Also you must make sure that the chicken coop you purchase is going to be one that will keep your poultry safe.  But is also one that ensures that they remain healthy and happy whilst they reside in it.  Below we offer a few guidelines on what to be looking for when it comes to purchasing a chicken coop.

1. When looking at chicken coops for sale you need to first decide whether you want one that stands on the ground, one that can be moved around or one that is raised off the ground.  Certainly if space is limited then one that sits above the ground would be more suitable.

2. The next thing you need to look at is what sort of protection the coop is going to provide your chickens with.  Ideally look for those which offer the most protection not just from the weather but also from predators, such as foxes, rodents and even dogs.

Ideally you want chicken coops that have sufficient numbers of windows and doors on them to allow light and air in during the day but which can be closed to keep the poultry safe at night.  Also look for those coops that including heavy gauge mesh wire on the windows and doors as this will prevent predators from having easy access to your chickens.

3. It is important that the chicken coop you purchase is one that has plenty of air vents in it so that when kept inside the chickens are still receiving plenty of fresh air and oxygen.  It is advisable that you have ventilation holes dotted around the coop and again are covered with heavy gauge metal mesh to prevent predators from getting in.

But not only will the correct sort of ventilation ensure that your chickens are getting plenty of fresh air it also prevents the build up of ammonia in the coop.  If ammonia along with damp are allowed to build up this can seriously affect the health of your chickens and also cause the walls of the coop to rot.

Above we have offered a few guidelines to help you when working your way through the many adverts you see for chicken coops for sale.  If you keep these things in mind then you are sure to find a chicken coop that not only meets your particular requirements, but also suits your budget.

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When it comes to finding plans to build your own chicken coop the internet is a great place to look. As you will soon discover there are myriads of sites that have these documents available for you to then use once you find the one you like the most.

But as mentioned above there are certain things that one needs to take into consideration in order to determine which of the chicken coop plans available is right for you. Below we take a look at just what some of these considerations are.

1. How Many Chickens Do You Intend To Keep?

If you are intending only to keep a small flock say of 4 to 5 chickens then one of the square small based coops should be sufficient to meet your needs. However, you still must make sure that when you look at various plans to build your own you go for the ones that provide each hen with around 3 to 4 square feet of space so that they can move around easily without keeping walking into each other.

2. What Is The Weather Like Where You Live?

As well as making sure that the plans allow you to provide enough room for each chicken that will be housed in it. You must also make sure that the plans allow you to make yours from materials which provide plenty of protection to the chickens from the elements along with predators. Certainly if you live in an area where the wind is strong then make sure that the coop is constructed from heavy weight materials and include if you can some sort of tarp that can be rolled down to provide further protection from the elements.

3. How Are You Going To Keep The Chicken Coop Clean?

Although you may find chicken coop plans where the cleaning is done through removing the roof this can cause some upset to your chickens. It is much better if you choose plans that result in a catch basin being situated beneath the floor of the coop and where all waste produced by the chickens inside is caught. You then just need to simply pull away the basin to then clean out the mess that your chickens have created.

4. How To Protect Your Chickens From Predators?

It isn’t just the much larger predators such as dogs, foxes or cats that you need to concern yourself with. Even the much smaller ones such as rats can cause problems for your chickens when in the coop. So make sure that the chicken coop plans you choose are ones that offer protection not only over the doors, windows and vents but through the floor as well. If you can choose coops which are either placed on to solid foundations or that are raised off the ground.

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Although there are plenty of chicken coops that you can purchase which are portable, it may prove a lot less expensive to build your own.  It also provides you with the opportunity to allow your family to get more involved in this new project.

There are certain benefits to be gained from also installing a portable chicken coop in one’s garden.  Below we take a look at just what these are:-

1. It means that the chickens won’t damage the look of your garden as they won’t spend all their time tearing up the area in which they are situated to find tasty morsels to eat.

2. If you want to provide ample protection for your chickens at night from unknown predators including the neighbour’s dog or cat you can move the coop indoors.  So you can place them inside a garage or shed at night.

3. Cleaning up after the chickens is very easy to do as once you have moved the portable chicken coop to a new part of the garden.  The area of the garden where they were previously can be cleaned in a matter of minutes without having to worry about the chickens getting under your feet as you do the work.

4. Finally because they are a temporary structure and if you find that you are not enjoying keeping chickens then getting rid of a portable chicken coop will prove a lot easier.  But in many cases owners of such coops tend to upgrade to a more permanent structure in the future.

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Generally what you will find with chicken coop kits is that they come with a house in which the birds can perch.  Also inside these you will find nesting boxes that can be removed and the roof opens allow you easy access to collect the eggs.  Plus many will also come with an area that is attached and secure where your chickens can wander around.

Another great thing about these kits is that they come with the equipment to feed and water your chickens as well.  Along with the right sorts of foods that you should be providing your chickens to help them remain healthy and which will ensure that they lay good quality eggs for you.

However, before you can start constructing your chicken coop there are a number of things that you should be thinking about.  In this article we take a look at just what some of the things are.

1. Location In The Garden – It is important that you ensure that place the coop in a position within the garden that allows sufficient amounts of natural sunlight to permeate into it.  Too much or too little sunlight on to the coop can not only effective the health of your chickens but also how many eggs they produce.  You may not also realize it but the levels of sunlight that the chickens are getting on a daily basis will also affect the quality of the eggs if any your chickens lay.

2. Garden Size – This is crucial because you may find that anything that takes up more than 50% of your garden may require you to seek planning permission from your local authority.  Certainly for a small garden you are better off going for a chicken coop that can house 2 to 3 small to medium birds only.

3. Number of Chickens You Want To Keep – As you will soon discover there are plenty of different chicken breeds one can keep in chicken coop kits after they have been constructed.  However, you must make sure that you don’t keep too many chickens in the coop you have.  Each chicken you keep in the coop should be provided with at least 2 sq ft of space each.  However, the larger the chicken then the more space they will need.

Only when you have taken into consideration the above matters can you then determine what size of the various chicken coop kits is suitable for you.  If you are unsure what coops are best then a quick search online and you will find lots of advice and information that can help you to make a more informed decision.  Remember the happier and healthier your chickens are the better quality eggs they are going to produce.

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1. Protection – There are many hazardous that you will need to protect your chickens from.  Not only do we mean inclement weather but predators as well.  Certainly foxes are known to be partial to not just taking one chicken from a coop but several when the fancy takes them.

Therefore to protect your feathered friends you need chicken coop designs that allow you to open doors and windows when required.  Also it is advisable that you ensure that the windows along with the doors have the correct screening systems with them.  Ideally these screens should be made from heavy gauge mesh wire which no animal can then chew through.

2. Ventilation – There are going to be times when your chickens will need to remain inside the coop, say when the weather is bad or at night and just like us they need plenty of oxygen and fresh air.  Therefore around the walls you need to have air holes through which such fresh air can flow and which can help to get rid of any carbon dioxide building up inside the coop along with any additional moisture.

But along with proper ventilation you need to make sure that the walls are well insulated to keep your chickens warm and dry during any cold weather.  You may not realize it but cold weather can cause serious health issues for your chickens if they aren’t kept warm.

3. Light – You need plenty of light to be able to get into the chicken coop if you want your chickens to lay plenty of eggs for you throughout the year.  Plus this light source will also provide your chickens with additional warmth throughout the winter months.  Ideally the chicken coop designs which are best are those where the light source installed is at a height where not only it illuminates the coop effectively but keeps the chickens warm.    How many lights you install in your coop will depend on the size of it.

As mentioned when it comes to deciding which chicken coop designs will be best for you, then it is vital that you keep the above mentioned in mind.   But it is also important that you select the right materials from which you construct your chicken coop after deciding what design to go with.  Use those that allow you to clean, disinfect and maintain the coop easily.

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