Arrangement of a chicken coop: do-it-yourself organization rules inside and out, mistakes

When arranging a chicken coop, there are many features to consider. In order for the birds to feel comfortable and stay he althy, it is necessary to maintain the correct temperature, make perches, install nests and drinkers. Equally important is full ventilation and the right lighting mode. Before carrying out work, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the common mistakes of beginner poultry farmers.

Space planning

Chickens can be placed in any room. However, it must be properly equipped. First of all, it is worth determining the number of chickens. There should be no more than 2-3 birds per square meter.

When equipping a poultry house, it is worth considering the time of the year in which it is planned to keep chickens. For the summer, an ordinary uninsulated barn is enough. To keep chickens throughout the year, the chicken coop is thermally insulated.

When planning a chicken coop, you should choose a free area for walking birds. This area is fenced with a metal mesh, which is pulled over poles. The area of the site should be 1.5 times the size of the barn.

The height of the enclosure should reach 2 meters. From above it is recommended to cover it with a net. This will help prevent contact with predators. Part of the territory should be covered with a roof. This place will be a reliable protection from rain and sun.

When arranging a place for walking, it is worth digging about 30 centimeters of the net into the ground. Birds love to dig. As a result, they can get out from under the fence.

Basic requirements for a chicken coop

There are many key features to consider when creating a laying hen house. It is important to choose materials for the floor and walls in advance.

Poultry walls

The most practical solution would be a frame. It is recommended to sheathe it with boards or slabs on each side. Between them it is worth placing a warming layer. Sawdust, straw can play its role. From the inside, sheathing is carried out with boards. You can also use plywood or other similar materials.

It is recommended to paint the chicken coop with ordinary water-based paint. The scent should go away and the paint should dry. An excellent solution would be to use lime for the walls.

Chicken coop floor and bedding

The floor is made of wood or concrete. A good option would be a clay floor. It is best to use wood. To do this, it is worth laying insulation on the draft layer, and then using edged boards.

It is important to ensure that the floor surface is smooth and even. This will help prevent damage to the legs of the chickens.

The floor should be whitewashed with lime or use special wood preservatives.

Floor boards are recommended to be covered with sawdust or straw. The thickness of this layer should be 10-15 centimeters. This litter makes it easier to care for birds. When dirty, there is no need to clean or wash the floors. In such a situation, it is recommended to remove the bedding and pour a new layer.

In winter, the thickness of this layer is increased to 20 centimeters. Otherwise, the chickens may freeze. This is very dangerous during laying.

Chicken coop climate

In order for chickens to feel good and not get sick, it is worth providing a suitable microclimate in the room.

Temperature

First of all, it is worth choosing the right temperature regime:

1. In summer, the temperature should not exceed 20 degrees. In hot weather, the appetite of birds worsens, which leads to a decrease in clutch.
2. In winter, the temperature should be at least 10 degrees. When the indicator decreases to 5 degrees, a natural decrease in egg laying is observed.

To maintain normal temperature parameters, it is recommended to provide heating and ventilation of the room. In winter, it is worth using autonomous heaters, infrared lamps. You can also use incandescent lamps. It is important to install heaters as safely as possible so that they do not provoke a fire.

If a not too cold winter is expected, it is enough to fill the cracks in the chicken coop and make a deep bedding of dry peat or straw. Also, chickens should ensure the correct planting density. This will ensure that the desired temperature in the room is maintained during the first frosts.When the old layer is compacted, it is not recommended to remove it. In such a situation, fresh material is added.

Chicken coop ventilation

Regardless of the season, it is recommended to maintain normal ventilation. It is best to ventilate the room by opening doors and windows. This method is enough in summer.

In winter, this method will take heat from the birds. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out passive ventilation using ventilation pipes. The supply should be located below the exhaust. This will ensure that the ventilation functions properly.

Lighting for poultry house

To maintain egg production, daylight hours should last 13-15 hours. To do this, use infrared lamps or incandescent lamps. There is enough natural light only in summer. Shortening of daylight hours indicates the arrival of winter, which is fraught with the cessation of egg laying.

Chicken coop interior

It is not difficult to equip a room with your own hands. To do this, it is recommended to consider the location of perches, install nests, make bird feeders and drinkers.

Perch Locations

First of all, it is recommended to make comfortable perches. Chickens spend most of their time on them. To do this, it is worth making poles from a bar. Their cross section can be 4x7 or 5x6 centimeters.

Perches should be comfortable for birds. Very thick or thin poles the birds will not be able to grasp, which will provoke a loss of stability. Thin poles often bend under the weight of chickens.

Beam should be processed with a planer. This will help make it rounder. After that, grinding is carried out with sandpaper. It is important that the perch has a smooth structure and does not contain sharp protrusions or burrs.

The location of perches is of no small importance.They are fixed horizontally or vertically, in the form of a ladder. The first option is more comfortable for chickens, but it takes up a lot of space. The second type is more suitable for small rooms. It helps save space. However, birds may experience discomfort on such a perch.

When equipping perches, you should correctly determine their length. For each bird, it is recommended to allocate 30 centimeters of a pole. The length of the perch is selected taking into account the number of chickens. They should be fixed at a height of 50 centimeters. If the perch is horizontal, it should be removed 25 centimeters from the wall. The rest are fixed at an interval of 35 centimeters.

Installing chicken nests

When installing nests, you should choose a secluded area in the chicken coop. It is important that there is no draft. In order to increase the productivity of the birds, it is recommended that the structures provide sufficient stability.

Nests should be made free. Depth - 40 centimeters, height and width of the structure - at least 30 centimeters. It is recommended to place a litter inside. To do this, use straw or sawdust. Hay is also allowed.

As a rule, nests are made of wood. The frame is made of boards or timber, plywood is used on top. It is also acceptable to use a box of a suitable size or any other container. Be sure to make a low ladder in the form of a ladder. It is placed at each nest.

When choosing the quantity, it should be borne in mind that one nest is enough for 4 layers. But qualified poultry farmers recommend using 10 laying sites for 20 hens.

Feeders and drinkers

In summer, birds dig all the time in search of food. Therefore, they are recommended to pour food on the floor. Chickens will be able to find it even under the bedding.

In winter, this method is better not to use. This is due to the impressive thickness of the litter. In addition, over time, the food will begin to rot. At this time it is recommended to use feeders. You can buy them or make your own.A good solution would be store designs that have a mesh division on top.

When arranging the premises, it is worth providing drinking bowls. Beginners often choose old pots or similar utensils for this. However, in this case, the water will have to be constantly changed. The disadvantage of such devices is the risk of getting inside the litter. As a result, the water quickly becomes dirty. It is strictly forbidden to consume such a liquid.

Indoors it is better to place special drinkers. They can be bought at the store. Also good drinkers are made from plastic bottles. Thanks to this design, the head of the chicken reaches the water, but the risk of dropping inside is eliminated.

Swimming spots

Chickens love to dust their feathers. In winter, such baths should be done right in the chicken coop. To do this, it is recommended to take a small trough and fill it halfway with wood ash. This helps not only clean the feathers, but also eliminate fleas.

Possible errors

Inexperienced poultry farmers can make various mistakes:

1. Leave an earthen floor in the chicken coop. It should definitely be concreted and covered with a layer of sawdust.
2. Perches are set up incorrectly. You can not make a hierarchical ladder out of poles. This will lead to fights.
3. Pour drinking water into basins. This leads to intestinal infections. As a result, egg production drops, and there is even a risk of death of the bird.

Proper arrangement of a chicken coop is a complex process. To achieve good results, it is recommended to take into account many features - the arrangement of the perch, the size of the nest, the appearance of the feeders and drinkers. It is also worth maintaining an optimal temperature and ensuring good ventilation.

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