If you have just gotten a dozen chickens and are thinking about creating a healthy coop for them, then you are here at the right place. Ideally, the coop should be established in a way that they would love to get back in the coop every night.
To make things easier for you, consider the following coop features that will help you create a lovely home for your chickens.
Roosts
It doesn’t matter what size the chicken coop is; it needs roosts for the chickens because chickens sleep most comfortably in the air. Also, in unprotected surroundings, chickens sleep best in the air to prevent attacks from potential predators.
More importantly, you can keep your chickens healthy with roosts, as your chickens won’t be on the floor where they are susceptible to bacteria and infections. Speaking of infections, make sure to add poultry grit to the chicken’s food; otherwise, the chickens might face digestive issues. When it comes to the construction of roosts, make sure to use good-quality materials instead of metal, such as wooden roosts.
Make sure that the roost is long enough to accommodate all of the chickens.
Nesting Boxes
Another important feature of a chicken coop is the place where hens can lay eggs – mainly nesting boxes. The nesting boxes are ideally a quiet place for the chickens to lay their eggs conveniently. Also, you will know where exactly to pick up the eggs for your breakfast the next morning.
Make sure that the nesting boxes are located in a dark spot of the coop. By strategically positioning the nesting boxes, you can ensure that no chickens can poop inside the box. Rest assured, line the inside of the boxes with wood shavings, which you will need to change periodically to prevent bacterial infection.
Water Supply
Water and food supply are incredibly important to ensure that the chickens are healthy. Make sure to install the drinkers and feeders away from the roosts to prevent chickens from pooping inside them while they are sleeping or roosting.
Speaking of water, you might want to avail of the water well drilling services and get a freshwater source on your farm or backyard – wherever you are keeping the chickens. Make sure that the feeders and drinkers are clean all the time, well-accessible to the chickens, and well-stocked.
Keep in mind that if the chickens are dehydrated or underfed, they will be less productive and prone to developing illness.
Trays
The thing about chickens is that they poop while sleeping or roosting, and keeping the coop clean is crucial to prevent disease and infection among the chickens. On that note, you can install little trays underneath the roosts to make the poop-cleaning process easier.
Make sure to frequently remove the chicken feces as a way to control the ammonia levels inside the coop. By installing trays, you can make the cleaning process so much easier, as all you need to do is pull out the tray, scrape out the chicken feces, and replace the trays. You can make it a daily routine to clean the trays right before you
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