Category Archives: Poultry Housing

Poultry Housing Systems

The system of poultry housing to be adopted depends on category tage), type of birds,climatic conditions, capacity to invest and strength of birds. Sometimes combination of two or more systems is also followed depending on need and convenience of operations for fanning. Broadly, the classification or types of poultry housing systems is given in Flow chart

FREE RANGE

Rearing of poultry by letting them loose on ground (field) called as range in limited area(fenced) is known as free range system. The system is adopted only when adequate land isavailable to ensure desired stocking density by avoiding crowding. It A range should provide shelter, greens. feed, water shade, room , for exercise and saftey. But foraging is the major source of feeding for birds. Shelter is usually provided by temporary roofing supported by ordinary poles. The fields are generally used on rotational basis after harvesting of crops by moving of birds from field to fielJ depending on cropping programme. All types and categories of birds can be reared in this system. The average stocking density of adult birds in this system is 250 birds per hectare. The scientific management practices cannot be followed because there is no control over the birds. The system is not practiced in India for commercial rearing but used for backward poultry keeping in villages for country hens.

SEMI-INTENSIVE

As the name indicates birds are half-way reared in houses and half-way on ground or range, i.e. birds are confined to houses in night or as per need they are also given access to runs. The houses are with solid floors while runs are fields only. The success of rearing depends on maintenance of condition of runs to reduce the contamination. Runs can also be used on turn basis. The more danger of infection is from the ground immediately surrounding houses called “foul-patch” due to congregation of birds there for more time in day. Therefore, floor of this ground may be made up of pressed gravel or murrom having slope towards runs, away from house. The stocking density rate on an average for adults is 750 birds per hectare.Here also there is only slight control over birds and scientific management practices cannot be applied. To some extent the system is adopted for duck rearing. The feeding and watering facilities are provided in houses.

INTENSIVE SYSTEM

Birds are totally confined to houses either on ground/floor or on wire-netting floor in cages. While invention of this system, initially it was thought that birds developed leg weakness due to this rearing but later on it was detected that leg problems were due to deficiency of vitamin D, B,, etc. or mineral deficiency like manganese and it was not the fault of system. It is the most efficient, convenient an

Cage Rearing

This system involves rearing of poultry on raised wire netting floor in smaller compartments of wire netting called cages, either fitted on stands on floor of house or hanged to the roof. If birds become overweight they may develop cage fatigue but very rarely. The system has been proved very efficient for laying operations, right from day-old stage till disposal. Feeders and waterers are attached to cages from outside except nipple waterers, for which pipeline is installed through or above cages. Auto-operated feeding trollies and egg collection belts can also be used in this rearing system. The droppings are either collected in trays underneath cages or on belts for it or on the floor or deep pit under cages, depending on type of cages. Primarily cages can be divided into two types depending on their design and installation pattern in the house, viz reverse (Calif-ornian) and battery cages.

Reverse Cages (Stair-step)

They are also known as stair-stepped cages and were initially named after the place California, where invented for first time. The commpartments are arranged step-wise in two or three tiers on stands in two or three rows, were droppings may fall on ground or deep pit under cages . The droppings be removed once 6 months or after 12 months along with disposal of layer batch pending on depth of pit formed by raised platform . Double strength of birds can be accommo-dated the same space in this type of cages as compared to deep-litter.

battery Cages

they are also called as vertical cages. The compartments of cages e arranged one above the other on stands with a tray or shit belts un der the compartments for collection of droppings in two or three rows. The droppings are preferably removed every day or at least alternate day in this system. The feeders and waterers arrange-nt is same as that of reverse cages. These cages house still more number of birds than deep-litter or reverse cages. Roughly tripplc strength of birds can be housed as compared to deep-litter system. The arrangement of compartments is elaborated in the figure

Flat Deck Cages

This is the single tier cage system popularly used for rearing chicks upto 8 weeks, for easy handling of them in morden methods of poultry production and management. Each cage is usually 1 m (100 cm) square block fitted on stand. Length-wise each block is divided into two compartments by a partition in middle at 50 cm of width housing, 20 chicks in each compartment or 40 chicks in a block. They are provided with trough waterers initially attached on width sides and from around 4th week waterers on both the sides length-wise are used. Nipple, arid pipeline, length-wise can also be installed through cages. Feeders to cages are attached from outside on both the sides length-wise . Because the quantity of droppings is less due to smaller size of birds, droppings can easily be stocked for 2 months and removed along with shifting of chicks to grower houses at 8 weeks of age. Generally four rows of cages are installed in 8.5 m wide house with 5 service passages. The length of house can be taken as per need..

Advantages of Cage Rearing

1. Space and land required is lowest than any other type of rearing. About 20,000 to 25,000 birds can be reared per hectare. ‘ Therefore, the cost of overall housing is reduced to a great extent.

. Birds are under complete control. Even birds can be housed individually which is sometimes followed for breeders.

3. Accurate records of individual bird can be maintained which is helpful in efficient breeding programme.
4. Scientific management practices in respect of feeding, watering. breeding, health care, etc. can be adopted easily.
5. Egg eating is largely prevented and most clean egg productior. is obtained.
6. The birds do not congregate at the time of feeding and fee: consumption is still reduced due to further restricted movements as compared to deep-litter.

7. The major litter horned diseases like coccidiosis and worms are eliminated or incidence is reduced to large extent.

8. The cost of litter and litter management problems are totally eliminated.
9. Day to day operations like watering, feeding, egg collection, medication, vaccination, culling, debeaking, etc. are easy and create minimum stress of birds.

10. The breakage of eggs is reduced to minimum possible level of 0.5 to 1 per cent which increases profit of margin.

Floor Space Requirements on Deep-litter and Cages
Floor requirements vary according to species, type, age, size of birds and system of housing. The floor space requirements for chicken as per category are given in the Table

Different Types Of Backyard Chicken Coops

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When it comes to hen coops, then there are limitless number of ideas and chicken coop designs which you can use. Building the chicken houses is a process that should never be taken lightly, as the health and well being of the birds is going to be determined on the accommodation that would be provided to them. Some even say that it might be an easy to go plan which is best suited for the weekend. So, if you plan to have some low cost chicken coop, then there are numerous ideas and designs which will come in handy if you pay a proper heed towards them. Here are some of the different types and forms of the backyard chicken coops which you can use.

Small Chicken Coop

The thing about the small chicken coops is that they can easily be moved from one place to the next. Yes, there are some chicken coops which are not optimal for movement, but it is always best for you to design a moveable one. The dimensions which you need to ponder are 3.5 ‘ High, nearly 38” deep and about 64” long. It is the most recommended chicken coop for 8 chickens. Now here, you can also make use of the internet for the purpose of downloading a number of chicken coop plans.

Large Chicken Coop

For the purpose of making a chicken coop for 10 chickens, it is imperative to keep in mind the space that would be required for the optimal growth of each of them. The space to be allocated should be around 0.4 square m per chicken. Moreover, the nests should be shared in a balanced manner between the chickens. To be more precise, 3 nests can be shared between 8 chickens. So, in lines to this, for 10 chickens, 4 nests would be the most recommended. Furthermore, the design you would be using should also come to allow the maximum area for the storage and should also be capable of turning down the attacks that would be initiated from the side of the predators. The same square formula is applicable whether you need to make the chicken coop for 12 chickens or chicken coop for 20 chicken. In terms of the ark chicken coop, again the number of birds should be considered. Moreover, you would also need to ensure superior protection mechanisms while making use of these one of a kind coops.

Stationary Chicken Coop

Permanents points of resting are allocated for the stationary chicken coops. In all, there happen to be different types of the chicken coops that are used including the moveable and fixed ones. These coops are structured in the form of a building or a specialized fenced area. The size of the coop here is determined on the basis on the number of chicken that would be kept in the setting. However, the rule of thumb here is the use of 4 square feet for each bird. Keeping in view, this formula, you would be able to make one for yourself. On the other hand, the moveable chicken coop might be best suited for those who are wary of the attacks of predators and from evasive weather conditions. But there are some farmers and home owners who prefer to make use of the basic chicken coop for the job.

Portable, Moveable or Mobile Chicken Coop and tractor

The moveable chicken coops can easily hive or accommodate a large number of birds, but it all depends on the specific design and the measures for the protection of the birds which you have made use of. The inspiration behind the use of this chicken coops is the high level of functionality and movement they offer. Just by adding some wheels to the lower end of the coop, an all in one mobile coop might be the right option for you. The roosts should be placed above the trays which are dedicated for the collection of the chicken left overs. Moreover, the tops of the boxes can also be modified in order to allow the birds to make use of the roosts.

The chicken tractor can also be classified among the most used portable chicken coops. In addition to housing the birds, these machines are also used for giving a shelter to other forms of poultry. The prime use of these tractors is the freedom in terms of free ranging they allow to the birds and the farm owners. Using this machine, the farm owners would be able to provide an extensive environment to the birds.

Plastic Chicken Coop

The plastic chicken coop can be termed as those new players that have emerged recently in the worldwide chicken markets. Most of the advertisements you are going to see in this regard stumble upon the extended protection these coops from the red mites. The red mite can be classified to be a very small ecto-parasite that feeds using the blood of the poultry animals. The cleaning process of the plastic coops is also quite easier in comparison to the wooden houses. You can wash, clean as well as dry out these coop in only 30 or less minutes. Moreover, these coops are also less costly in comparison to the wooden ones, so they are best suited for those who are on a tight budget.

Handcrafted Chicken Coops

There are a number of handcrafted chicken coops that are designed to be portable and easier to clean. In fact, in some states of the US, these coops can be availed at pretty low prices. In addition to offering a good quality settings and environment for the chickens, these coops are also easier for mobility. The number of chickens that can be kept in these coops range from 3 to 7 or even more, if the area is sufficient enough. Now here, the chicken pens might not be best suited for those areas which are marked for frequent predator attacks.

Wooden Chicken Coop

As mentioned before, the wooden chicken coop are losing their fame now, all because of the difficult cleaning process. While there is a substantial presence of the farmers who prefer to make use of these coops, but still it might not be the best suited for those who are newbies in the domain of raising the backyard chicken.

Eglu Chicken Coop

Now here we have another form of chicken coop which can be termed as easy to clean and a bit cheaper. The prime question which is asked in making use of these coops is related to the prevention of the red mite. There is no doubt about the increase in the popularity of these coops. Moreover, they are also quite appealing and attractive in comparison to the others types of backyard chicken coops. At the same time, there are those who always prefer to make use of the chicken hutches.

How to build/manufacturing hen house/chicken coop?

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Chicken Coop Materials – Many Reasons Exactly Why Wood Is Actually A Chicken Coop’s Best Ally

Chicken coops, like dwellings, perform best when they’re furnished with the right items. Low cost goods produce a terrible product. Great supplies provide a perfect unit. It truly is immensely important to acquire your own raw materials prepared sooner than you begin the process of building.

Nevertheless with so many distinct kinds of chicken coop materials which are sure to become utilized, you want to get organized instantly so you should remain ordered during manufacturing.

You will have to have some wood to build a poultry house and furthermore this is probably one of the most prominent chicken coop materials you’ll apply.

To start with, ensure you are spending a lot of focus on the exact form of lumber you have to make use of to make the actual coop with. Several men or women take advantage of the enirely wrong raw wood kind and this would get back to disrupt them all down the road. Use redwood or perhaps at the very least pressure remedied raw wood towards the framework.

Just make certain if you ever buy your raw wood, it should be spray-treated to turned water repellant. In any other case, acquire a water sealant and treat the lumber following the actual manufacturers’ guidelines. Nevertheless this is serious to help keep your hens dry. Wetness in the hen house could generate health issues to propagate between your favorite birds on a rapidly rate. A processed wood could minimize this.

Once you build a chicken house it is not difficult to discover providers that put up for sale pre-owned or scrap wood on a much lower rate. These kinds of establishments will probably let you have a look at each individual part and even analyze the grade related with the lumber.

You may as well decide upon the volume of your wood you’d like. You might want to pull out a few worn out nails or alternatively slice it to suit your hen house design properly, however this is actually a tiny amount to fork out for less expensive timber. You will not only spend less funds at chicken coop materials whenever you build a good chicken coop your own coop will likely have some extra character and just not mimic a prefabricated chicken household.

Many varieties of chicken coop materials which could be employed that incorporate chicken line, tarps in addition to lattice. If you’re thinking about allowing your birds wander the yard but lacking thorough free range, consider utilizing a chicken fence to develop a compact backyard that extends off their hen house.

You wouldn’t ought to bother about trying to keep them controlled in their region, yet somehow their particular layer may be drastically widened in this manner. Raw lumber yard merchants are the primary spots you might want to check out when it’s time to get all the chicken house material.

The single thing anyone would worry about whenever choosing to build a hen house is utilizing their specific creative thinking as everything else will happen effortlessly. It is not important whether it’s a little, bigger, block, rectangular shape or eliptical hen house you may be attempting to make due to the fact it might be carried out.

You aren’t available to merely one or even 2 types of equipment and the truth is you can find countless chicken coop materials in which you may choose from. It does not even make any difference specifically what height and width of hen house you intend to put together, possibly even a little something as basic as ply wood could get the task finished.

Environmentally controlled poultry shed/ House farming

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So you have decided to have a poultry shed for rearing the farm animals. But the thing you must now is that animal domestication should be taken as a process, as it requires certain measures and strategies all of which are of extreme importance. The prime purpose of having a poultry shed is to help the animals adapt to humans. This adaptation to the captive environment requires the maintenance of certain conditions. The guide to poultry control shed can be brought to practical use only by following all the steps as they are. Here are some of the basic/essential requirements and a basic design for the environmentally controlled shed!

The first thing you need to do is to make a blue print for the shed that you plan to have. You can try to make your own plan, but it is best to make use of the internet for getting an idea about the most conducive and practical plans. A typical poultry shed for chickens makes use of a plan that distributes 21 chickens per square meter. The floor on which the animals are to be reared should be more than 15 cm with variations for more animals. Now you can assume that what would be required for rearing 30,000 to 45,000 birds. The land area required to make a poultry shed for 30,000 broilers should be more than 80000 square feet. It can be more if you are willing to make some good investment in control shed.

Furthermore, a balanced amount of litter is spread all over the floor which primarily consists of wooden shavings and other similar materials. An important thing here is the fact that these sheds are of controlled environmental types, so you need to have an efficient ventilation system for the maintenance of the temperature. The birds and animals require a certain temperature profile for their growth.

The windows should be made in such a way that sunlight and fresh air can easily enter the poultry shed. In times of the windy and cold seasons, you must have some brooders for maintaining some heat in the entire structure. It is all because of the fact that farm and domesticated animals are highly susceptible to weather changes. As the animals start to grow the heat requirement comes a few notches down as the animals are now able to generate some body heat of their own.

In terms of the feeding density, the feeders and drinkers should be sufficient for the accommodation of the 30,000 to 45,000 birds. On an average the feeding consumption for one bird should be more than 3 kg for a period of 5 to 6 weeks. Below is the list of some of the most important variables in bird rearing and infrastructure:

Temperature and humidity maintenance
Supplementary levels of heating and cooling at all times
The amount of nutrient densities consumed by the birds
An increase of the biomass in the shed from time to time
Presence of some heat in the litter and all necessary arrangements for meeting the surface requirement
The floor area should be kept in mind in the times of heat distribution

All of the requirements elucidated above should be dealt with efficacy and extreme care for making the shed a healthy breeding and reading place for the birds.

Ventilation system

http://www.poultryhub.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Ventilated-shed.jpg

Structure of poultry shed

http://www.southperth.wa.gov.au/Images/poultry_shed.JPG

Feeders and drinkers in a poultry shed

http://www.bigdutchman.de/fileadmin/photos/gefluegel/haltung_mast/Broiler2.jpg

Land area

http://www.bluechipwebdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Day-old-chicks-chicken-shed.jpg

Heating and electricity

http://greenearthenergy.co.uk/sites/default/files/images/imce/cs_comm_HJames2.jpg

Different designs/diagrams of chicken coop

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Bedding Material choices for Chickens Coop

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Raising chickens is just like raising the little babies – they require extra attention, affection and care, indeed. When you see your baby chickens and the adult ones roaming here and there in the backyard, a strike of happiness comes out of the heart. My father was right; raising chickens is an interesting yet addictive hobby. My experience of raising chickens is not really vast, but within a short time span I have done a lot for my little babies. I loved the coop building part and yes, decorating it even was an interesting end. Similarly, setting up the food containers and building territories was even something I enjoyed a lot.

I don’t have a larger flock of hens and chicks but that does not mean my efforts towards the maintenance are low. Irrespective of the number of fellows you have, you cannot compromise on the chicken coop materials; similarly, the bedding options in the coop are something that cannot be even overlooked. A comfortable chicken coop consists of lots of bedding. You must be thinking why is that so? Have a look at major perks of beddings;

It absorbs the urine
It absorbs the other chicken droppings (waste)
Acts as a nesting material – hens comfortably lay eggs there

Different and popular types of bedding:

Pine shavings:

All those who are into small farming or backyard chicken keeping, adore pine shavings, this makes it a popular type of chicken coop bedding. The most attractive feature of these pine shavings is that they have the ability to absorb the entire wetness and smell as well. This acts perfectly in litter management irrespective of the skin of the coop. Also, these pine shavings are quite lightweight and soft, and when the hens lay eggs on these, they remain prevented from being damaged. Also, these shavings are easy to remove and replace. As a whole these are ideal type of bedding options – they are one of the cheap chicken coop beddings and costs between $6 and $9. You can easily shop for them online; however, make sure you don’t get puzzled between the pine chips and shavings. Chips are not a very good option, so refrain from its purchase.

The only problem with this bedding is its dusty nature – it can cause issues to other flocks if you have any, but chickens remain safe.

Hay or straw:

The second choice of many homesteaders is hay or straw when it’s about choosing the chicken coop nest or floor bedding. Due to less in price and durability, many backyard raisers have bunches of straws in their garages. They act more or less like the pine shavings – they act as good absorbent of the chicken dropping and also prevent the bad odor from taking over the coop. However, you must not compromise on the quality of the straws or hay – many complain that the straws remain moist and that is why after a day or so the coop began to stink. Many even speak against the idea that nothing like this happens. So, potentially the major fault is seen with the quality of the straw. Make sure you inquire from the seller about the A and B categories. Since years people have been using these hays in the nests of the hens where they lay their eggs.

Shredded newspaper:

This is an amazing bedding alternative; truly, it is the most cost effective technique too. My father had a lot of newspapers and we thought of recycling them this way – by shredding the newspaper into smaller bits, they can be used as chicken coop flooring easily. Many different types of ideas must be prevailing in your mind at the moment, I am sure – all your doubts regarding this bedding type would clear by going through the research findings;

Just like all other bedding options, newspapers have higher absorbing capacity.
The newspaper ink is of no harm to the chickens or any other coop bird
By adding some soiled bedding on the newspaper you can restrict from decomposing

However, many times it has been seen that the chickens are not much comfortable with the newspapers flooring – so, if that’s the case you try using sand on it too. If this technique does not work, then accept the fact that your fellows are quite arrogant.

Add a little DE

Many backyard chicken raisers add DE, also known as Diatomaceous to the chicken coops. Many haven’t heard about DE as yet – it is a white abrasive powder substance that is obtained from a distinctive type of ‘algae’. It acts as a wonderful odor controller and also helps prevent the coop and the birds from getting mites and lice. In order to keep your birds healthy, always use the food-grade DE.

Cedar shavings:

Cedar shavings also act perfectly to fill the needs of the chicken bedding. They carry very pleasant aroma, but it is said that they can even affect the birds.

Bamboo sticks:

For chicken coop floor covering ideas, bamboo sticks can even be used. Due to massive production of these sticks in the market, you can obtain them on very feasible rates. They work as sheets on the floor and help in gathering the litter in a better way. Chickens even adore walking on such bamboo stick floorings.

Sand flooring:

The idea of proving the chicken coop with sand flooring is indeed amazing. Firstly, the sand being a natural component does not affect the health of the birds, and also contains all the great advantages that you have been looking for. However, the choice of the sand is something really important to consider here. If you have small farms you can use the litter contain sand as fertilizer there – many do so because it’s really effective.

Sawdust:

The use of sawdust in the chicken brooder is also an amazing option. It has a very soft and natural smell that keeps the internal environment of the coop lively. Also, if you use them during the winters, the chicken coop would remain warmer. However, sawdust can create trouble if it gets really wet. It is then prone of bacteria too – so, in case it gets wet, you would have to change the flooring on alarming basis.

A beginner guide for building a chicken coop

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Masses in many countries are getting inclined towards the idea of backyard chicken coop. The idea of raising your own chicken can be used as a very interesting hobby and it also allows you to attain fresh eggs that these chickens produce. There are various aspects which you need to study about chicken coops to build the most suitable coop. Now the basic ingredient of raising chickens is a chicken coop which can be made by a person at home or can be easily acquired from the market. Making a chicken coop at home is though not simple for the one who has no idea about the technicalities involved and the features which need to be incorporated in the coops. You can use various plans to build a chicken coop but some important factors need your consideration. So here are some important pointers for the beginners who are going to give this idea a go:

1.Characteristics of chicken coop

There are various characteristics which need to be considered while going for an easy to build chicken coop. First of all decide the size which you need to come up with as this will decide the number of birds which you can keep in it, and it also gives you the idea of the space requirement. The other features or characteristics of a chicken coop are the proper provisions of ventilation, provision for natural sunlight, perches, nesting boxes, feeder location, windows and mobility etc. All these characteristics are must to be incorporated in a coop.

2. Design of a house(moveable or fixed)

Before making a chicken coop, one needs to understand the designs which can be used for this purpose. You will find that manufacturers are making chicken coops in unlimited designs but all are based on the idea of making them viable for healthy growth and productivity. So care should be taken while you design e.g. proper location for the feeder so that it is easily reachable by the birds. Now chicken coop or houses can be made both fixed and portable but the portable ones are more preferable as you can easily change its location whenever you need to. The purpose can be achieved by incorporating tires beneath the structure.

3.Space requirement for chicken

Building a chicken house comes with proper space requirements because you not only need the primary area where they will be kept but also a chicken run area where they can roam, as it is a necessary exercise for their growth and productivity. So, building a chicken run with suitable space is mandatory.

4. Proper lighting

When building a chicken house, always be aware of the fact that proper availability of light is very important for their egg laying ability and their proper health. So always incorporate a proper window in your chicken house and make your chickens happier and healthier.

5.Ventilation requirement

Being amazing producers of ammonia, heat and moisture which they surely are, chickens need proper provisions for ventilation in their houses as it removes humidity and dampness. They get rid of the water they drink in the form of vapors through their breathing and this makes the environment in the coop air-humid or unhealthy for easy breathing. So, proper ventilation is something which is vital.

6. Roost

When making plans for chicken coop, also keep in mind that chickens like to sit or perch on limbs or rods, this is called chicken roosting. So always incorporate a rod into your chicken coop and make sure that the rod has enough space available for all your chickens to roost. These little things may sound irrelevant to you but all have their impact on the chickens growth and productivity.

7. Nests

Now this factor is what complies with the basic aim of building coops i.e. eggs production. Chicken for laying eggs need to have nesting boxes placed in their coop. Always provide at least one box per two to three chickens and ensure that the roof or top of such nesting boxes are not in the access of the chickens or else they will use it for the purpose of perching.

8.Fencing requirements to protect from predators

Skunks, raccoons, cats and untamed dogs can always pose a threat to the chickens as it is always a good dinner option for them. Mere chain linking fence is not a proper ploy as raccoons and skunks can easily sneak in through the wholes which are normally found in an average fence of chain links. So always go for the ones with small holes. Here are 15 tips to protect your chickens from predators.


9.Protection from uncongenial weather condition

Now this is subject to the region in which you live in. if you are at a place which receives plenty of rain, place the coop at a higher position to prevent them from flooding because wet chicken can result in a seriously ill or dead chicken. Similarly the climate will decide the breed that you can keep or the breed which can survive.

Poultry Housing – The Basic Requirements to Consider/plaNning to build poultry house

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Poultry Housing – The Basic Requirements to Consider

Chicken farming has become a profitable business lately and its good to try it out. One factor to consider before any other is poultry housing. Every poultry production system must provide the most important requirements. Good examples include the following:

Safety from weather: Domestic birds must be shielded from the cold, rain, sun and wind. Newly hatched chicks need a source of warmth as a basic requirement to shield them against harsh weather conditions.

Safety from predators: The chickens have many predators including snakes, rodents, foxes, dogs and other animals. The best way to solve this problem is to confine chickens in modern structures. These are large installations with concrete floors, electric fences, strong walls and other features. This discourages the predators from digging under floors and walls. Wire mesh doors are also very necessary not to forget meshed windows. Make sure that the available domestic birds are supplied with food and water. Ensure proper hygiene of the poultry house as well.

Adequate ventilation: When planning a poultry housing exercise, keep ventilation requirement in mind. A good flow and circulation of air is an essential element in any chicken house. To achieve this goal, it’s imperative to consider the poultry production capacity. One can do the large-scale poultry farming or small-scale poultry farming. The necessary structures in both cases are different in sizes and designs. Numerous birds require a big housing unit with adequate ventilation features. This prevents poisonous gases such as ammonia, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from harming the birds. Fewer birds require small poultry houses with windows and vents on one side of the house. This is to provide abundant exposure to air. The farmers who live in warmer climates should build structures with open sides.

Heat control: It is good to build poultry houses in such a way that heat can be controlled. Too much heat could even kill the birds not to mention it as a constraint to fruitful poultry farming. On the other hand, temperatures below freezing point should be prevented. Surprisingly freezing temperatures are not very risky for chickens. If temperatures go up to forty degrees, inside the poultry house, the birds cannot survive. At this heat range or over, the birds’ stress levels go up quickly. At 46 degrees Celsius the birds could die. Potential farmers of chicken or any other domesticated birds must read books. Books contain facts about building materials and techniques to lower or raise temperatures. The chicken house construction procedure should be based on the type of local climate to control heat.

Humidity levels: As the farmer constructs the poultry houses, he or she must consider the humidity factor. The birds do not have sweat glands like humans hence their cooling system is via the beaks. When the humidity levels rise, this natural cooling mechanism fails.

Space needs in chicken houses:

Creating space happens to be the most important poultry housing principle. Space determines the quantity of birds you could keep. It also determines the kinds of poultry you could keep. Birds require space so that they can move freely and work out. Space is essential for creating chicken nests and perches too. When thinking of space creation, considering the type of bird species, breeds and production system used is vital. Always make sure that the chickens or any other domesticated birds are not congested in the house units.

Free green roof chicken coop plans – build one yourself

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Since ages people have been raising chickens and cocks in their backyards; there are a number of reasons for indulging in this habit – many do it for their interests and for many it’s the source of income. Interestingly, the survey shows that this trend is getting popular over the years in both rural and urban areas. You must have seen a conventional type of green roof chicken coop in the homes of those who are in chicken caring business, but these are not very effective for all the weathers; many overlook the fact but a chicken coop must be strong enough to bear the harsh weather. If you talk about the normal types of chicken coop designs, they seem attenuate to cope up with the environmental changes – this leads to affect the health of the animals residing in there – which are an ultimate loss for the caretaker.

Other than this, if chicken and chicks are not looked after properly, they incur various diseases and that gets troubling because it is fatal. However, you are not supposed to panic because with a number of various green roof chicken coop plans and amazing ideas related to chicken coop structures, you can easily get through with the problem.

You should always go for green roofs if you are into animal domestication. First of all, it provides a fresher appealing ambiance to the animals inside, and also provides enough space for the animals to move around. In fact, a green roof would make it a cool chicken coop by letting the sun rays away from it. Also, it empowers one to plant some of the healthy and fresh plants over the top so that it becomes an ideal structure for chicken coops for hot weather; basically, it would act as a thermal insulator. Also, the fine appeal can be added to the chicken coop easily this way – after all, you want your chicken house to look as good as it can be.

Many questions about free green roof chicken coop plans and how to build a chicken coop. Well, most of items that you would require can be procured from home – so here you go;

Material needed:

Screws and its driver
Drill
Pond liner
Blankets (used)
Yorkshire board – it would help in setting the roof
A medium sack of gravel
Peat medium sack
Sharp sand

1: First of all you need to find a roof structure; make sure it’s strong enough to bear the weight of the plants.

2: Once the roof has been selected, must attach the pond liner around it; attach it in a way that it overlaps so that when it rains the water does not enter the roof. Join it with glue or staples firmly.

3: Now you should cut the roof into the size which blends well with the box (structure) of the coop. In order to provide a finishing touch to the box, cover it with the blanket. This would help the coop retain the necessary water.

4: Now take the gravel and nicely put it over the roof; make sure that the amount of sharp sand and gravel is equal while making the mixture. In this way the water will get drained easily without harming the chickens inside. Your backyard chicken coop is ready.

5: Lastly, plant it up with plants of your choice. Well, whatever plants you intend to grow and place there, make sure you look after them regularly. Don’t let them get dry or fall because it would then not only destroy the look of the coop, but also the main aim of keeping it cooler would get disturbed. Well, one of the popular types of plant which are ideal for the coop use is Sedum – there are many varieties of Sedum to choose from like;

Angelina
Blue spruce
Dragons blood
John Creech
Orange Stonecrop

These are the layman’s given names, but you can easily find them in the plant shops. I hope the piece of information is ideal enough to help you build your own attractive and comfortable chicken coop design.

8 Revolutionary chicken coop designs

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Do you have a passion for poultry farming? Enjoy the benefits of the best chicken coop designs.

Explore your poultry keeping options through the new and creative designs available at your disposal. Keeping poultry does not have to be stressful once you have mastered the art of backyard chicken coop designs. Chicken coops come in handy in poultry farming because they provide a conducive habitat for your chicken to lay eggs, rest and feed. They can also be the difference between a safe haven for your poultry and a death trap that is prone to predators that will destroy your investment and make you go at a loss. Building a chicken coop is not rocket science; one can easily construct a home made chicken coop that will serve its purpose effectively without incurring high costs.

Great chicken coop designs need to display creativity and have to be practical as well.

Some of the best chicken coop designs include:

EGLU Chicken Coop

Eglu Go coops which are designed by omlet are advanced and highly innovative. It has brilliant features that are guaranteed to make poultry farming successful with reduced risks. Such features include:

It is made of Durable plastic material which does not rust when rained on or harbor pests such as red mites
It is Predator proof hence guaranteeing your poultry a safe haven form wild animals
Egg cartons that enable you to easily collect eggs.
Water and feed containers
Attached run if you choose sized for2-3 standard or 3-4 bantam chickens
A secure wire run that grants effective restriction to prevent the chicken from straying as well as grant them adequate freedom
A spacious area that makes it easy to clean
Fair pricing that will ensure that you save on overheads cost while purchasing and maintaining the coop
A refund guarantee should you purchase coop that does not meet your expectations.
Open accessibility that enables you to purchase the coop from wherever you are.

Chicktopia designed

This chicken coop is designed by studio h and is made of one hundred reclaimed sticks from a tobacco barn and has incorporated a modern architectural design that involves two skewed boxes that are able to aid in the construction of a cozy home for your poultry.

Cocorico design

Designed by Maxime Evard, this egg-shaped housing compartment by yankodesign is connected to a covered mesh area that provides a secure home for your poultry to play around and scratch freely without the fear of predators attacking them.

Breed and retreat coop

This coop was designed by Frederki Rioje at dezeen who made sure that he came up with a modernized design that enables you to construct an elevated with private rooms and a large glassed-in-egg area that allows you to monitor your chicken while they lay their eggs.

Chicken circus coop

This coop was designed by sturel H. they have managed to design a coop that makes it easy to feed your chicken and collect your eggs. The coop has two doors that grant you easy access to the coop while the front run provides adequate protection for your poultry.

The modular coop

Designed by Mitchell Snyder this coop is beautiful and highly modernized. It provides a comfortable home that is protected from any harm. The design is simple and straightforward making it easy to construct.

The metro coop

This coop was designed by Glenn Nardeli, it goes for four thousand dollars and provides a functional home for your chicken as well as an all weather home that can last through winter. It has a decorative wire that is more durable compared to any normal wire that makes it beautiful and its dimensions can be adjusted to fit in as many chicken as you would want.

Bake's Binster coop

This coop was designed by John Bake and goes for seven hundred and ninety five dollars. It is made of cedar and has a compost bin attached to it. This brilliant design helps you collect manure in the compost bin and helps you provide a clean home for your chicken.

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