If you have chickens or are thinking about getting some, then you’ll certainly want to get a chicken coop to make sure your flock doesn’t fare well, escape on you. Not only do you want something durable, but you’ll also want weather resistance because you’re probably going to keep them out there all year.
Also, as you see in almost all chicken coops, you’ll want to make sure there’s nest boxes, roosts, proper ventilation, and shade. So, by now you’re super convinced you definitely need a chicken coop for your chickens, so today you’ll learn more info about them and hopefully help you choose some of the best chicken coops on the market.
Top Picks
Best for: Large Spaces – D Silvery Gooding Walk in Chicken Run
If you are looking for a chicken coop that will house a lot of chickens, this is the coop for you with it being large enough for all your coop needs.
Best for: Having all the bells and whistles for a small flock – Red Chicken Coop with Chicken Run by Hampel
If you’re looking for a chicken coop that has pretty much everything, this is the coop that you need to buy that has everything from nesting boxes to even feeder/waterers.
Best for: Being portable – Dinah Atlanta Chicken Tractor
If you have a small backyard, this is the coop for you as you can easily move it around to give chicken fresh areas of your yard.
How to choose a chicken coop
You could always try making your own chicken coop, but it can be difficult for beginners. Choosing a chicken coop is based on many questions that you need to ask yourself. Such questions would be like:
How many birds?
Perhaps you’ll start with maybe 2-3 birds, just to get the hang of it. But more than likely, you’ll want to expand, just like anyone with a flock of chickens will. At a minimum, if the typical ‘crowded’ chicken is continuously penned and 3 square feet each if free on a regular basis, it requires 7.5 square feet (both), between the indoor and the outdoor space. Lengthier dogs must be penned at least 10 sq. feet, 4 sq. feet if usually free of charge, with bantams penned 5 sq. feet with a free range of 2 sq. feet. Overpopulation of birds can not only cause social difficulties (pecking, fighting, and resulting injuries), but also establish a petri dish for disease, which you do not want to deal with.
What breed?
In various environments, different species are doing well, but in more restricted areas, birds which need more room for optimal health won’t be well. Be sure you look at the criteria you apply to your flock for the birds.
What’s your backyard/property like?
It’s best if you have a farm, but it’s ok if you have a super large backyard because chickens will need room to roam.
How much room you actually have
You’ll want it in a large enough area that’s not super close to your house but a lot of us live in an area with many predators, so you’ll want them closer to your house so that you can hear what’s going on.
Budget
It can definitely run up in the thousands if you want all the features, or you can just build it for $100 if you have an existing building. It all depends on what you really want.
So, when you can consider these factors/questions, then you’ll be able to take those answers and build the perfect chicken coop for your chickens.
Tips for having a chicken coop and taking care of chickens
Roosts
These are extremely important to a coop because chickens naturally, like to be higher off the ground (away from predators of course). So absolutely do not forget about this.
Nesting boxes
Just like humans, hens love having a private bed to sleep in and to lay their eggs. It’s also easier to collect eggs when they’re ready.
Have a run
You may not need 50 acres, but you need at least a small enclosure that helps them to scrape the soil and get fresh air. You should only open the door of the chicken cottage in the country with limited pests, so the flock would have a free reception. This will not fit, however, if you live in town or have predators. In such situations I propose the construction of a small, enclosed run or pen attached to your coop.
Make sure its ventilated
This isn’t something most people care about right off the bat, but it’s incredibly significant, though. Poorly ventilated coops are like sick chickens, who will create in a stuffy coop, ammonia and dust spores. An accumulation of wet air in the coop will improve your flock’s chances of frostbite in cool, damp conditions.
Make sure it has bedding
You’ll need to make sure that the bedding is always fresh because manure can cause ammonia and if chickens get sick, they die. While the manure is great for fertilizing, it’s not great if you never clean it up. The type of bedding that you choose depends on what you get.
Always make sure there’s fresh water and feed
If you live in an area with natural predators, just feed them at a certain time and keep the rest of the feed in a tight lid container. Also, it helps having fresh water for them because staying hydrated is important for them. For water, you’ll want to use a galvanized waterer.
Electricity
It’s not 100% crucial to have it in your coop, but if you live somewhere with very cold winters, you’ll want to install electricity so that you can have heated water bowls and or do chicken chores in the dark.
How to care for chickens
Besides building a coop, you should really be asking yourself these questions.
Is it legal?
Make sure that your city/town allows you to have backyard chickens, otherwise they could be taken away from you and all the money invested will be for nothing.
Can you commit?
Treat chickens like dogs. They need constant care and attention. If you think they can be left alone just because you have a large yard, reconsider getting chickens.
Can you afford taking care of them for their lives?
Chicken food costs a lot. So, does maintaining the coop and vet bills. Hens don’t give you an unlimited number of eggs, they only lay when it’s warmer out.
Do you have the time?
You’ll need to clean their chicken coop/run pretty much every day. If you have a job that takes you away from home for long hours, having chickens may not be for you. The reason for the daily cleaning is so that you can prevent disease and keep healthy chickens.
Are you prepared for predators?
Every single flock will lose a member due to natural predators (raccoons) so even if you did everything right, one or two might die from an attack. Can you emotionally deal with that?
Will your neighbors be okay with chickens?
If you end up with a rooster, you will have a noisy flock because roosters love to make noise. Make sure that your neighbors are okay with that or reconsider having chickens.
When you can answer those questions and use the following tips for caring for chickens, you will for sure run a successful chicken coop.
Types of Chicken Coops
Stationary Coops
These types of coops are usually not moveable once you’ve built it. It stays in its place permanently unless you actually knock it down.
Chicken Tractors
These chicken coops are popular for small yards because you can move it around so that chickens have fresh areas to roam when they need to.
Semi-Permanent Coops
These types of coops are like the large wire mesh ones that you see or other moveable materials. They’re usually very easy to put up and down, so that you can move it if you truly need to.
The Best Chicken Coops
Gooding Walk in Chicken Run with Wire Mesh
This is a chicken run with a wire mesh with dimensions of 78.74″ H x 118.11″ W x 236.22″ D. With those dimensions you know that it is a large enough coop for chickens and even other animals.
You get a door, lock, roof, wire mesh and chicken run with this coop. It’s decently priced at $349 and it’s super weather resistant (made from steel frame) so you don’t have to worry about the durability.
Pros:
- Large
- Durable
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- No nesting boxes
Sharma Walk In Chicken Run with Wire Mesh For Up To 28 Chickens
Here we have another wire mesh chicken coop by Sharma that can hold up to 28 chickens. The dimensions for this coop are 9’ x 18’ so your chickens will have plenty of space to run around. It’s made out of metal, so you don’t have to question its durability.
This chicken coop comes with a door, lock, roof, wire mesh and chicken run. You can also house other animals with this coop if you choose to do so.
Pros:
- Weather-resistant
- Large
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- No nesting boxes
Chicken Coop with Chicken Run For Up To 7 Chickens
This is a cool chicken coop by Hampel that has more things than the first two coops we’ve rounded up. While this is smaller (can hold up to 7 chickens) and dimensions are 57” H x 57” W x 81.5” D, it still packs a punch.
This coop is made out of weather resistant material (plastic) and it comes with the following:
- 2 Nesting boxes
- Door
- Lock
- Pull out tray
- Ramp
- Floor
- Roosting Bar
- Wire mesh
- Chicken run
- Feeder/Waterer
Because of what you get with this chicken coop, it’s definitely priced well at $1,199.99. So, if you have or are planning a very small flock, you should get this one as it has nearly everything that you need for a chicken coop.
Pros:
- Has everything a small flock owner needs
Cons:
- Might be pricey for 1st time flock owners
Bartholomew Chicken Coop with Nesting Box and Outdoor Run
This is a deluxe chicken coop by Archie & Oscar that is meant for the hobbyist (backyards, or large backyards). The material is made out of wood and has a metal fencing for security. The dimensions are 40.5” H x 42” W x 64.3” D and you will definitely have to put it together when you get it.
This coop comes with the following:
- 2 Nesting boxes
- Door
- Lock
- Pull out tray
- Wire mesh
- Private sleeping space
- Chicken run
- 2 levels
It is meant for a small flock (4 chickens max) so remember that if you’re considering this coop.
Pros:
- Has everything that you need for a small flock
Cons:
- You have to assemble it yourself
Rosita Chicken Coop with Chicken Run For Up To 3 Chickens
Here is another one by Archie & Oscar that can hold up to 3 chickens. Yes, this one is meant for backyards, but it has everything you expect from a chicken coop. Made out of wood, you know that it’s weather-resistant and the dimensions are 43.3” H x 63” W x 31.5” D.
What you get with this coop is:
- 2 Nesting boxes
- Door
- Lock
- Pull out tray
- Wire mesh
- Private sleeping space
- Chicken run
- 2 levels
You can also choose between gray and red for the colors.
Pros:
- Has everything you need for a small flock
Cons:
- You have to assemble it yourself
Hopwood Barn Chicken Coop with Roof Top Planter
This chicken coop by Tucker Murphy Pet is one you’ll want for your small flock and backyard. It can hold up to 6 chickens and it even includes a rooftop planter if you want to plant something or put manure on it to fertilize something. The dimensions for this coop are 43” H x 50.4” W x 81.5” D. The coop is made out of wood and has just 1 level which is fine for the 6 chickens.
This coop also comes with the following:
- 2 Nesting boxes
- 2 doors
- Lock
- Pull out tray
- Wire mesh
- Private sleeping space
- Chicken run
- 5 windows
Pros:
- Has everything that a small flock owner needs
- Windows
- Rooftop planter
Cons:
- You have to assemble it yourself
- Not enough nesting boxes if more than 2 chickens
Dinah Atlanta Chicken Tractor with Chicken Run
Finally, we have this chicken tractor run by Tucker Murphy Pet that is obviously very portable. It’s made out of wood and some wire mesh fencing. It can hold 2-4 chickens and it’s very durable to any kind of weather resistant. The dimensions for this coop is 42” H x 82” W x 32” D.
You get the following with this coop:
- Nesting boxes
- 2 Doors
- Lock
- Pull out tray
- Wire mesh
- wheels
- Chicken run
- Ramp
- Roosting bar
Pros:
- Portable, can be moved around
- Has everything you need for a small flock
Cons:
- You’ll have to assemble it yourself
FAQ
What do you do with chickens in the winter?
Chickens can resist winter temperatures without additional heat, particularly cold-tolerant breeds. The body temperature of a chicken is about 106 °F. It has its own defensive feather coating to sustain it warm.
If a heat source is required, only heat is sufficient to increase the temperature by a few degrees. Hens are accustomed to the cool temperature, but birds are not able to control the body temperature if it is 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the coop and 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the run.
Obviously, you’ll want to make sure that you have heated waterers, and make sure the birds are fed more often as they expend more energy in the winter. You’ll also want to make sure that they can still move around as most birds can tolerate cold weather, and provide more activities for them to do in the coop since they’ll naturally be “cooped” up in the coop.
Do chickens really need a coop?
If you want to keep them safe from predators, you’ll want to have a coop. It’s very rare for someone to live in an area with no natural predators who would attack the chickens.
Is it cheaper to buy or build a coop?
If you want it all done, it’s very expensive. But if you’re handy, it’s much cheaper to build a coop and you can control what features it has!
How do you build a good chicken coop?
You should do the research and gather the materials that you need to build the chicken coop. You can also follow step by step instructions or download chicken coop plans so you can follow the pictures to build the coop. There are lots of internet sources out there that will give you the exact instructions you need to build a good chicken coop.
Bottom Line
Today you’ve learned all about chicken coops and saw some of the best options that you can buy for your backyard/property. If you have enjoyed reading this guide, please leave a comment below!
The post Raise Chickens of Your Own with the Best Chicken Coop appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit.
0 Commentaires