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Poultry House Construction Can Be Fun and Easy
What is the difference between a poultry house and a chicken coop? If you don't know the answer to this question you may end up spending more money, working harder, while still ending up with chicken housing that does not fulfill your needs.
Chicken coop is a term normally used when talking about a chicken structure that will house a small number of birds. Poultry housing is typically a term used when discussing raising large numbers of birds as with commercial growers. In this article we are going to assume that you will be raising a small number of birds and will use the two terms interchangeably.
If the poultry house construction process feels quite intimidating to you, don’t start stressing because you are not alone. Many chicken farmers feel the exact same way, but when you search out a good poultry house construction guide to help you, it is more than possible to build a successful poultry house at a greatly reduced cost.
Location is always one of the key concerns. Hen houses should be built in an area where it is peaceful and quiet as birds can become frightened easily. It should also be in an area with good drainage, good air circulation, and a lot of sunshine. Poor drainage will allow the area to become muddy and increase the chances of disease among the flock. Sunlight and clean air are two other important factors in keeping the flock healthy and productive.
Do not place it in an area that will be a nuisance for either you or your neighbors. Unsightly construction, housing that is in constant need of repair, or poultry houses that are too close to neighbors should be avoided. The best way to build an attractive and efficient chicken coop is by following detailed instructions that can be found in a do-it-yourself guide for building poultry houses. These guides are inexpensive and will help you avoid costly mistakes with design and construction.
Three main steps should be followed in the poultry house construction process. First, make a detailed plan of your design. This is something that most people fail to do properly, but is the foundation for your entire project. To be successful you must have a good design. The easiest way to accomplish this step is to use a design found in a good poultry construction book.
The second step is to make sure that the layout of food and water is efficient. The food should be located where the birds can eat it, but not walk around in it. Water containers should be raised to the level of a chicken's back so that they will be able to drink it, but not step in it or sully the water. Another method for water placement is to put the water container outside the building with the birds gaining access to it by means of a partially slatted wall.
Step number three is to insulate the hen houses properly. Cold uncomfortable hens will not provide you with the egg production you desire. The birds will also be less healthy and possibly even die during the cold winter months.
Following the directions in a poultry house construction guide is the simplest way to prevent most negative consequences. Windows will be essential during poultry house construction because they will allow air to ventilate and light up the chicken coop. Without proper amounts of light the egg production will suffer.
Poultry housing may have attached chicken runs, but you must be careful to construct them in a way that will keep your flock free from predators. Poultry houses should be built to eliminate entry of other animals, pests and vermin. Placing wire a food deep in the ground around the entire run will help prevent unwanted guests from entering the coop.
Poultry houses can come in all shapes and sizes so you should look through a good poultry construction book to find suitable housing that will fit your needs. Your needs will be unique depending on your situation, whether you are raising your birds for meat or eggs, whether you want an intricate or simple design, and the number of birds you plan to raise. A successful result will depend on how much time and thought you put into your project before you begin actual construction on your poultry house.
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