A mistake individuals typically make after they purchase or construct their first hen coop is making the coop too small. Almost everybody says they need that they had a much bigger coop. Listed here are 9 causes you could want a much bigger hen coop:
Chicks Develop
Fluffy little chicks are extremely cute. However they develop actually quick. As they get greater, they want progressively extra room. A full grown bantam wants at the least 2 sq. ft of dwelling house. A mature gentle breed, similar to Spitzhauben, wants 3 sq. ft. A mature heavy breed, similar to Jersey Large, wants 4 sq. ft.
Chickens Crave Selection
A coop ought to be large enough to accommodate adequate selection to maintain your chickens from losing interest. It also needs to have locations the place the lowest-ranking birds can get away from these of upper rank. Loads of house is very important in a local weather the place chickens might spend additional time indoors due to uncomfortable chilly wind or rain.
Hens Get Outdated
As hens age they steadily lay fewer eggs every year. Though a wholesome hen might lay for a decade or extra, manufacturing peaks within the first yr. By the tenth yr you possibly can count on solely about one-tenth the variety of eggs laid through the first yr. In some unspecified time in the future you could want to purchase extra hens to spice up egg manufacturing. And if you’re like many hen keepers, you’ll need to hold the one that you love older hens, even when they aren’t laying properly. Which means you’ll want a much bigger hen coop.
Rooster Math
“Rooster math is actual,” is one other means of claiming that after you begin with chickens you’ll have a tough time resisting the will so as to add extra. Possibly your hens hatch out chicks you determine to maintain. Or possibly you’ll desire a better number of breeds, or extra selection in eggshell colours. No matter your cause, having extra chickens means needing a much bigger coop.
Crowding Results in Issues
Crowding too might chickens into too small a coop results in behavioral issues and sickness. Behavioral issues embody combating, feather choosing, and cannibalism. Diseases can observe an extreme build-up of droppings and the accompanying enhance in moisture and ammonia fumes within the air. Cramming in additional chickens than a coop is designed for invariably results in issues. Therefore the necessity for a much bigger coop.
Integrating Chickens
When you begin including extra birds to your authentic flock, you’ll have to combine the brand new chickens. One of the simplest ways to introduce new chickens is to briefly home them individually from the present flock, however close to sufficient that they will see and listen to one another. Each teams then have time to get used to one another from behind a secure barrier. And the best means to try this is to have a coop that’s giant sufficient to partition.
Separating Bullies
In the event you hold roosters, a time might come after they begin combating. Or maybe your flock contains a mixture of each timid breeds and aggressive breeds. Except you’re prepared to surrender one or the opposite, you could have to separate them. Being able to partition the coop, as you’ll if buying new chickens, will hold peace among the many chickens and offer you peace of thoughts.
Feed and Water
Whether or not you present feed and water inside or exterior the coop is a matter of alternative. However even in case you intend to feed and water your flock open air, you could discover important causes to maneuver feeders and drinkers indoors. In that case, your coop must be giant sufficient to accommodate them whereas giving the chickens sufficient house to navigate round them.
House for Storage
Though not completely important, having house in or hooked up to the coop for storing feed, provides, and cleansing instruments is so much handier than carrying all the pieces you want from the home or storage. The coop might embody a separate indoor storage space, or it’d supply porch-like outside house beneath the roof the place gadgets you employ repeatedly are inside simple attain. So suppose forward and think about these prospects as you identify what dimension hen coop will greatest fit your wants.
Useful Hyperlinks
8 Issues to Know Earlier than Constructing a Rooster Coop
Shopping for a Prepared-Made Rooster Coop — 10 Issues to Take into account
5 Equipment to Add to Your Rooster Coop
Rooster Coops from Cackle Hatchery®
And that’s right now’s information from the Cackle Coop.
Gail Damerow has written quite a few poultry-keeping books, together with Storey’s Information to Elevating Chickens. The above picture is courtesy of Francis.
