Coops for chickens consist of the hen house and run. The former provides shelter and protection, while the latter acts as their outdoor enclosure.
A well-designed coop will protect its flock from predators such as raccoons, coyotes, fisher cats, dogs and snakes while offering enough indoor space to ensure comfort during cold climate conditions.
Design
Well-designed coops for chickens provide your flock with a safe environment to sleep, eat and nest. Its purpose is to offer protection from wind, rain and extreme temperatures as well as insulation and ventilation; all these factors will create an inviting space for them and ensure their wellbeing for years to come.
Building a chicken coop requires taking into account both the size and needs of your flock. For instance, if you have four or more laying hens, then multiple nesting boxes will need to be created as well as sturdy roosting bars for them to rest upon during the night. Furthermore, you should provide feeders and waterers that will accommodate them all and consider hanging or elevating these for easier cleaning purposes.
A well-constructed chicken coop should feature large openings to allow birds access in and out, as well as providing you with easy access to clean out and maintain its interior for cleaning purposes. A door equipped with hardware mesh to prevent predators from sneaking in is recommended; additionally, natural lighting should be added through windows that can be opened and closed according to weather conditions.
Your coop should also feature numerous vents to allow airflow around it and maintain fresh eggs, keeping the temperature down on hot days and keeping your birds comfortable. Furthermore, shade structures like an awning may provide additional protection from direct sunlight for birds residing within.
Hens are more likely to lay eggs when provided with an optimal environment in which to do so, and coop designs that enable high quality of life for chickens will result in more consistent egg production, saving money on groceries while potentially adding to your income if sold as extra eggs.
Materials
The ideal coop must not only be weather and predator proof, but should also be easy to keep clean. Chicken coops can become quite messy when multiple birds share space within. When using chemicals or solvents to clean it out, consider their environmental impact, cost implications, as well as availability in your area.
Dimension lumber is often the go-to material for building chicken coops in most locations, as it's readily available, affordable, and relatively straightforward to work with both hand and power tools. Furthermore, its relatively strong durability means it makes an excellent choice for legs as its ability to withstand pressure and moisture makes for strong support structures.
Many chicken coops utilize corrugated tin as roofing and siding because it is waterproof, rodent-proof, lightweight and easily customizable to the design of any coop. Corrugated tin has become increasingly popular as an aesthetic material that also serves as roofing. If using this material in the construction of show pens for chickens or as an architectural element in general pens for show purposes. If using this material it must first have been sealed or coated to protect from corrosion before use.
Some coop builders opt to construct their coops from metal or solid wood due to its strength and durability, though this option may be more costly than building with dimensional lumber. While metal and solid wood provide better protection than standard chicken wire, hardware cloth offers even stronger defense from predators due to being thicker woven wire mesh that's harder for predators to chew through or penetrate than standard chicken wire.
Design a Chicken Coop
The ideal coop should be at least 2 feet off of the ground to protect it from flooding or becoming too cold during winter, while being enclosed by a fence to keep predators at bay and connected to an enclosed run where chickens can exercise their natural behaviors and instincts; these include scratching, pecking and laying eggs - without this space they become stressed, peck each other unnecessarily and produce eggs with dull yellow yolks due to lack of nutrition.
Ventilation
Ventilation systems in chicken houses replace the air with fresh oxygen while clearing away carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other gases generated from respirations, waste decomposition, and other processes generated by chickens. Ventilation also helps control humidity in order to keep coops dry while reducing respiratory illnesses; for this reason it is wise to install both thermometer and hygrometer monitors in each coop to monitor both temperature and humidity as needed and adjust ventilation as required.
Vents can be constructed using various materials, from screens and hardware cloth to metal mesh. For optimal use, vents should be large enough to allow airflow while still excluding birds, rodents and predators from entering. It is wise to regularly clean and replace vents in order to keep air flowing freely and ensure optimal air quality; additionally, seasonal changes affect ventilation requirements: during summer more ventilation may be needed in order to regulate temperatures and reduce humidity; conversely in winter less ventilation is usually required due to lower temperatures.
Position of vents is critical in providing adequate airflow while protecting flocks from cold drafts. Vents should preferably be placed high up on walls and ceilings so warm air naturally rises and escapes, to reduce drafts in nesting and roosting areas. Cross ventilation with multiple vents located across different areas is recommended to help provide cross ventilation; they should also be located two feet from roosting areas to minimize ammonia concentration.
Windows can help facilitate light and air exchange in the coop, but it is crucial that there be an alternative ventilation plan in place so that chickens have access to fresh air during periods of high heat and humidity. A backup ventilation plan may involve taking steps such as taking away windows, installing fans or opening doors strategically during hot and humid weather conditions.
Ventilation should be carefully planned rather than being implemented through simply punching holes in walls with 2" drill bits and screening them out. In order to produce one square foot of ventilation, several inches must be covered - thus 2" holes simply won't do. Vents should be located higher up on walls where possible - hopefully protected from rain and wind by roof overhangs as much as possible.
Feeding and Watering
Chickens require adequate feeding and watering in order to remain healthy and maximize laying performance. A well-designed coop with adequate space should ensure each hen can access fresh food and water without having to compete for them, helping prevent overcrowding and stress that could otherwise lead to disease susceptibility, feather loss, aggressive behavior and reduced egg production.
To make sure that your flock receives enough water, a simple waterer with a removable top or trough feeders are great options to use. Both types are easy to maintain and give the chickens access to several ounces each day - although for safety's sake it should be kept away from nesting areas or other potential sources of contamination.
Hens require a safe and familiar place to lay their eggs each night, providing a place for rest and rejuvenation that promotes increased egg production and improved health. A well-insulated coop protects eggs from extreme temperatures and sunlight exposure while being designed so as to avoid soiled bedding blocking the vents, creating an unhealthy environment for their wellbeing.
An emergency first aid kit can be invaluable in case of illness or injury, with essential items including wound disinfectant, antibiotic ointment, tweezers for extracting splinters or ticks and electrolyte powder to combat dehydration being included in its contents.
Winter temperatures can easily cause water in a coop to freeze over, depriving chickens of essential sustenance. To protect their safety, install either a poultry water heater or thermostatically controlled deicer that will automatically heat it to an appropriate temperature for their flock.
An attached run will give your chickens an opportunity to roam outdoors during the day and express their natural behaviors and instincts, encouraging them to return indoors at night for safety from predators. For help designing the ideal coop for your flock, visit any IFA Country Store near you and talk with one of their Poultry, Rabbit & Animal Health Experts.