| When building a chicken coop it's very important to | | | | highest point that they can reach because it's a |
| figure out what size chicken coop you need before | | | | survival mechanism. If they're off the ground it |
| you build it. There are several factors that affect | | | | means that predators can't reach them. The roosts |
| how big your chicken coop needs to be such as how | | | | are also where most of the droppings are going to |
| many chickens are you going to have and are they | | | | accumulate. If you have nests you're going to need |
| going to be egg laying chickens. | | | | to give a little extra space for the chickens. |
| The biggest factor in deciding how big your chicken | | | | If you have hens you're going to need nests. In most |
| coop needs to be is how many chickens you want | | | | cases you don't need to increase the size of the |
| to keep. There is a rule of thumb which says that | | | | coop because you can just lay the nests out along |
| each chicken requires a minimum of four square feet | | | | the edges of the coop. What I did was lay the nests |
| to help prevent overcrowding. If your chicken coop is | | | | out along the two walls facing the door. It makes it |
| smaller than this there can be dire consequences. For | | | | easier in the morning for me to walk in and collect |
| example, if you chickens are overcrowded they will | | | | the eggs. |
| start to peck at one another which can lead to the | | | | The last part is entirely up to you. It's good for the |
| death of a chicken. Overcrowding can also cause | | | | chickens if they can get outside so a chicken run is |
| serious health issues if it gets damp in the coop. | | | | pretty essential when building a chicken coop. Again, |
| I decided I wanted 16 chickens so we could have | | | | it should be at least the size of the chicken coop |
| enough eggs for breakfast and other cooking. If | | | | because all the chickens might be out there at one |
| each chicken was to get 4 square feet that works | | | | time. The run allows the chickens to scratch and |
| out to 64 square feet; however, I decided to give | | | | peck around, but most importantly it exposes them |
| them a little extra space (5 square feet each). That | | | | to sunlight which is important for the health of all |
| works out to 80 square feet. To figure out how big | | | | living beings. |
| your coop should be just find the multiples of 80. In | | | | There you have it. It's best to build a chicken coop |
| my case a coop that was 8' x 10' worked out | | | | that's bigger than required. It will prevent |
| perfectly. | | | | overcrowding (plus it allows you to get more |
| Depending on how you lay out your chicken coop | | | | chickens if need be). If your chicken coop is sized |
| you may also need to increase it's size to | | | | right your chickens will be happy and healthy and |
| accomodate the roosts and nests. Roosts are | | | | you'll reap lots the benefits of fresh eggs every |
| essential in keeping your chickens healthy because it's | | | | morning for breakfast. |
| where they sleep. Chickens instinctively sleep on the | | | | |