A Newcomers DIY Guide To Chicken Coops and Runs

Right now our focus will be primarily on chicken
hutches, although generally with first-timers in
mind. Now, a number of people call them chicken
hutches, a few refer to them as coops and runs,
and you'll even discover lots of people calling
them hen houses, but in the end, they all serve
exactly the same purpose - a house designed for
chickens. It is, however, a great idea to
really think about why you are raising them as
well as what you are going to do with them. So,
let's focus on the basics. Undoubtedly various
people have got various reasons. Men and women
have chickens for countless reasons. Naturally
the possibility of free eggs and also meat is
plenty reason for some. Yes, while eating your
very own, as it were, might be a little uncouth
for some people, let's be honest, with the
prices of eggs and also chicken in the food
market nowadays, raising your own would mean
additional money ultimately in your wallet. And
additionally, you will know they are really
organically raised (if you are using organic
feed) and healthy.

Many people sometimes choose to keep chickens
strictly for their particular looks, given that
there are many stunningly wonderful kinds.
There are ones that have unbelievably stunning
colorations and designs, several which are
generally ornamental, a few lay white eggs, a
few colored, while some are actually nice for
getting fat and prepared for your fryer, yumm.
Particular breeds call for more living space
than others, but all chickens have a number of
needs that are the exact same, including food,
shelter, and a little bit of ground where
they're able to scratch in the dirt for insects.

This is where chicken hutches creep into the
picture. To start with, hutches/coops are
merely a single facet of the chicken keeping
operation. As the owner of your chickens, it's
your duty to make sure their basic needs are
being met. All round, chickens do not require a
whole lot to be happy; lots of food, water, and a
place in which they really feel safe and secure
enough to lay their eggs. The market is awash
with different poultry feeds, so finding a
superb kind of food is easy, and of course you
can even allow them to have your kitchen scraps.

For those of you only starting out, perhaps
smaller sized chicken coops and runs are the
very best idea, a superb size is just enough for
3 To 4 birds, or so. At this point, it is
important to bear in mind that you don't need a
rooster. A few newbies who may be raising
chickens, assume they are going to need a
rooster in order to increase egg-laying. Of
course, without a rooster, none of the eggs will
hatch, nevertheless you'll certainly still get
many eggs. In case you can't stand up to the
urge, just make sure you only buy one rooster or
otherwise you'll experience non-stop fighting.

There might be laws and regulations in your area
against you having roosters, yet which do allow
hens, so check that out, as well. And, before
you rush off in order to obtain a rooster, you
have to be aware that they make plenty of noise,
so unless you have plenty of space, you might
like to think this through very carefully.

You'll also require a fair bit of room if you'd
like to keep chickens. Not only do they need an
area where they will lay their eggs as well as
rest during the night, but they also have to be
able to forage all around for food each day.
Even though it may appear needless to us, it's
simply what chickens do.

Typically, chicken hutches don't have to be
huge. The majority of small chicken hutches are
simply about four or perhaps 5 feet long, 3 or 4
feet wide, and 2 to three feet high. You'll see
that in most cases, the actual hutches and runs
come in the style of only one system, but the
hutch/coop section will probably be off the
ground so as to give the chickens more run
space. Some of these can be moved from one
location to another. Moveable designs are
incredibly handy for a number of reasons. One
is that chickens, as much as you might adore
them, can be damaging little creatures. If
you've ever wondered the reason why the surface
area of the moon appears so barren, it's likely
because chickens once lived there. So as to
stop this, you are going to want to be in a
position to shift their house from one area to
another so your grass will get a little
environment friendly fertilizer today and then a
different patch the next day. Rotation is the
name of the game with a chicken ark. On the
other hand, nearly all chicken coops and runs
can't be moved around, but then again, they're
the most convenient to look after.

Now, I think it's time to take a look inside the
chicken hutches. First, they need to have enough
ventilation, however they should also supply
enough warmth. Entry ought to be easy so that
you can clean out their mess, and also collect
the eggs. Their bedding also needs to be changed
from time to time. Ventilation in addition to
accessibility is really essential because they
can get ill fairly easily when they get chilled
or maybe wet. Thankfully, there are numerous
resources on the internet on chicken coops and
runs for any DIY'er, whether you're a seasoned
pro, or a complete novice. Whether you want
information regarding the actual upkeep of
chickens, or whether you want information
regarding chicken coops and runs, the internet
is the place to turn to.

----------------------------------------------------
Chris and Leslie Hardenbrook have chickens in
their backyard on the Big Island of Hawai'i.
Learn how to raise your own egg-laying hens and
build their hutches using DIY step-by-step
beginner's chicken coop plans by visiting their
blog at http://www.echickencoopsandruns.com and
see what the urban chicken movement is all
about.

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