If you are new to keeping chickens, it can be very confusing when reading all the conflicting ideas and advice given out. To try and help you and make the whole experience enjoyable and rewarding we have listed our 7 top tips to help you out.
1.How Many Chickens Should I Keep?
DEFRA-the Dept for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-recommend that you should allow one square foot per bird and 8 square inches per bantam. Obviously these are guidelines only and generally the more space you can provide, the happier-and normally more productive- your chickens will be. For the comfort of your birds and to prevent health problems we would suggest you work on about 2 square feet per bird when choosing your coop. About 3 feet of headspace is also preferable.
2.Costs.
We all need to watch the pennies these days but do bear in mind that buying your chicken house will hopefully be a long term investment so do look at the 'overall' package being offered. The traditional wooden coops are generally cheaper than the newer recycled plastic models but they will require regular maintenance treatment over the years whereas the plastic coops could be expected to last in excess of 15-20 years. Also ensure that items like perches, runs and nesting boxes are included in the price and not considered extras.
3. Keeping Things Clean
As it is essential that your chicken coop is cleaned on a regular basis, thus keeping your birds in good condition and healthy, you need to look for features on your coop that will make the job as easy and efficient as possible. Ease of access to the various parts of the coop will also make life so much easier. The plastic models definitely have the upper hand here. They don't have the difficult to access sharp corners of the traditional wooden coops and the plastic material is that much easier to wash down and clean.
4.Ventilation
This is another very important feature to consider when purchasing your coop. Due to the high level of ammonia in the chickens droppings the air inside the hen house can become toxic which will soon lead to respiratory problems for your birds. Make sure the coop has an adequate ventilation system preferably towards the top of the coop to cut down on direct draughts which your chickens will not appreciate. Many coops nowadays have adjustable ventilation which can be a good idea in our changeable weather conditions.
5. Safety and Security.
Besides foxes, badgers, rats and birds of prey, even some cats and dogs can be a threat to the welfare of your chickens. Check the integrity of your chicken houses and coops ensuring that locks are in place where relevant and the wire to the run is all heavy duty and well secured. Make sure the bottom strands of the run are securely fixed into the ground to prevent any predator digging its way into your coop.
6. The Weather.
Because of the varying weather conditions here in the U.K you need to ensure that your coop is as weatherproof as possible so that your birds are well protected from high winds, rain and even snow! In summer they will also need protection from the hot sun. Plastic coops will certainly outlast the wooden models which will also need fairly regular treatment with a wood preservative to extend their life. Some of the roofs on the wooden coops have a bitumen felt waterproof membrane which may also require maintenance at some stage.
7.Layout and Design.
Although maybe not as important as the other factors covered you are going to want a coop that is well designed and aesthetically pleasing, especially if this is housed in your back garden! These days many of the coops are purchased in flat pack form and you don't want to be involved in a long and complicated erection process. Check out reviews from other customers that have purchased a similar coop first to help you make this a stress free process.
Every month hundreds of people make the decision to start keeping chickens at home.When thinking of getting a chicken coop for your birds take a look at our website at http://www.chickencoopsdirect.com.
Here you will find a wide range of quality wooden and plastic chicken houses including detailed descriptions,photos and customer reviews to help you get started.
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