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Top tips for raising chicken at your backyard

Undoubtedly the Most Popular Chicken Coop Design online, this Chicken Coop is a Top Selling Model by far, suitable for keeping 2-5 chickens. It comes standard with a large size raised living room, seperate dual nesting box, wooden ramp and a spacious chicken run.

We have IMPROVED the design even further with 3 NEW EXCLUSIVE FEATURES:

REMOTE DOOR HANDLE
REAR WHEELS
FRONT CARRY HANDLE


If you’re wondering how to build a chicken coop, then you are definitely not alone. Chicken coops are becoming more and more popular. Using these quick and easy design elements and adding them to your overall chicken coop plan, you will build a chicken coop that is both pleasing to the eye, and safe for your chickens.

Tip #1 – Build a Safe Chicken Coop

You not only need to protect your chickens from hungry predators, but they must be able to survive the natural elements, such as rain, snow, and summer heat. The location of your chicken coop is of upmost importance when considering the safety of your chickens. Primarily, you should build the chicken coop in a high and well drained area, so if and when it does rain, the coop will dry quickly. It is also important to have your chicken coop face the sun, so that the coop can dry properly in wet seasons.

When hot weather hits, proper ventilation is key. Installing sliding windows and doors that can be opened and closed as needed will provide the chickens proper ventilation in hot weather.

In order to protect your coop and chickens from predators, you should bury your outside runs with chicken wire surrounding the coop at a depth of about 1 foot. This will deter all but the largest predators from reaching your chickens.

Tip #2 – Build an Easy Maintenance Coop

Diseases and sickness can spell disaster to coop bound chickens. Cleaning your chicken coop should be as easy as possible so that you can do it quick and often. There are a few design techniques that will ensure cleaning your chicken will be easy. Install doors that open inward and not outward. Another design element that makes it much easier to clean your chicken coop is to design the floor at a low angled slope towards the main door. When hosing down the inside of the coop with water and disinfectants, the water will drain outside the coop automatically, instead of puddling in the middle – which can be a major hassle.

Tip #3 – Keeping Your Coop Warm and Bright

A properly built chicken coop is not only well ventilated, but warm in the cold winter months. There are a few simple tips to follow in order to keep your chickens warm at night or in the cold seasons. The first tip is to properly insulate the walls of the structure. This will not only keep your chickens dry in wet seasons, it will help to hold in the heat in the cold. You should also face the chicken coop so that the windows let in light from the sun. This is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your chickens warm in the cold months.

Another tip is to install a proper electrical lightning system. These are relatively inexpensive and cheap to maintain. Installing light will not only let you see the chickens if you need to at night, it can serve as a wonderful heat source.

ChickenDIYguides.com1. It Works! Thousands of people have successfully built their own Chicken Coop

2. Saves Money – you save money when you don’t have to spend $thousands$ on a “retail chicken coop”

3. GO GREEN – Do your part to stop the mishandling of chickens in commercial battery cages!

4. Produce your own Eggs – No eggs taste better (or are healthier) then fresh eggs from your backyard.

5. It’s Fun – just wait until your friends and family see what you have created!

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So, you’re interested in raising chickens?  You’ve embarked on a fun an exciting journey! ChickenCity is FULL of great information.

Below are the absolute basics of raising chickens. For more detailed information please explore the rest of the site and join our forum.

Why Raise Chickens? 
Here are a few of the most frequently expressed reasons people raise chickens:  

  • Easy and inexpensive to maintain (when compared to most other pets)
  • Eggs that are fresh, great-tasting & nutritious
  • Chemical-free bug and weed control
  • Manufacture the worlds best fertilizer
  • Fun & friendly pets with personality (yes, you read that right)

Where To Get Chicks:

  • Local Feed Stores often carry a variety of day old chicks around Spring
  • Hatch chicks from eggs – HomeMade Chicken Incubator

How To Care For A Chick – First 60 Days:

  • Young Chick Brooder – Can be as simple as a sturdy cardboard box or a small animal cage like one you’d use for rabbits.
  • Flooring – Pine shavings work best
  • Temperature – 90 to 100 deg. for the first week, decrease 5 deg. per week.  A 100 watt bulb pointing in one corner (not the whole brooder) works well.
  • Food & water – chick crumbles / starter & a chick waterer
  • Play time – Play with your chicks when young to get the use to being around people.
  • Outside time – Section off an area in your yard where the chicks can explore, scratch, etc.  Make sure you can catch them when it’s time to come in.

Chicken Care After First 60 Days, General Chicken Care:

  • Chicken Coops – Once feathered out you’ll want to move your chickens into a chicken coop!  Rule of thumb is about 2-3 square feet per chicken inside the henhouse and 4-5 sq/ft per chicken in an outside run. Keep local predators in mind and make a safe home for your flock!
  • Flooring – Pine shavings work best.  You can even try the deep litter method for even less maintenance.
    Food & water – Most people go with chicken layer feed / pellets. You can even make a homemade chicken feeder / waterer
  • Treats – Vegetables, bread, bugs, chicken scratch (cracked corn, milo, wheat)