Important Things To Remember

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when building or purchasing a prefabricated chicken coop.  Usually, the builders of prefabricated coops have taken all of the necessary things in consideration while building the coops.  There are so many types of coops to choose from, though, that you still may need to choose the right type if you are purchasing a pre-built one.  If you are building your own coop, then you need to be sure you have built it to meet these important standards listed below.

The most important thing to remember would be that the coop is completely vermin-proof.  This includes dogs, cats, and even snakes.  The most common way owners loose their chickens is   due to predators.  Be sure that all openings in the coop are no bigger than an inch in diameter.  The smaller the openings, the better.

Also, you want to be sure that the coop is weather resistant.  First of all, you want your coop placed on high ground that does not flood.  If you are building your coop, you can choose to build it up off of the ground using 1 x 6" boards for the bottom frame, if high ground that does not flood isn't available.  Or, if purchasing a pre-built coop and there is no flood-free space, be sure to choose one that is built this way.  Second, if building yourself, be sure the roof does not leak and that it sticks out away from the outside walls at least one foot on all sides.  Be sure that the outer walls are solid and made with naturally weather resistant wood or treated wood.

You want to remember to make the coop easily accessible to the chicken as well as  yourself.  For the chickens, you need a small door near the ground or if you would prefer, higher up with a chicken acessible ladder leading to the door.  If your chickens are free-range,  be sure to have a door that can close up for the night.  Also, depending on the type of plans you choose, you may need to have a door big enough for you to fit through.  You will need to have access to clean out the coop and egg boxes and to collect the eggs, if you have laying hens.

A few other things to remember are that the coop needs to be well ventilated, the more windows,  the better, and be sure to include an area in the coop where the chickens can roost up off of the ground.  Finally,remember to build your coop in a mostly shaded area.  This is another way to help keep the chickens cool in the hot summer months.

Following these very important details will ensure that your chickens remain safe, comfortable and happy.  In return, you will have peace of mind for your flock and continually receive top-notch produce.