5 Common Mistakes to avoid when Building a Chicken Hen House
Sure you can build a beautiful chicken coop in your bakyard and keep all your chicken in it, however there are a few things you should be mindful of before you make any commitments. Here are a few things you should avoid:
Not considering the size before making the Coop:The standard area requirement per chicken is 4 square feet minimum. Thus if you have 4 chickens your coop/ark should have at least 16 square feet for the chicken to roam about. Also you will want to consider the space of your backyard and the amount of space you have to offer before you make the coop. Not doing this may make the coop ill-suited to both your requirement and the place. Inadequate preventive measures against predators: Smart predators such as the weasel or a raccoon are infamous for their skill in bypassing raised defenses to catch unsuspecting prey from inside a chicken coop/ark or a chicken run. If you have a chicken run then do dig the wire about 4 feet into the ground to discourage any attempts at infiltration. Also cover the run with a wire grille or something familiar on the top so that aerial predators such as hawks or owls may not get your birds. Gaps in fencing/wiring: This is one of the most neglected aspects but contributes to astonishing number of poultry deaths. Often scared chicken in their efforts to escape from a predator or anything similar stick their heads into a wire opening only to have their head or limb ripped right of. So make sure such gaps are not present so that such unfortunate incidents may be avoided. Installing the coop in the wrong place: An often overlooked part is the place where the coop should be installed. Although the place should be aesthetically suited, you should ask important questions such as “will this disturb my neighbors?” “Is this place safe from predators?” “will the weather be an issue for the birds if I put the coop here?” etc. Buying expensive readymade coops when cheaper alternatives are present: Many people do not realize that even readymade coops need to be assembled. Thus what you pay for is just the un-assembled material and the accompanying plans; both of which are readily available at cheaper rates.
There are many more considerations that you might have to take which will be specific to your place and condition. So take as many things into account before you make your move.
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