Making A Chicken Coop The First Step To Grooming Chickens

Making A Chicken Coop-The First Step To Grooming Chickens

If you are planning to groom chickens, the first step that you should do is to build a chicken coop. A chicken coop is an extravagant shelter for your chickens. Chickens are definitely safe and secure in the chicken coop.
Grooming chickens is a good project to do but if you does not have a sturdy coop, it becomes a very difficult task, so you must build first a quality chicken coop before you start grooming chickens so that worries will be eliminated and that everything will be fine afterwards.
Chicken coop has many designs and styles. It ranges from a very simple one to a very intricate kind of chicken coop, depending of what you are looking for a coop, you have to select that best meets to your guidelines or criteria. It is essential that you like the coop that you are going to make so that you will enjoy doing it and will not be stress when making it.

Get a good chicken coop plan. A good chicken coop plan has all the essentials that you must know about building the coop. Materials needed for the construction of the coop and specific instructions for the construction of the structure are provided as well. Additionally, lay out of the chicken coop is also included.

Choose a coop plan that is energy efficient and less costly. Although, such plan is hard to find but if you are persevere and patient enough, then you can discover it through exploration and extensive research.
Making a chicken coop is very taxing and tedious so aside from the fact that you must like the coop, you must be patient and resolute as well. When you have all these attributes, there is no question that you can build a coop successfully.

When you are ready to build the chicken coop, make sure that the site where you are going to erect the coop is conducive to grooming chickens. The site plays a big role towards your chickens. If the place has great surrounding, for sure, chickens will grow fast and healthy.

To further your knowledge about chicken coops, you have to read magazines and books that deal with coop plans. Reading such resources will help you gain more information about coops and it will give you tips on how to build a coop that is durable and sturdy. If you continuously do it, you will eventually become an expert in chicken coops.

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Raising Chickens First Steps

There are many benefits to raising chickens; they can make great pets, they provide natural bug control, they give you several eggs each week (and potentially meat), and they provide endless hours of therapy and enjoyment in watching them cluck and peck around.

For many people, raising chickens is their first step to becoming more self sufficient. Chickens need relatively little care, but there are a few things you may want to consider before placing your order :

Do you have the space : A coop needs to allow at least two square feet per chicken and they will also need a secure run allowing at least three square feet per chicken (the bigger the better - particularly if they won't have a chance to free range safely). Their coop doesn’t have to be anything palatial, but some care will need to be taken to ensure that it is dry, free of drafts and safe from predators.

It doesn't hurt to allow some extra room - you never know
when you might need it!

Do you have the time : Chickens need relatively little care, but they do need to be locked into their coop safely at night, and let out again in the morning. They also need fresh water and feed every day, and the coop should be cleaned out regularly.

Cost : In terms of the monetary cost of feed and bedding, hens usually more than pay for themselves with their eggs (not to mention the enjoyment they bring as pets). The cost of buying or building a coop and run however, may take a few years for them to 'earn'.

How many : How many chickens really depends on how many you think you would like, have the space for, and can look after. Chickens have a group mentality so having at least two or three is better than having just one. With most egg laying breeds you can expect to get four to six eggs per week from each hen (this number will probably decrease as they get older). You don't need to have a rooster to get eggs but if you want one then the normal ratio is one rooster to every ten hens.

Neighbours : Some local areas have rules on keeping chickens so you should always check for any restrictions before building / buying your coop. Even if you are allowed to get chickens, it may be a good idea to have a word with the neighbours first if they are very close by - particularly if you are thinking of getting a rooster.

A Rooster can add a lot of colour and excitement to your flock - but will your neighbours mind being woken up at 5am (or earlier) every morning?

Free Ranging : Chickens enjoy being able to free range, but if they are not in a secure area, and / or you are unable to keep an eye on them, it is not always safe for them to do so (predators, including your local neighbourhood dogs, can make their presence felt very quickly). If you are able to free-range safely then nothing in your garden is safe – they will eat / dig up / dustbathe in everything! If they can’t free range safely then they will need a secure pen – fresh air and exercise is as important to a chickens well-being as it is to our own.

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I have some tips for raising day old chicks here.

Below is a video from keeping chickens newsletter subscriber Carol H of her baby chicks first day :

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Building A Chicken Coop For The First Time

By Dale Calder: "Just like everyone else says I love the keeping chickens newsletter and read it from cover to cover as soon as it arrives. I have never built any thing before and I just finished my coop.

I thought since I did this without any previous experience it might be an encouragement to others who are thinking of doing the same, to see the process.

My birds arrive the last week of May so only a few days to wait. I ordered six standard size brown egg layers, various breeds selected by the hatchery and nine straight run bantams one Slikie, three Mottled Cochins and five Bantam Grab Bag what ever is left over at the hatchery. They all hatch on Monday May 23rd and I should have the on either the 24th or 25th, can't wait."

I also made three short videos of the construction process.

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