Build A Chicken Coop Easy

Archive for December, 2009

If you hope to breed chickens, you will obviously need the help of a rooster. It may be that you already have a rooster in your flock, but, if not, you will need to acquire one for the purposes of breeding.

When searching for the right rooster, you should look for one with a good temperament. Ideally, your rooster of choice will be the same breed as your hens. If you’re looking for a rooster to breed with, but not keep long-term, and don’t know where to look, try talking to other chicken owners in your area or search the internet for local breeders.

Once you have found the right bird for the job, all you need to do is leave him with your girls for a few days and let nature take its course.

On the other hand, if you plan to welcome a rooster into your flock as a permanent fixture, then here are some things you might like to know about the male of the species.

• Roosters are usually very chivalrous animals, they will protect the hens from predators if necessary, and they will share any tasty morsel that they find with the girls.
• Usually, roosters require the same basic care that their female counterparts need. However, there are some ways in which the rooster’s needs may differ from those of the hens.
• For example, you will need to keep an eye on the rooster’s spurs, if they become too long, they will cause great discomfort, so you may need to trim them from time to time.
• Before welcoming a rooster into your flock, bear in mind that there is no way to prevent him from crowing. Subsequently, if you live in a town or city, where your neighbors are likely to complain about the noise, it is perhaps best not to own a rooster.
• Roosters need company, typically, it is best to provide him with the company of hens rather than a fellow rooster, as rivalry may lead to aggression.
• Even if they do not have a rival, roosters can become aggressive with other birds in the flock or humans. Therefore, it is a good idea to handle your rooster while he is small and to reprimand him when necessary. Usually, chasing the rooster is enough to show him who’s boss.
• During the winter, a rooster’s comb and wattle are susceptible to frostbite. So it is a good idea to insulate your coop and keep all of your birds as warm as possible during the coldest months.

These are just a few of the things that you may like to consider before bringing a rooster into your flock, so it is advisable to do some homework. However, bear in mind that a rooster can be a wonderful addition, even if he is a little noisy!

Chickens’ needs are relatively simple; the term ‘chicken feed’ is not used as a common colloquialism for nothing. However, if you are new to chicken rearing, then there may be some things that you should learn about a chicken’s nutritional requirements.

It is possible for chickens to survive on scraps of ‘human food’. However, if you want your birds to be healthy and produce good quality eggs, then chickens must get the nutrition that the require. That said, I must stress that the food that a chicken requires to remain healthy is really very simple. In this article, I will discuss some of the basic rules to keeping chickens healthy with the right diet.

The three things that chickens need are:

• Grains
• Greens
• Protein

Yes, that really is it. Grain is, obviously, easy to get hold of and feed to your birds. However, you may like to bear in mind that living grains are healthier than cracked and a mixture of grains is typically better for your birds than a simple corn feed.

In the spring and summer, it is extremely easy to ensure that your chickens are getting enough greens, because they are constantly pecking the grass. During the autumn and winter, or if you feel that you birds are not getting enough grass, you can offer them weeds and/or fresh vegetable leftovers from your kitchen.

As far as protein is concerned, for the majority of the time, chickens will acquire their own protein through eating small bugs that can be found in the grass. However, over the winter, when bugs are not so prevalent, you may need to provide your birds with a protein supplement. For example, soya, milk, sea fish, meat and worms are all excellent sources of protein.

If your birds are free range, that is all they need with the exception of a fresh supply of water. On the other hand, if your birds are kept in a coop they will need some extra nutrients to ensure their health and wellbeing.

If your birds are not free range, consider also supplying them with:

• Grit (not to be confused with oyster shell or calcium)
• Calcium
• Vitamins A and D
• Salt (best offered as kelp, as it provides all necessary minerals)

In terms of how to feed chickens, it is wise to bear in mind that they will not venture far to find food or water. Remember, when laying, they will need plenty of water and food, so ensure that both are positioned close to the entrance of their coop.

Have you ever thought about rearing chickens? If so, you are not alone. Owning chickens, even in towns and cities, is becoming more and more popular. So, I want to share some of my own experiences in raising chickens. I hope that these three tips will help you to avoid some of the mistakes I made.

1. Make sure that your chicken coop is made from good quality materials.It can be tempting to purchase bargain equipment when building your first chicken coop. However, I found that skimping on materials meant extra expenditure in the end, because a coop built with low quality material will not stand up to rough weather. Within a couple of weeks, I had to go back to the drawing board and construct a house for my birds. Obviously, not only is this a terrible waste of money, but my chickens were vulnerable until the second coop was constructed. Therefore, I would encourage anybody building his or her first coop to get it right first time round. Make sure you have the correct tools and equipment for the job.
2. Keep your birds safe from foxes and other predators. Living in a busy town, I erroneously believed that my birds were not in any danger from predators. How wrong I was. I lost half of my flock one night to a fox. All chicken owners should be aware of the danger to their animal regardless of their locale. Foxes and other predators are common in towns and cities, so your birds are never free from danger. Bear in mind that most predators will climb and even dig to get to your chickens. So your chicken run and coop needs to be completely predator proof. Additionally, you may find it useful to place your chickens’ house as close to your own home as possible, which will discourage some predators and you stand a better chance of hearing your birds’ distress.
3. Consider the possibility of growth. Before building a coop or chicken run, you may like to consider the possibility of expanding your flock. Extending your run and your coop may not be very difficult in of itself, but you will want to make sure that you have left enough room to make extensions. When building my coop, I did consider adding to my flock, but I did not think it through properly. Subsequently, when it came time to enlarge my chicken coop, I had to move the whole construction to make room for the additions.

These are just a few of the things that I would encourage first-time chicken owners to consider before purchasing the birds or building the coop. However, there are many more things that you should bear in mind, so it is always a good idea to do your homework.

Rearing chickens is a relatively easy process. However, if you’re breeding chickens for the very first time, you may need some advice on how to care for your baby chicks. This article discusses some of the basics of caring for chicks.

• Food

  In the first eight weeks of your chicks’ life, you should feed them with a chick starter feed, which can be purchased from most good pet or livestock suppliers. When the chicks first hatch, they may find it difficult to locate food, so it is a good idea to place a sprinkle of the starter feed onto a piece of cardboard that you should situate close to the chicks. After a few days, you can start to place the food into troughs, but ensure that the food is low enough for the chicks to see and easy for them to reach. As a rule, you will need a 2ft feeder per 50 chicks.

  It is always advisable to ensure that your chicks never run out of food, because they will eat consistently throughout the day and night. You may find it helpful to offer your chicks some finely chopped boiled egg yolk, as this encourages them to eat and provides many essential nutrients. A diet of starter or grower feed should be the main source of nutrition for the first 3 to 4 months.

• Water

  Like food, it is important to ensure that your chicks have a constant supply of water. If purchasing a chick water bottle, you will need a one-gallon container for 50 chicks. Some owners recommend placing three tablespoons of sugar into a quart of water for the first 2 days. This provides the youngsters with extra energy. It is also advisable to offer your newly hatched chicks lukewarm water rather than cold. Keep an eye on your chicks in the first few days to ensure that they are drinking, most fatalities during the early stages are due to dehydration.

• Heat

  Keeping your baby chicks warm is very important to their health. During the first week, the temperature should be kept between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, a 250-watt bulb will do the trick, but you may need to use more lamps to reach the correct temperature. However, it is advisable to make sure that any lamps you use are not too close to the chicks or their enclosure.

  Because the temperature is vital to the birds’ survival, it is wise to keep a thermometer in their pen so that you can monitor potential fluctuations. The general rule is to gradually lower the temperature by 1 degree per week, until you reach 70 degrees, by which time your birds should be strong enough to survive without the extra warmth.

  Although caring for chicks is not complex, it is wise to do some research and ensure that you have all the necessary equipment. Good luck!

If you own chickens, no matter where you live, your birds are under constant threat from predators. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security, believing that foxes and other animals will not pose a threat, because you live in a town or city.

No matter where you are, carnivorous animals will be attracted to your garden or yard by your birds. Subsequently, it is vital for chicken owners to do all they can to predator proof their chicken run and coop. Here are a few tips on how to protect your birds from a predatory attack.

• Ensure All Fencing is Secure
  

  It is a good idea to use robust wire when constructing your chicken run or fencing around the coop. Make sure that there are no gaps, regardless of how small they may be. Remember, foxes and similar animals are very wily and if there is any way for them to enter your chickens’ enclosure, they will find it.

• A Chicken Runs Needs a Roof
  

  Predators are also very persistent and have no problem climbing a wire fence. Subsequently, all chicken runs should have a wire roof to prevent an animal from climbing into your chickens’ home.

• Predators May Also Tunnel
  

  Yes, like the Great Escape, foxes and other animals will dig underneath a fence to gain entry. Therefore, it is recommended that all chicken owners bury a 3ft wide section of wire in the ground surrounding the chickens’ enclosure. Bear in mind that once the wire is in position, turf can cover it, so it need not be an eyesore.

• Think About the Location of Your Chicken Coop
  

  Many chicken owners find that placing the chickens’ house closer to their own home helps to deter predators. Partly, this is because many animals will be reluctant to approach an area that is near humans, but it also means that if your chickens are in danger, you are likely to hear their calls of distress.

• Be Sure to Secure Your Birds at Night
  

  Obviously, your chickens are most susceptible to an attack at night, although predators can strike during the day too. It is strongly advised that chicken owners check that no doors or windows in the coop are left open over night. It is not possible to prevent predators approaching your property, but it is possible to ensure that your chickens are as safe as possible.

  Predators can cause utter devastation to a flock of chickens. Many of them will kill for sport, not just for a meal. Therefore, one fox can kill every bird in your flock. Subsequently, all chicken owners should take measures to ensure the safety of their birds.