Polycarbonate chicken coop: how to build your own hands, rules for keeping birds

Chicken coop made of polycarbonate sheets allows you to keep poultry at low temperatures. For construction, special blocks are often used that facilitate the construction process. Such a building has a large number of advantages that must be considered.

Advantages and disadvantages of keeping chickens in a greenhouse in winter

Before building a polycarbonate chicken coop, you must consider the advantages and disadvantages of building.

DisadvantagesMaterial is light, so you can build it yourself without helpScratches often Affordable material.However, despite this criterion, polycarbonate is durable and will last for a long time does not break down under the influence of low temperatures

Advantages

Before starting to build a chicken coop, it is important to first assess the possible difficulties.

Arrangement of a greenhouse for a chicken coop

Polycarbonate is used to create a greenhouse. Often a greenhouse acts as a house for chickens. In order to make a chicken coop out of a greenhouse, it is important to observe some structural features and install all the necessary details.

Using a greenhouse allows not only to save space, but also to use the building for its intended purpose in early spring.

Required tools and materials

Before you start building a bird house, you need to prepare all the necessary components. The following tools are used:

• components for the preparation of the solution (sand, crushed stone, cement, water);
• perch board;
• level and roulette;
• wood saw;
• self-tapping screws.

You also need to prepare a marker or a dark pencil. During the preparation of the greenhouse, it is also necessary to prepare feeders and drinkers.

Lighting

During the daytime, natural light is used. Lamps must be installed at night. In winter, lamps are used that not only illuminate the room, but also generate additional heat.

Important. Lamps should be placed near the feeders, this will not only improve the process of eating, but also reduce the risk of lack of eggs.

Heating

This question is relevant in autumn and winter. In winter, only lamps with a heating effect are not enough, it is necessary to use special heating devices. A stove can be used that heats the water running through the pipes. Also, a special bedding is often used, which is equipped with heating elements. The choice of type of heating depends on the size of the chicken coop.

Ventilation

Ventilation matters for bird he alth. To do this, it is necessary to install one natural ventilation system. Forced systems are activated when necessary. Ventilation is installed in special vents so that there is no draft, but the birds receive the necessary amount of fresh air.

Perches

Perches are made of wood. Wooden bars are used, which are screwed along the walls with the help of self-tapping screws at a height of at least 50 cm from the floor.This height allows chickens to be placed on perches. Special grills are installed under the perches, which facilitate the process of cleaning chicken manure.

Litter

Litter is important for the comfortable placement of chickens in the coop. Fermentation fiber is used as bedding. You can buy such material in specialized stores. The advantage of this material is that it does not need to be changed frequently, as the substance absorbs dirt and unpleasant odors well. To use the material, it is enough to add sawdust or straw to the fiber.

Drinkers and feeders

Installation of drinkers requires preliminary fastening, as chickens often rake the feed with their paws. Wooden boxes or other containers are used. The size of the container depends on the number of birds. Chickens should be placed near the feeder.

Important. Feeders and drinkers should be in different places. This will reduce the risk of water pollution and the accumulation of birds in one place in large numbers.

Building a polycarbonate chicken coop from scratch with your own hands

If it is not possible to rebuild the greenhouse, polycarbonate can be used to build a chicken coop from scratch.

Required Materials

The following materials must be prepared for construction:

• wood beam;
• pipe to create a frame;
• concrete mortar;
• polycarbonate;
• polyethylene film;
• straw.

It is also necessary to prepare all the tools that can be used. These tools include a drill, saw, hammer, self-tapping screws.

Polycarbonate chicken coop foundation

Using a foundation keeps you warm in winter. Before building the foundation, the following algorithm of actions must be observed:

• clear the area where the chicken coop will be placed;
• make a drawing of the foundation;
• using a rope, mark up;
• make a trench 10 cm deep;
• level the soil in the trench and pour sand;
• after the sand settles, stretch the film, this procedure is necessary for insulation;
• using a wooden beam, make a frame that is placed around the perimeter of the foundation;
• fix the frame with self-tapping screws.

For strength, you can fix the frame with concrete, which is poured into the floor in the chicken coop. However, this design requires additional insulation.

Polycarbonate chicken coop frame

For the frame of the building, use corners or a professional pipe. Using a professional pipe, it is necessary to make a frame, depending on the size of the house.After the frame is ready, it is necessary to install it on the foundation, making a few additional ribs that will hold the entire structure. Pipes are fastened by welding or by sanding. When using the latter, the pipes are bent after heating, this prevents their damage. After making the frame, the pipes must be treated with a special tool that protects the metal from damage.

Installation of frames

The next step in the construction of the chicken coop is the installation of frames for doors and vents. The door can be mounted in the usual way and fixed on metal canopies. In order for the door to fit snugly against the frame, rubber pads are used. Window frames should be installed in the chicken coop. The profile for the frame can be used 20 mm. The profile is welded using a welding machine.

Installation of polycarbonate

Polycarbonate sheets are used for the chicken coop.Such materials can facilitate construction. From polycarbonate sheets, you need to cut strips that fit the size of the structure. Finished sheets are inserted into the frame and fastened with self-tapping screws. It is necessary to start the installation of polycarbonate from the doorway, gradually moving towards a blank wall. After the frame is sheathed, it is necessary, using putty, to seal all the cracks and attachment points with self-tapping screws.

Important. At the first stages of fixing polycarbonate, it is necessary to use an awl and a strong thread to tighten the material. Only after that the screws are attached.

Ventilation in polycarbonate chicken coop

In the building it is necessary to make two windows, which, if necessary, will open and let in fresh air. For the winter period, one window is used with a special fan that controls air circulation. Using natural ventilation can cause birds to freeze.

Features of growing chickens in a greenhouse in winter

Chickens are undemanding to care for, but birds are often exposed to diseases in winter. To increase egg production, you should follow the rules of care.

Basic rules

To preserve the he alth of birds, the following care features must be observed:

1. Regularly monitor the temperature in the room. The air temperature should be at least 15-18 degrees.
2. Use special lamps for lighting at night.
3. Before the winter period, it is necessary to treat the building with special chemicals against fleas, which can adversely affect the he alth of the bird.

Also in winter time, you should regularly add new straw to the bedding. During the day, the room should be ventilated or turned on ventilation several times.

Chicken nutrition

In winter, chickens should eat whole grains mixed with cereal porridge. Used wheat, barley, corn. In winter, birds may be deficient in vitamins, so supplementation is necessary:

• shredded beets;
• cottage cheese;
• chopped steamed hay;
• potatoes.

Also, cottage cheese and shell rock are often added to birds. With a lack of vitamins, special fertilizers can be used.

Cleanliness Maintenance

Most often, chicken manure accumulates in places where perches are mounted. These places must be cleaned every 2 days. The bedding should be removed every week. Once a month, bedding fiber must be changed to a new one, as harmful microorganisms can accumulate in the material.

Organization of walking

After the construction of the chicken coop, it is necessary to make a fence next to it, in which the chickens will regularly walk. Walking birds must be carried out every day. In summer, birds should spend most of their time outdoors. In winter, 2 hours a day is sufficient.

Conclusion

Raising chickens in a polycarbonate building is easy. The most difficult period is winter. When birds need to equip additional heaters.

The advantage of polycarbonate is the strength of the building and the preservation of heat.

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