DIY chicken coop for 10 chickens: how to make, step by step instructions, drawings with dimensions

When keeping a small livestock in a private household, it is enough to build a chicken coop for 10 chickens with your own hands. When carrying out construction work, you need to take into account a number of features so that the building is comfortable and convenient for birds.

Technical features of the chicken coop for 10 hens

Before you start building a poultry house, you need to decide on the technical characteristics. To do this, it is necessary to assess the availability of free space on the site and indicate the purpose of breeding laying hens - obtaining fresh eggs for consumption or further sale in large volumes.

Optimal size and area

Special attention should be paid to the calculation of the dimensions of the room. If the hens are in cramped conditions, this will negatively affect the productivity indicator. As a rule, one free square is enough for three laying hens. For 10 chickens, a room with an aspect ratio of 2 x 2 m is enough. If you want to increase the livestock in the future, you need to expand the chicken coop in proportion to the number of birds. It is necessary to determine the specific dimensions of the premises at the stage of project preparation, not forgetting to take into account the presence of a courtyard area for walking. The minimum dimensions of an outdoor enclosure are 2 x 6 m.

Drawings

The initial stage of construction is the preparation of drawings. The diagram indicates the dimensions of the structure, the location on the site and the materials used. To create comfortable conditions for laying hens, you must also provide for the internal arrangement of the chicken coop.

What is the difference between summer and winter designs?

Summer design is simple to implement and relatively budget-friendly. The construction will require a minimum amount of building materials and basic construction skills.

A distinctive feature of the summer house is the absence of a foundation, since such chicken coops are built on the basis of additional protection of layers from rodents and predators.

The winter poultry house must be provided with a foundation. In order to keep warm inside the house during the winter, it is recommended to attach an additional vestibule in front of the main entrance to the poultry house. The interior arrangement of the winter and summer chicken coop should include a standard list of amenities - lighting, ventilation, heaters, comfortable nests and flooring.

Where to place?

Slight elevation, protected from through blowing, is suitable for placing the house.It is advisable to choose the south side of the site so that the chickens get more natural light. You should not build a chicken coop in the lowlands, because the rain will wash out the chicken manure, which will lead to its spread throughout the site and the transmission of infections. The distance from the premises to the border of the site should be from 4 m.

Necessary tools and materials for construction

Starting construction, you need to prepare a standard set of tools. The materials for building a poultry house depend on the intended use. The summer variety can be built from plywood and boards. It is allowed to make a winter chicken coop from the same materials and additionally use a heat-insulating layer. Styrofoam and mineral wool are suitable as insulation.

Stages of construction

Construction is recommended to be carried out in stages, following the provisions of the instructions. To build a reliable and durable structure, you need to adhere to standard norms and rules.

Foundation

The basis of the building is the foundation. For a poultry house for 10 chickens, you can choose any type of foundation, but columnar and tape are most suitable. Depending on the type, the order of work is determined.

Columnar

Preparation of the columnar foundation begins with the marking of the territory. To indicate the location of the corners, you need to drive pegs into the ground and wrap the rope around the perimeter. Then you need to do the following:

1. Remove the top layer of soil 20-30 cm thick with a shovel.
2. Dig holes 0.5 m deep for each foundation pillar. Poles should be placed at a distance of 1-1.5 m from each other.
3. Raise pillars so that they rise 20-30 cm above the ground.
4. Lay roofing material, strapping and logs on the surface of the pillars. To protect the base from rotting, it is recommended to use a double layer of roofing felt.

Tape

Establishing a strip foundation is the easiest option. For this you need:

1. Dig a hole 30 cm deep, the sides of which will exceed the dimensions of the house by 20-30 cm.
2. Compact the soil and equip a cushion of crushed stone 10-15 cm thick.
3. Put the formwork on the crushed stone cushion and lay a layer of waterproofing material.

Production of the floor

As a floor, it is advisable to equip a plank surface, on which soft flooring will be located in the future. The basis of the floor is a bar crate, on which boards are hemmed. For the purpose of high-quality insulation, sheathing with boards can be done on both sides.

Building walls

For the construction of walls, you can use wooden beams or bricks. It is best to give preference to the bars, since in this case additional insulation of the chicken coop is not required. Wall building process requires:

1. Install a load-bearing frame using wooden beams. The cross section of the beam should be from 5 cm.
2. Sheathe the formed frame of the poultry house with lumber. During sheathing, insulation must be laid between layers.
3. Fill existing voids in the outer and inner skin with thermal insulation material.

To ensure protection against rodents, it is not allowed to leave gaps in the walls of the structure. For reliability, it is recommended to protect the house with slate, digging it into the ground so that about 30 cm remain above the surface.

Ceiling and roof

The upper part of the house can be equipped in several ways. The height of the chicken coop during the construction of the ceiling and roof is determined depending on whether you need to go inside.

No overlap

If the chicken coop is without overlap, the walls are left at a level of 1.4-1.5 m, and the roof is made gable, raising the ridge to 2 m. This will allow you to move freely in the central part and at the same time save money on roofing material .

On poles

When constructing a chicken coop on poles, the roof is made at a height of 1.8-2 m. For birds to enter, they additionally equip an inclined path from boards with thin perches fixed every 10 cm.

Sheathing and wall insulation

Works on insulation and wall cladding are carried out to protect the premises from through blowing, frost and other external influences. To sheathe a building, you can use different materials that differ in technical parameters.

Mineral wool

Insulation with mineral wool is performed during the construction of the house according to the frame principle. The frame is sheathed from the outside, laying an insulating layer under the base material. A ventilation space of 2-3 cm is left between the insulation and the outer skin. To insulate the chicken coop, it is better to use hard or semi-rigid cotton wool, cut it into pieces of a suitable length and insert it into the gap between the racks.

Styrofoam and Styrofoam

If the chicken coop is built according to the frame principle, the material is laid between the racks by analogy with mineral wool. Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene is cut with a saw and fixed with polyurethane foam. To keep the insulation securely in place, strips are installed along the racks on both sides. You can lay the material both from the side of the street and directly from the premises.

Chicken coop interior design

Inside the poultry house, it is required to create comfortable conditions for keeping chickens. Straw or hay is laid on the floor as soft flooring. You also need to provide for the presence of a sufficient number of perches, feeders, drinkers, lighting and heating devices.

Playing yard

Next to the building, you need to equip a yard for walking. The possibility of periodic exposure to the open air has a positive effect on the development and productivity of birds.If possible, a walking yard should be located on an area covered with grass. The courtyard is surrounded by a fence, and a net is pulled on top to protect against birds of prey and rodents.

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