I was so excited to get my coop. And, its beautiful! I now I have my coop and my run all set-up. However, before I show you my coop, I want to go over a few things that make for a good coop.
Let's start with a few definitions- this way we are all on the same page.
- Coop: an enclosed structure for chickens to seek shelter
- Run: an area attached to to coop which allows chickens to peck and scratch the ground
- Roost: bars inside of the coop where chickens sleep
- Nesting box: an enclosed area within the coop that a chicken lays eggs
From my perspective, a chicken coop and run's main purpose is protection. It provides protection predators and weather conditions. Each part of the coop combined help provide these essential needs. The coop itself provides protection from the weather- wind, rain, and cold. It also provides a physical barrier from predators. It takes work for an animal to get into the coop. The roost inside the coop provides a safe place to sleep. In the wild, chickens would roost up above the ground to avoid predators. The run allows the chickens to safely get out of the coop to peck and scratch while protecting them from predators. It is essential to make the coop and run as predator proof as possible.
Depending on where you live, what you are protecting against will vary. Personally, I do not need to protect against bears. But, hawks fly around our yard constantly. I also live near farmland and know there are coyotes and fox that live close. Since I live in town, I also run the risks of neighborhood dogs, stray cats, racoons, and opossums.
The next thing to consider with a chicken coop is ventilation. You need the coop to be draft free but well ventilated. By having good ventilation, you will have healthier chickens. It will also keep the odor inside the coop down. This will ultimately help keep the odor for your neighbors down as well.
Let's get back to my coop. It is a walk-in style coop which I had a local company make for me. I choose this so I could easily get in and clean it. I have arthritis in my back and hand so I wanted a coop that would not leave me stooped over for long periods of time. I did get a second roost bar. Technically, with only six chickens, I could have gotten away with one roost bar. Recommended roosting bar space will vary depending on the size of your bird. Going off 8-10 inches per bird, with 6 birds I will need 48 to 60 inches total. I purchased a 6x9 foot run from Omlet. I'll do a review of the run later after we've had it for a bit. However, so far, I'm loving the run. I wanted to have at least 10 square feet per bird in my run. So at 59 square feet, I'm just shy of that by 1 square foot.
Here's a picture of my chicken coop.
I'd love to see your coop and set-up for chickens. Please feel free to share a picture or comment telling me about your coop.
Up next for the urban cluck- getting the chicks!
No comments:
Post a Comment