Want to learn how to build your first chicken coop? It’s important to have a sound, solid plan. Two of the most important things to consider when building a chicken coop are easy maintenance and safety of your chickens.

Easy Maintenance is Best

One of the obligatory evils of owning a chicken coop is the requirement for it to be cleaned continually. Illness and diseases can spell disaster to coop bound chickens. Cleaning your chicken coop should be as simple as possible. this will save you time and cash in the long term. these are some design elements you can include into your coop to make it simple to maintain and clean. Slope the bottom floor downwards, toward the front door. When cleaning the floor, the water will speedily run out of the coop rather than puddling in the middle. Confirm doors and windows are straightforward to open and close, unpolluted air will help quicken the drying process – and allows for less complicated cleaning.

You need to also position the coop so that it hits the sun constantly. this can not only help in the cold seasons, but help in the drying process as well.

Best Locations

Depending on the dimensions of your property, the best location for building your chicken coop is away from your house. the most evident reason is smell, however other things like contamination of water, attraction of bugs and low stress areas are other points to consider. Keeping your flock away from water sources like outdoor taps and sprinkler heads serve a dual purpose. First keeping your chicken coop and pen free from moisture minimizes chances for illness. Diseases can happen where moisture and unsanitary living setup are present. Moisture increases these opportunities particularly in nesting areas where salmonella can form on eggs. Moisture may also be displaced from the local area of your pen to other areas of your property thru seepage or draining.

This will expose other pets and even humans from waste from your flock. Excess moisture can also attract bugs and inspire breakouts of bugs like lice and mites. Reducing exposure to excess moisture offers a cleaner living space which ultimately will maintain continuous egg production.

Protection From Predators

Aside from diseases, your chickens also need protection from predators. these predators can be rats, raccoons, dogs, cats, wild birds, etc.. In choosing the materials in building the coop, only use quality and sturdy materials. Solid wood and thick wire mesh comes to mind. Make sure the door and windows are properly and securely installed to keep the predators away.

These are just some of the tips on how to build a chicken coop that is easy to maintain and safe for your chicks.