Breeding chickens in the country is a great idea for those who have the opportunity to constantly live outside the city. The first thing to think about in such a situation is how to correctly equip a chicken coop for your wards.
Going to breed chickens only from May to September, you can not make yourself too complicated by construction work.
The requirements for the summer chicken coop are not particularly high, the cells for rabbits are built on the same principle.
But if there is an intention to grow chicken all year round, you should seriously relate to the construction of this building.
Practical advice on the improvement of the chicken coop
Preliminary stage
Self -construction of a house is not such a difficult event to use professionals in this process. In addition, having completed the entire amount of work with your own hands, you can save a considerable amount of money.
At this stage, the choice of a place for a bird house should take place, then it makes sense to decide on the design. The chicken coop should be convenient for chickens and accessible for cleaning.
In addition, it is advisable not to forget about the external attractiveness of the construction, so as not to spoil the general view of the site. It is better to calculate the estimated costs in advance, make a list of materials and outline the algorithm of actions.
The dimensions of the chicken coop
The size of the structure must be correlated with the number of birds. In most cases, the chicken coop is built at the rate of 3-4 chickens per 1m?, But this is the ultimate meaning.
Ideally, each chicken should occupy an area of at least a meter. Only in this case, the hens will feel free, which will allow you to get maximum productivity from them.
In crowded, they will become lethargic, they will slowly gain weight, and they will not be able to properly either. Neither selected feeding, nor regular walks, nor maintaining the optimal temperature regime will save the situation. Non -compliance with one parameter can significantly spoil the result.
Temperature regime
Chickens are very heat -loving by nature, but the heat, nevertheless, is transferred with great difficulty. Therefore, it is very important to provide them with a favorable temperature throughout the entire period.
The optimal temperature equal to twelve degrees of heat is considered optimal for these birds. Its increase immediately leads to a decrease in productivity. In severe heat, chickens can completely stop carrying.
So that the summer heat does not bother birds, measures should be taken to reduce sunlight access to the chicken coop. For this purpose, shutters are installed on the windows (on the outside).
How to make a chicken coop in the country yourself?
Foundation
The construction of a chicken coop allows several different foundation options. The most economical among them is columnar.
But if a capital construction is planned (this refers to a year -round version of the chicken coop), it is better to opt for a strip foundation.
In this case, you will have to dig a shallow trench along the entire perimeter of the future of the house, then dig narrower trenches, as jumpers. It is worth marking first.
The next step is to compile the base with gravel or gravel, the installation of wooden formwork, which serves as a temporary frame for concrete. Next, the concrete solution flies directly. As soon as the concrete finally freezes, the formwork can be removed.
Walls
The range of materials used to build the walls of the chicken coop is quite diverse. But a beam or board for these purposes, as for a street toilet, is considered optimal for these purposes.
Applying the beam, it is necessary to use wooden bastards, placing them in a checkerboard pattern to avoid skewing construction.
Huggled – peculiar pins that are used to preserve the strength of the walls. They are installed inside the beams or logs, so that deformation of the beam (due to the drying of the tree) does not entail a violation of the resistance of the structure.
The height of the walls, first of all, is associated with the convenience of a person caring for chickens. Usually it is 1-1.5 m, sometimes more. If the climate in this area is characterized by low temperatures, the walls should be insulated.
Mineral wool is most often used as a heater for the walls of chicken coop. Lining, both internal and outdoor, can be made from plywood or lining.
There should be at least one window in the chicken coop, it is desirable that it goes east.
