If you are considering a first flock of chickens in the backyard, we recommend the Petmate Superior Construction chicken coop as a durable, easy-to-build home for your birds. If you've built IKEA furniture, you can build this. Looking for a choice of commercial chicken coop types? You've come to the right place. Here I will show you the best types of chicken coops.
Some of the most popular options for chicken coop materials include plastic chicken coops, eco-friendly chicken coops, and wooden chicken coops. This type of chicken coop is constructed of high-strength plastic materials, which makes them very durable. These chicken coops are also very easy to clean and, in general, are also portable. What is the best chicken coop bedding for healthy and happy chickens? Medium to coarse-grained sand is the best litter for chicken coops, as it is non-toxic, dries quickly, stays clean, low in pathogens, and has low dust levels.
Backyard Chicken Raising Is Growing in Popularity in the U.S. UU. It is estimated that more than 8 percent of households, about 13 million homeowners have backyard chickens across the country. But before starting with a herd of your own, you have to take into account quite a few considerations.
When it comes to the size of your chicken coop, keep in mind that every standard-sized chicken needs at least 3 square feet of space, although smaller breeds, such as roosters, can survive with just 2 square feet of chicken coop space each. They also need access to at least 8 to 10 square feet of roaming space, which is a particularly important consideration when raising chickens in an urban environment or other small space. If you want to feed your eggs to the neighborhood or sell them at the local farmer's market, then consider OverEZ's large chicken coop. With two hangers, it can easily house up to 15 full-size chickens and has space to nest five.
The insulated roof helps keep chickens warm in winter and the chicken coop has two ventilation holes and windows that open for additional ventilation. The floor and sides are treated with a resin designed to resist moisture. Technically, this isn't a chicken coop, but this metal mesh enclosure gives chickens a safe place to walk and helps prevent them from straying too far away. You can buy a larger enclosure if you need it, but this should provide enough space for 15 or more full-size chickens to roam happily.
It is tall enough for adults to stand and the door can be locked. The mesh will help keep most predators out during the day and the closed construction also makes it easy to gather your chickens at night. In colder climates, chickens need to be able to fully cover their feet when sleeping, so people living in colder areas should avoid chicken coops with a rounded bar or hanger, opting for those with a flat wood option. To provide optimal egg-laying habitat for your chickens, it is important that chicken coop designs include nest boxes.
Smaller chickens, such as roosters, will also need less space, usually around 2 square feet for chicken coop space. The disadvantages of the chicken coop are that the top can't be opened and if you want a chicken coop and run for the birds, you'll have to add them yourself. While you don't need to move your hen, especially if you let your chickens out in the open field, wheeled chicken coop designs are ideal if you have to house your chickens full time so that the chicken coop can move around the yard, giving your hens a fresh view, fresh grass and a little more freedom. This type of chicken coop usually doesn't come with a track, so you have the option of building a large race around it to fit the size of your flock.
Adding things like bedding on the floor makes it easy to clean the bottom of your chicken coop, as it helps prevent droppings from sticking to the floor. In colder climates, chickens will need chicken coops with insulation and heat, and in places prone to freezing, they will need more than just a hanger. If you are interested in using bedding materials other than sand, pine shavings or straw, check out my article, A Comparison of 21+ Bedding Materials for Your Chicken Coop. This large chicken coop comes with non-spill food and water containers and a large slide out tray for easy maintenance.
If you have very limited space for your chickens, a very small flock, or a large threat of predators, keeping your chickens completely in a chicken coop with a small run might be the best option. The chicken coop has two doors, a nesting area with places for chickens to lay their eggs, a ladder for chickens and a large ventilation. If you are very skilled, the most profitable chicken coop is one that you build yourself from recycled or recovered materials. Place your chicken coop in partial sunlight so your chickens can choose to sunbathe or rest in the shade.
These chicken coops should also be used on flat terrain, so there are no weak spots in the enclosure that could allow a predator to enter the chicken coop. . .
