. Beginners often choose old saucepans or similar utensils for this purpose. However, in this case the water will have to be constantly changed. The downside of such devices is the risk of droppings getting inside. As a result, the water quickly becomes dirty. Drinking such liquid is strictly prohibited.

It is better to place special drinking bowls indoors. You can buy them in the store. Also, good drinking bowls are made from plastic bottles. Thanks to this design, the chicken's head reaches the water, but the risk of droppings getting inside is eliminated.

Swimming areas

Chickens love to clean their feathers with dust. In winter, such baths should be done right in the chicken coop. To do this, it is recommended to take a small trough and fill it halfway with wood ash. This not only helps clean feathers, but also eliminates fleas..

Possible mistakes

Inexperienced poultry farmers can make various mistakes:

1. Leave a dirt floor in the chicken coop. It should definitely be concreted and covered with a layer of sawdust.
2. Perches are not arranged correctly. You cannot make a hierarchical ladder out of poles. This will lead to fights.
3. Pour drinking water into basins. This leads to intestinal infections. As a result, egg production decreases, and even the risk of bird death arises.

Properly setting up a chicken coop is a complex process.To achieve good results, it is recommended to take into account many features - the structure of the perch, the size of the nest, the appearance of the feeders and drinkers. It is also worth maintaining an optimal temperature and ensuring good ventilation.