Are Chicken Sheds (Chicken Coops) Best?

Are Using Chicken Sheds (Chicken Coops) the Best Approach?

If you want to raise chickens in your backyard there are three ways to do it. First, let them run loose wherever they want. Second, build a chicken coop, also known as a chicken shed, with only wire as the walls or ceiling. Or third, build high quality chicken coops out of wood and chicken wire. There are advantages and disadvantages to each method, but before getting started on your housing you need to consider the differences.

Allowing your flock to roam the backyard without any restraint will be loved by your birds. They will enjoy the freedom to hunt and peck all day long for plants and bugs. They will find all of their own food which will make feeding them virtually free. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

There are two main problems with this method. Letting them get all of their own food will save you money, but it will also provide them with less protein and calcium than required for good egg production. In other words, you will not get very many eggs with this method.

Bearing this in mind, your solution might be to simply put out a little bit of high quality feed for them to supplement their diet. This will still keep your feed costs low while increasing egg production. This would be a good idea, but unfortunately, it’s just not safe outside. Neighborhood pets or wild predators will put your birds at risk. No matter where you live the chances are very good that there will be animals roaming around that can quickly decimate your flock. The only way to prevent this is to provide a safe home.

Now that you’ve decided to build a home for your birds you may decide to do it the cheapest and easiest way; put a few posts in the ground and staple chicken wire to them. This will create four walls and a ceiling, but it really isn’t the same as building a chicken coop. The main problem is that it still won’t keep out persistent predators who may decide to dig underneath the wire. In addition, it won’t protect your flock from the elements. Plus, hens will lay more eggs if they feel safer, which means you need to use some wood and build a chicken coop.

The safest chicken coops are built with wood. Along with the actual wooden chicken house you can add a porch area surrounded by wire to allow your birds a little freedom to scratch and peck for enjoyment. But to keep your birds safe from predators bury some chicken wire under the ground to prevent them from getting inside by digging underneath.

Add a window or two on the south side for ventilation, but be certain to place some wire across the opening. Chickens need a dry, well-ventilated area to maintain optimum health and a wooden house will serve this purpose. You will be rewarded because the healthiest chickens lay the most eggs.

Choose a location that has good drainage to prevent exceptionally muddy areas. Also, make certain it is not located at the bottom of a slope where water will drain toward it, make sure there are wind barriers, and be certain to construct it in an area where there are no loud noises. With a little advanced thinking it’s possible to build chicken coops that will allow your flocks to maintain good health, feel safe, and lay lots of high quality eggs for your table.