Archive for January, 2010
Build a Chicken Coop Like a Real Farmer Would!
If you need to know how to build a chicken coop then you’ve come to the right place and that is for sure!
I grew up on a farm and building different items was just something we did. If you want to house animals you will need a good quality barn or chicken coop, whatever the case maybe. In this case I’ll be talking about how to build a chicken coop easy.
If you are not a good carpenter already, you will need to get a high quality manual.
There are plenty of them on the internet. The thing is not all of these manuals are high quality, matter of fact some are just plain ole junk.
You will need to build your chicken coop properly or it can kill your chickens
and cause a whole bunch of problems that are all completely avoidable if you know what you’re doing to begin with.
Not just anybody can write a how to build a chicken coop manual because not everybody has the experience building one. Not only did I build several of them but I know the in’s and out’s because when you raise chickens in the pens you have built you learn a lot.
This is what separates me from them. I know what works the best. I know how chickens behave in any kind of conditions.
What you want is the chicken coop to last you for years with little to no maintenance
and that is user friendly as well. What you do not want to do is buy one of those cheap guides written by somebody who does not know what they’re talking about. You will be just looking at a bunch of unnecessary problems down the road.
If you need to build your chicken coop, get this guide. It will save you many hours of time and trouble. It is hands down the best of the best guides available.
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How to Avoid Chicken Snake Problems
One of the best ways to keep chicken snakes away from your birds is by making the area surrounding your hen house unattractive to them. Please bear in mind that these snakes are not out to eat your chickens, but they will make off with as many eggs as they can eat.
It is important to keep the grass mowed and not collect any clutter to avoid chicken snake problems. These snakes will hide under woodpiles, cardboard and sheet metal, in fact anything they can crawl into or under.
If you are reading this article then it is likely that you may have a problem with snakes and if you have a snake problem, there is usually a good food supply, so this may indicate a rodent problem.
The Texas Rat Snake is also known as the “chicken snake” because it so enjoys the contents of a chicken coop, but it follows the food supply and rats, chickens, birds nest are all good indicators that this snake has come to know and love.
Virtually any rodent eating snake has become to be known by the term “chicken snake” because of its fondness for eggs and this includes species such as the Great Plains rat snake, King snakes and Corn snakes of all varieties.
They are actually completely harmless and non-venomous; they do good by eating a lot of rodents, but will also eat baby chickens as well as your daily supply of fresh eggs.
The fact that they are great for killing rodents is one thing, but it is a horrible thought that you might be reaching into a bag of feed one day; innocently going about feeding your chickens and you find a six foot snake curled up sleeping in there.
My mother always kills them because she says, “now I know where they are” but I have never been able to kill them and always have someone relocate them for me.
Some people sue golf balls to kill them and they will leave this in the chicken nests, a snake cannot digest or pass a golf ball and death comes to them pretty quickly. But if you prefer prevention rather than cure get some moth balls.
This is the same as buying “snake away” only cheaper and it works just as good. Moth balls or crystals can be sprinkled in the area around the coop and it is supposed to keep snakes away as they don’t like the smell.
Short of keeping a secretary bird or mongoose on the property I am not sure that there is much else that can be done to keep your chicken eggs safe. Getting rid of the rat problem will also help.
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Chicken and Egg Predators aka – Snakes
Protecting your chickens from predators should begin first with a great offense. The first thing which you must do is removing hiding spots for predators around or in your chicken coops. Ensure that you mow the grass and cut back any shrubs which are around your chicken coops.
You want to remove any places where predators can lurk or hide when they decide they want your chickens for dinner or an early morning snack. If you take care of all the ways a predator can move in, you do not have to worry about getting them to move out. The best offense in keeping out predators from your chicken coops is keeping the coops nice and neat.
Most of the chicken predators do not enjoy traveling across wide-open spaces therefore; clearing out the berth around your chicken coops will be a wonderful deterrent. Chicken predators will more times to none go to great lengths in trying to get your chickens.
If you have a fence, submerge minimally two feet of plywood along the edge of the chicken coops to keep out the chicken predators. If you are on a budget, utilize sturdy wire. No matter what you utilize, make sure it’s stable and sturdy while attaching it to the fence posts with cables or nails.
I want to touch on the topic of snakes who like to prey upon your chickens. Snakes will prey on chicken eggs primarily therefore, when you go out to collect eggs or merely taking a look at your chickens, you might find an egg snake or what is commonly called a chicken snake eating the eggs.
Please be careful because sometimes these snakes can turn out to be rattle snakes which depends on what geographic location you live in. Some of these snakes are rattlesnakes or possibly other venomous breeds of snakes. These types of snakes not only pose a threat to your chickens but you.
Snakes are very much typical when you live in an area which is surrounded by woodlands. You will know a snake has struck in your chicken coops when you begin missing eggs or you begin finding egg shells lying around in your chicken coop. Chicken snakes are the most common predator of chicken eggs.
They usually appear black in color and can be very long in length. These snakes are great for catching rodents and keeping your garden cleared out however, they enjoy the delectable taste of chicken eggs and they pose a serious threat to your egg supply.
Chicken and Egg Predators aka – Raccoon
Keeping your chickens safe from predators is a concern all chicken owners have. You must understand that humans are not the only species which enjoy the delectable taste of chicken. Your chicken coop design must be as such to keep out chicken predators. Your chicken coop should be built with your chicken’s safety in mind which is why you must build your coop solidly.
Predators want your chickens
There are numerous types of predators who want to kill your chickens. The kinds of predators who will target your chickens greatly depend on the area which you live. The predator I want to touch upon in this article is the raccoon.
Raccoons are very smart animals
Raccoons are masked bandits who are sly and very capable of preying on your chickens. They contain an opposable thumb and they have and can prove to be quite the burglars. Raccoons are very smart and figure out how gadgets work. They can figure out how to open a latch or door. If you have raccoons in your area, then you need to install a door which would prove complicated for Raccoons to enter.
Look into complicated latches and locks for your chicken coops
Try installing a more complicated latch on the door to your chicken coop or you can place a lock on the chicken coop. Every added protection you can give to your chicken coop with Raccoons would prove useful in keeping these bandits out.
Raccoons like to carry off your chickens and chicken eggs
If a raccoon gains entry into your chicken coop, they will typically kill many of your chickens. Most of the time after a raccoon attack; you will find bodies of your chickens still inside the chicken coop because the raccoon more than likely had problems carrying your chickens away. Raccoons usually kill chickens by ripping in their necks with their teeth.
Summary
Raccoons will rip open the necks of chickens while eating at the crop and have even been known to rip the breast open and eat that part of the chicken as well. You must always protect your eggs from Raccoons. Chicken eggs are a delicacy for this animal and they are very much capable of carrying many eggs at a time where they store them and eat them at their leisure.
Chicken and Egg Predators aka – Opossums
As a responsible business owner and chicken owner, you should be concerned about chicken predators. There are predators which enjoy the taste of your chickens and they will attempt virtually almost anything in obtaining your chickens. Your chicken coop design must consist of a safe design in protecting your chickens from predators.
Construct your chicken coop with safety for your chickens in mind
The safety of your chickens should be the focus of any design which you create for your chicken coop. Numerous predators want to kill your chickens. The type of predators largely depends on where you live. The predator I want to touch upon is the opossum.
You do not want these marsupials in your chicken coop
The opossum or sometimes commonly titled “possum” can wreak a lot of havoc on your chickens if they gain entrance into your chicken coop. This predator is the only marsupial in North America.
Pay attention to small openings in the chicken coop
Opossums will gain access to your chicken coop usually through small openings. The goal of the opossum is primarily the chicken eggs. This predator will also target baby chickens. It is rare but opossum’s have also been known to attack adult birds.
Opossum’s enjoy eggs and baby chickens
More times to none, opossums will go for chicken eggs and baby chickens. If they do attack adults, they will usually bite the necks of the adult birds and tear at the abdomen area of the chicken.
Summary
You will know an opossum attacked your chickens when you find dead chickens in the chicken coop. Not unlike the raccoon, opossum’s have trouble getting their victims and spoils out of the chicken coop.