A Chicken House Where Should One Place It Once Its Been Purchased?

Before you purchase a hen coop from us, we recommend that you decide exactly where best to locate your coop. While our chicken coops aren�t massively heavy, and can be moved, it�s probably wise to find a place that is somewhat permanent. So where is the ideal place for your hen house? Keep reading and learn.

Give Your Chickens Proper Protection

Even though our poultry houses are well made and offer adequate protection for your flock its does not hurt to choose a location in the plot that will add extra protection from the elements. The best place is one where your coop is out of any strong prevailing winds so there are no drafts..

You also want to make sure that your hen coops also get enough ventilation, as clean area is also a essential factor to your hen�s health. Its a fine balance between too much and too little.. You also want your coop to be sited on a well drained area, because during the winter or whenever it rains, having puddles of water and soggy condition can cause disease and can also lead to your poultry house rotting.

Give Your Hens Enough Light

By locating the windows of the coop in a southerly direction this help ensure that your chickens are keep warm and your coop well light during the day.

Prevent Predator Problems

Unfortunately, predators like foxes can kill your hens or at least cause a large amount of stress so you may want to position your hen house in an area that is easy to keep an eye on.

Obviously you can�t keep watch 24/7 but having your hens nearer to the house may deter some of these predators. You can also build a fence around your coop to give your chickens even more protection, or even consider locating your hen house near you dog�s kennel, if you have one.

How Much Space Is Enough?

This is a common question. Many people overcrowd their coop trying to follow manufacturers inflated guides. You should give your hens a fair amount of space.. This can be done simply by reducing the number of hens you actually keep inside your coop. Chickens are social animals so remember to keep at least two, but try not to overcrowd as this can lead to problems. Remember if you have a small breed of chicken , like a Bantam then 2 square foot per bird should be considered the minimum. If your flock of hens is made up of larger breeds, then work on a 4 square foot per chicken ratio.

Water and Feed Availability

Your hens will need a regular supply of food and water that is easily accessible. By keeping the water feeders away from the inside of the coop you keep humidity down. Don�t forget to position food and water feeders at the right height, so that your hens don�t have to struggle to get food and water.

Good Ventilation Is Vital

As mentioned before ventilation is very important if you want to successfully keep chickens in your backyard. Damp and stuffy conditions will lead to a build up of ammonia and carbon dioxide. Hens breathe at a very fast rate and bad ventilation is a common cause of death in novices. Try locating your poultry houses air vents away from prevailing winds so you keep drafts to a minimum, which is a good thing.

If you follow this advice you are well on your way to raising healthy chickens at home and having a steady supply of food as well.