| Raising chickens is a great way to introduce livestock | | | | be raising. Proper Chicken Coop Construction also |
| onto your homestead. Chickens can be raised in small | | | | involves providing the right kind of space for your |
| numbers, and their needs are not difficult or | | | | flock to rest. Chickens have a natural desire to be |
| expensive to meet. Once you have decided to raise | | | | perched above ground level when sleeping, so |
| chickens, there are a number of other decisions and | | | | creating perches or roosts for them in the coop is |
| preparations you will have to make. | | | | important and generally uncomplicated. |
| Choosing which breed of chicken to raise will depend | | | | If your coop has an earth floor, an underground |
| on your intended purpose of the chickens. Will you | | | | barrier around the whole structure will be needed to |
| use the chickens for their eggs, their meat, or both? | | | | keep your flock safe from predators who might |
| Some people also choose to raise chickens for | | | | otherwise dig their way in at night. |
| exhibition, competing for awards based on a chicken's | | | | Proper bedding, a layer of organic litter material on |
| physical appearance. | | | | the floor of the coop, is another important |
| It is also important to decide on the type of feed | | | | consideration in Proper Chicken Coop Construction. |
| you will give your flock. You can choose to purchase | | | | The right bedding will keep the coop insulated and |
| feed or make your own. The purpose, age, and | | | | make manure management easier. Some |
| breed of your chickens will also affect the variety of | | | | recommended litter materials include leaves, pine |
| feed you purchase or make.A proper living | | | | wood shavings, rice hulls, peanut shells, and ground |
| environment for your flock involves careful | | | | corn cobs. |
| preparation. | | | | Bedding should be around three or four inches deep |
| Proper Chicken Coop Construction is dependent on a | | | | to start, but up to twelve inches is recommended |
| few different factors, including climate, the number | | | | during colder weather. Bedding should be kept dry |
| of chickens in your flock, and the intended purpose | | | | and stirred regularly to keep your flock healthy. With |
| of your flock. You may choose to convert a building | | | | the right type and depth of litter, you may only have |
| on your land to a coop, or build your own. | | | | to do a complete bedding change once or twice a |
| Keep in mind that at least three square feet of | | | | year and, because litter can work like a compost pile, |
| space is recommended for every adult chicken you'll | | | | you'll have fertilizer for your garden left over. |