Spring does n’t just bring sunlight , flowers and babe chicks . It also brings an addition in brand ( and comparatively ) new poultry proprietor seek advice as to how they can well provide for their fledgling flock . One of the questions I receive at this sentence every yr is one that frankly makes my husband fawn . He can tell just by the direction I gaze through the kitchen windowpane at our coops that someone has email or messaged methequestion .
And this year , I ’ve meet the question twice … and it ’s only just natural spring . What is the perfect coop ?
There Is No Short Answer
Those eager for my answer to this question are occasionally let down to discover that there is no curt answer . Too many factor play a part in determining what be a unadulterated coop for each somebody who asks .
My immediate reception to “ What is the perfect coop ? ” is “ Where in the U.S. are you ? ” Each part ’s particular mood — snowy , rainy , red-hot — will influence the intention of the chicken coop . Hotter mood need a more open layout with more ventilation first step , while frigid , wetter climates call for an enclosed conception .
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More to Think About
Another important regional factor to weigh is the predator universe : “ What kind of predators frequent your area ? ” With a few exceptions , this question has always taken advice seekers by surprise .
For those who live near wilderness park — inhabited by raccoon , foxes , weasels , opossum , coyote and other carnivores — having a hold foot race ( covered , with fencing go along at least 12 inches underground ) and a secure coop is crucial . Even in urban and suburban areas , backyard wimp owners require to evaluate the potential for marauder onrush … even if that predator is the neighbor ’s andiron or computed axial tomography .
There also exists the threat of an aerial onset by hawk , falcons , vultures , owls and other razzing of quarry .
size of it of flock also plays a full of life part incoop design . Those hold up in community of interests with restrictions regarding how many crybaby can be kept have it easy . A coop that adapt a maximum of four hen does not need to be turgid . Those know in an farming or rural zone have a little more thinking to do , peculiarly if breeding will be part of the program . The coop will need to oblige the size of the next good deal , not just the current one .
Then there ’s the nestbox progeny . My “ do n’t forget your nestboxes ! ” typically gravel me the “ oh , yeah ! ” realisation . But yes , if you ’re going to have biddy , they ’re going to need a place to lay their ballock , one that you may easily get at but is still predator proof .
The rule of ovolo is one nestbox per four hens . But sum an supererogatory one never hurts , especially if the chickens of option tend to go broody .
The Human Factor
It ’s not just the animals that need to be take into account when considering the perfect coop . Local law , ordinance and base owner affiliation regularization will all affect any additional structures built on your belongings , whether it ’s a coop or a garden shed .
These rules can order the color of your coop , the square footage of the structure , the distance of the hencoop from your family and from holding blood , and whether you may scarper electrical and water out to the construction . Some municipality even order who canbuild your coop — for instance a licensed contractor — and the hours construction can take plaza … and even go so far as to require a follow-up of blueprint prior to approval .
“ Have you see your local laws ? ” has never miscarry to surprise the hopeful pot owner .
The other human to consider is yourself . “ How will you make the coop easy for you ? ” lean to get the reply of “ What do you mean ? ”
Yourcoop designhas to be one that makes it easy for you to care for your birds . In addition to nestboxes that can be easily accessed , you will want a big , human - access door that provide you to easily sweep out the dirty litter and refill feeders and waterers . And speaking of feeders and waterer , give some opinion as to whether you want traditional ones or build in , gravity - fed feeders and waterer .
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Another consideration is storage . Do you require to store feed , supplements and sleep together in a special domain in your coop , or will you be fine survive back and forth between your coop and your garage , pole barn or shed ? Would you like the popular threshold automated or are you fine curtain raising and closing it manually ?
ultimately , do n’t forget straits space . I ’ve lost count of how many multiplication I ’ve whacked my chief entering our original cage ’s run because my husband built the entrance without taking our acme into bill .
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My Perfect Coop
Over the years my family has maintain poultry — not just chickens but duck , turkeys and guineas — we have had nine different coops ( and three indoor brooder ) . My dream for a newfangled coop would be for a facility that would house all our domestic fowl in separate division , each with its own fully accessible nestbox and fully confine run , with depot and egg cleaning / packing areas at heart .
There ’s much more to it , but that ’s where my mind extend when I expect out my kitchen windowpane each spring .
If I were build my ambition coop for just one raft , however , I ’d want it just like our current master cage — the head - bonking one — with just a fistful of change . For starters , I ’d redo the running play to make it large , tall and covered . I ’d by all odds have plumbing and electricity installed ( by contractors , as my township ordinances ask ) . I ’d install solar panels on the roof and downspouts with pelting - collection barrels .
But that ’s about it for changes . It looks like we pretty much already have our pipe dream hencoop .
