Step-by-step instructions on how to make a chicken coop for 10 chickens with your own hands

When keeping a small flock on a private farm, it is enough to build a chicken coop for 10 chickens with your own hands. When carrying out construction work, you need to take into account a number of features so that the building is comfortable and convenient for birds.

Technical features of a chicken coop for 10 chickens

Before you start building a poultry house, you need to decide on the technical characteristics. To do this, you should assess the availability of free space on the site and identify the purpose of breeding laying hens - obtaining fresh eggs for consumption or further sale in large volumes.

Optimal sizes and area

Particular attention should be paid to calculating the dimensions of the room. If chickens are kept in cramped conditions, this will negatively affect their productivity. As a rule, one free square is enough for three laying hens. For 10 chickens, a room with an aspect ratio of 2 x 2 m is enough. If you want to increase the number of birds in the future, you need to expand the chicken coop in proportion to the number of birds. You need to decide on the specific dimensions of the room at the project preparation stage, not forgetting to take into account the presence of a courtyard area for walking. The minimum dimensions of an outdoor enclosure are 2 x 6 m.

Blueprints

The initial stage of construction is the preparation of drawings. The diagram indicates the dimensions of the structure, location on the site and materials used. To create comfortable conditions for laying hens, you also need to provide for the internal arrangement of the chicken coop.

What is the difference between summer and winter construction?

The summer design is simple to implement and relatively inexpensive. Construction will require a minimum amount of building materials and basic construction skills.

A distinctive feature of a summer poultry house is the absence of a foundation, since such chicken coops are built for additional protection of laying hens from rodents and predators.

The winter poultry house must be provided with a foundation.In order to maintain heat inside the house during the winter, it is recommended to install an additional vestibule in front of the main entrance to the poultry house. The internal arrangement of a winter and summer chicken coop should include a standard list of amenities - lighting, ventilation, heating devices, comfortable nests and flooring.

Where to place it?

A light hill, protected from through blowing, is suitable for placing the poultry house. It is advisable to choose the south side of the site so that the chickens get more natural light. You should not build a chicken coop in low-lying areas, since rain will wash away chicken droppings, which will lead to its spread throughout the area and the transfer of infections. The distance from the premises to the border of the site should be 4 m.

Necessary tools and materials for construction

When starting construction, you need to prepare a standard set of tools. Materials for constructing a poultry house depend on the intended use. The summer variety can be built from plywood and boards. Winter chicken coop It is allowed to be made from the same materials and additionally use a thermal insulation layer. Polystyrene foam and mineral wool are suitable as insulation.

Construction stages

It is recommended to carry out construction in stages, following the instructions. To build a reliable and durable structure, you need to adhere to standard norms and rules.

Foundation

The basis of the building is the foundation. For a poultry house for 10 chickens, you can choose any type of foundation, but columnar and strip foundations are most suitable. Depending on the type, the order of work is determined.

Columnar

Preparation of a columnar foundation begins with marking the territory.To mark the location of the corners, you need to drive pegs into the ground and wrap a rope around the perimeter. Then you need to do the following:

1. Remove the top layer of soil 20-30 cm thick with a shovel.
2. Dig holes 0.5 m deep for each foundation pillar. The pillars should be placed at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other.
3. Erect the pillars so that they rise 20-30 cm above the ground.
4. Lay roofing material, strapping and logs on the surface of the posts. To protect the base from rotting, it is recommended to use a double layer of roofing felt.

Tape

The construction of a strip foundation is the simplest option. To do this you need:

1. Dig a hole 30 cm deep, the sides of which will exceed the dimensions of the poultry house by 20-30 cm.
2. Compact the soil and arrange a cushion of crushed stone 10-15 cm thick.
3. Place the formwork on the crushed stone bed and lay a layer of waterproofing material.

Making the floor

It is advisable to arrange a plank surface as a floor, on which soft flooring will subsequently be located. The basis of the floor is a timber sheathing on which boards are hemmed. For the purpose of high-quality insulation, sheathing with boards can be done on both sides.

Walling

To build walls, you can use wooden beams or bricks. It is best to give preference to beams, since in this case additional insulation of the chicken coop will not be required. The process of building walls requires:

1. Install a supporting frame using wooden beams. The cross-section of the timber should be from 5 cm.
2. Cover the formed frame of the poultry house with lumber. During sheathing, insulation must be laid between the layers.
3. Fill existing voids in the outer and inner cladding with thermal insulation material.

To ensure protection from rodents, it is not allowed to leave gaps in the walls of the structure. For reliability, it is recommended to fence the house with slate, digging it into the ground so that about 30 cm remains above the surface.

Ceiling and roof

The upper part of the poultry house can be arranged in several ways. The height of the chicken coop during the construction of the ceiling and roof is determined depending on whether it will be necessary to go inside.

No overlap

If the chicken coop is without a ceiling, the walls are left at a level of 1.4-1.5 m, and the roof is made gable, raising the ridge to 2 m. This will allow free movement in the central part and at the same time save money on roofing material.

On poles

When constructing a chicken coop on poles, the roof is made at a height of 1.8-2 m. For the birds to enter, an inclined path of boards with thin perches fixed every 10 cm is additionally equipped.

Wall cladding and insulation

Work on insulation and wall cladding is carried out to protect the premises from through blowing, frost and other external influences. To sheathe a building, you can use different materials that differ in technical parameters.

Mineral wool

Insulation with mineral wool is carried out when constructing a poultry house according to the frame principle. The frame is sheathed from the outside, laying an insulating layer under the main material. A ventilation space of 2-3 cm is left between the insulation and the outer skin. To insulate the chicken coop, it is better to use hard or semi-rigid cotton wool, cut it into pieces of suitable length and insert it into the spacer between the posts.

Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam

If the chicken coop is built according to the frame principle, the material is laid between the posts by analogy with mineral wool. Polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam is cut with a saw and fixed with polyurethane foam. To keep the insulation securely in place, strips are installed along the racks on both sides. The material can be laid both from the street and directly from the premises.

Interior arrangement of the chicken coop

Inside the poultry house it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for keeping chickens. Straw or hay is laid on the floor as soft flooring. It is also necessary to provide for a sufficient number of perches, feeders, drinking bowls, lighting and heating devices.

Walking yard

A walking yard needs to be built next to the building. The opportunity to periodically be outdoors has a positive effect on the development and productivity of birds. If possible, the walking yard should be located in an area covered with grass. The yard is surrounded by a fence, and a mesh is placed on top to protect it from birds of prey and rodents.