Chickens Coops – Which Type is Right for You?

Which Type of Chickens Coops are Right for your Chickens?

The type of poultry house you’ll need depends on a lot of factors. If you plan on starting with baby chicks they will require tighter and more comfortable accommodations than adult birds. If you want to begin with started birds the chickens coops will need to be larger, but will not have to be insulated as well as the housing for younger birds. Colder areas may require an all-indoor section while warmer areas can have sides made from chicken wire.

When building chicken coops there are a few things to keep in mind before beginning construction. Things like feeding, watering, cleaning, and gathering eggs are the most critical when it comes to planning your coop. An expensive or lavish home for your flock is not necessary, just an enclosed area that will protect your birds from the elements and predators. In fact, if you already have an old shed or building in your yard it can most often be modified to house a small flock of birds. However, if you want to raise a large flock it’s usually best to start building their home from scratch.

There are basically two types of chicken houses, floor housing and cage systems. Floor housing allows birds free access to anywhere in the house. It can be used for managing a small flock from start to finish. You can brood and grow chicks in this type of housing as well as raise chickens for meat and egg production. This is the preferred method for small flock owners because it allows the birds more room than the cage system.

The cage system is the type used most frequently by commercial egg producers. This isn’t the healthiest system for the birds, but it’s cheaper because more birds can be housed in a smaller area. It also saves money on labor because automatic feeders and watering systems can be installed along with belt systems for collecting eggs. A cage system will require less manpower to manage a large flock. If you want to raise a large amount of birds and start your own egg producing business, this is the most economical system to use.

A poultry house must provide a safe, clean, and dry atmosphere for your flock and should be tight enough to prevent drafts, especially in colder climates. A tight house can prevent large temperature changes during the day and also save on heating costs. In colder climates the walls and ceiling should be insulated. It’s also a good idea to use electric heat tapes and water warmers if the temperatures get below freezing.

Chicken pens can produce a lot of moisture and therefore a good ventilation system must be used. For the small laying flock this can be just a couple of windows that can be opened when the weather is good and closed when the weather is bad. At the same time the structure needs to be sturdy enough to withstand a strong wind if there are no other protective barriers surround the poultry housing.

One other item of importance is light. This is important for both layers and growing stock. Without enough light the birds will lay fewer eggs while still eating feed that you had to pay for. Anything you can do to increase egg production while lowering your feed bill is a good thing.