Make the simplest chicken coop. Independent production of a chicken coop at their summer cottage. Video: do-it-yourself chicken coop making

28.05.2020

Many owners of country houses, after arranging the main building, laying out a vegetable garden and a garden, are thinking about breeding feathered living creatures. In this case knowledgeable people they advise you to have chickens - and fresh eggs will appear on your table every day.

The general arrangement of the chicken coop and its types

For breeding birds in the courtyard, it is necessary to build a special structure - a chicken coop. The place to place the chicken coop should be dry and on a hill. Drainage is arranged around it - a small pit or groove for rainwater to drain. If there is no hill on the territory, it is created artificially (from clay and sand).

The dimensions of the building should allow the birds to move normally. The area of \u200b\u200bthe house with perches is calculated based on sanitary norms: 2-3 chickens per 1 m 2 of free space, but the minimum area value is 3 m 2.

The entrance to the chicken coop and the paddock are built on the south side, which is protected from the winds. The aviary is hidden under a roof or covered with a canopy: from the hot sun and rain.

The poultry house can be of two types: summer or winter, depending on the temperature conditions of residence and the size of the free space on the site. A summer building in a warm climate is made light and mobile - it can be moved from one place to another, if there is such an opportunity in an open area. And in the middle latitudes, a solid structure is immediately installed: on the foundation. Winter poultry house is being built with additional insulation so that during the cold period the temperature inside does not fall below zero.

The chicken coop includes:

house for spending the night chickens;
paddock-aviary;
perches;
nests;
litter collection tray under the house.

During the movement, the chickens develop better and rush more, so the device of the bird house implies the presence of a paddock - an aviary, closed on all sides with a net.

A paddock is attached to the chicken coop so that the chickens can walk on fresh grass and breathe air without scattering all over the suburban area

Perches are always placed in the chicken coop: birds use them as a place to sleep. The perches are made smooth and rounded so that the chickens are comfortable to hold on, and the paws are not injured by splinters.

A perch is a long perch attached to the walls of a chicken coop or set on the floor on stable props.

Additionally, nests are built in the bird house: chickens will begin to lay eggs in them.

The nests are lined with a layer of soft straw or grass: the hens choose their favorite place, and sometimes it happens that everyone rushes in the same nest - in turn

Drawing of a chicken coop, arrangement of perches and nests

For 6-8 hens, the dimensions of the house on the foundation will be 2x2 m, and the aviary for walking about 2x7 m. The minimum height of the room is 1.8 m, so that the owner can freely enter it.

To build comfortable housing for chickens, you will need to perform the correct calculations of the chicken coop and draw up a drawing

The perch can be made from timber, even knots, thick branches, or other improvised means. But it is important to follow the rules:

Comfort: for an adult bird - 25 cm perch.
Strength: perches should not sag under the weight of birds.
Safety: sharp corners are smoothed with a planer.

Perches are made with a thickness of no more than 4–6 cm in diameter, and the pole in the cut should not be round, but closer to an oval shape

Perches are installed in the darkest and warmest place in the room: away from windows and doors. It is recommended to roost on:

50–80 cm from the floor;
25–40 cm from the nearest wall.

Nests knocked out wooden planks or made up of plastic boxes with a slatted bottom.

size of one nest: 30x30x40 cm;
install nests at a distance of 30–40 cm from the floor;
put them against the far wall, in the dark;
lay soft and dry straw;
10 chickens will need about 4 nests.

A separate area is prepared for raising chickens. Adult birds and young birds are recommended to be separated.

On the drawing, you need to indicate the location of all the necessary elements of the chicken coop, so that it is convenient to build a structure using this markup

After drawing up a detailed drawing, we proceed to the selection of materials.

Selection of materials and tools

For pouring the base - concrete mortar. Materials should be selected based on the type of foundation.
For the frame - bars. For wall cladding - boards.
For inner lining and nests - plywood sheets.
For roofing - roofing felt, slate or tin. 2 layers of roofing material are also laid on the foundation (protection from decay).
For an open-air cage - a grid and iron clamps.
Screws and nails.

To make a chicken coop, you do not need to prepare any special tools - you only need standard fixtures that are often used in the country

The set of tools may vary based on the dimensions of the structure being manufactured, but the basic set is required:

Master OK;
plane;
roulette;
building level;
axe;
mallet.

After complete preparation, we proceed to construction.

Step-by-step instructions for making a summer chicken coop

Foundation manufacturing

An ideal option for a chicken coop 2 × 2 m and a height of 1.8 m is a columnar base, which can be made from old bricks or stones. First of all, you need to perform marking work:

After the marking work is completed, you can proceed to the manufacture of the foundation:

We remove a layer of fertile soil with a thickness of 17–20 cm.
In the corners and perimeter we dig 8 holes 50 cm wide and 60 cm deep (there will be pillars in them).
We cover the bottom of each pit with sand and gravel (by 10 cm).
Then we put 2 bricks and cover them on top with a cement mixture.
Next - 2 more bricks. The curbstone is laid out to the level of the rope. The cement mixture will level the height of the cabinet.
Treat finished poles with bitumen or protective mastic. And fill the cavity between the pillars with soil, leveling it with the ground.
The building mixture sets for about a week, then a grillage from a bar is mounted.

For a chicken coop, the foundation is built smaller: with three pillars on each side; install a grillage from a bar on top

The finished foundation is left for a month. Then you can start building the walls of the chicken coop.

Installation of walls and roof

It is recommended to use the frame structure of the walls. A shield frame is constructed and clogged with a mixture of clay and straw in layers. Before installing the walls, you need to waterproof the floor. An excellent basis for frame walls and floors is a support frame made of beams.

For walls and floors, you need to make a support frame from bars

It will be necessary to prepare material for racks, jumpers and struts, which will increase the rigidity of the structure. Support bars of great length can be used not only as support pieces for the walls of the poultry house, but also the bottom of the paddock. The frame structure of the site can be made from an iron corner. All that remains is to fix the chain-link mesh on it and cover the structure with polycarbonate.

The frame, sheathed with boards, is insulated with ecowool or mineral wool.

Chicken coop wall installation guide:

You can build walls right on the wooden floor of the chicken coop. But you can separately assemble each wall, and then mount them ready-made.
Each wall must be assembled separately using a wooden beam.
Openings are made in the walls for windows, a door and a box from which eggs can be taken.
You need to make openings in the walls: fold the blanks, align them according to the markup
After that, all the walls must be knocked together, excluding distortions.
After preparation, they need to be knocked down into a single structure, taking into account the verticality of the racks level to the floor
After the frame is assembled, you can proceed to the manufacture of the roof.

In order for the structure to retain heat better, it is recommended to make a roof with two slopes. The frame consists of rafter legs and lathing.

You can cover the roof with slate, metal tiles and other materials

Gaps between wall elements should be insulated. A vapor barrier film is laid on top of the insulation material. After that, the building is sheathed with plywood sheets.

From the outside, the structure is sheathed with OSB-boards and plywood

From the outside of the OSB-slab, you will need to cover it with glassine, and then sheathe it with clapboard.

Outside, the structure must be covered with glassine and sheathed with clapboard

To prevent rotting of wooden parts, they should be treated with an antiseptic. It is important to periodically cover the walls of a wooden structure with lime to protect against pests.

floor base

For the floor, boards 50 mm thick are taken, they are laid in 2 layers, laying insulation. The bars take 10x10 cm, the bottom bar should have a thickness of 26 mm. The surface is made even and cleaned with a planer.

A rectangular recess is cut in the floor base, through which chickens will enter and exit along an inclined ramp. The floor is covered with a protective mixture for wood or lime and a dense litter is laid. Layer thickness 5 cm (mixture of crushed peat, straw, sawdust).

Ventilation and lighting of the chicken coop

Natural light and ventilation come through the windows and door. But they are not always kept open (draughts are dangerous), so you will need to equip automatic ventilation.

Ventilation through draft

High above the perches is a chimney extending beyond the roof. The supply pipe is placed in another corner of the chicken coop 20–30 cm from the floor. The draft passes naturally, reducing the humidity inside the coop.

Chickens do not tolerate drafts, so be sure to make a supply and exhaust ventilation

The hole for birds is recommended to be located on the south side of the bird house. The minimum width is 30 cm and the height is 40 cm. The manhole can be combined with the entrance door. In this case, you will need to cut through the element at the bottom of the canvas.

Lighting

Egg production is affected by the length of daylight hours. In order for chickens to lay eggs in winter, they should be well fed and create the effect of a 14-hour daylight hours. During mass molting, the optimal day length is 9 hours.

Install lamps with a power of 50-60 watts. Place them above the feeders. Sockets are removed in a closed shield.
It is recommended to use red and fluorescent bulbs. For every m 2 - 5 W of lighting.

Red light bulbs will not dry the air around and will only be able to heat those places where the rays fall

Installation of feeders and drinkers

Devices for feeding birds can be made independently or purchased ready-made.

Bunker feeder: it is made from a pipe, having made holes along the entire length

They use a bunker version of feeders or homemade food serving devices fixed at a height of 15–20 cm from the floor: chickens will not dig into the grain and scatter it. If the feeder is placed on the floor, then the place under it may begin to dampen.

Feed supply structures can be built from wooden planks or plastic containers. Summer residents recommend using tanks with sides of at least 2 cm. You can also build a tank for sand or shell rock (chickens peck the mixture for better digestion of feed).

How to make a small chicken coop

A mini chicken coop can look like a cage. The dimensions of the cage for several chickens are 1x2 m. The foundation is not needed for it, it is placed on the grass.

Mini chicken coop for 5 chickens can be made in the form of a cage

Tools and materials for manufacturing:

timber 50x50 mm;
nails and screws;
Rabitz;
wooden slats 20x30 mm;
iron pipes;
door hinges;
plywood sheets;
tiles or slate;
insulating material;
a hammer;
saw;
electric drill or screwdriver.

First you need to make a drawing. It is important to determine which side the windows and entrance will be located on. This will allow you to choose a place for perching and nests (in the far corner).

On the drawing, you need to indicate the location of all fixtures, as well as the dimensions of the house

Work sequence:

Photo gallery: ideas for decorating a chicken coop

With a flower bed on the roof: make high-quality waterproofing and breed cacti Chicken coop without paddock: you can build a chicken coop with a detachable paddock Walking in the form of a greenhouse, with a rounded arch: the design looks unusual Made in the form of a teremka, where the gable roof is stretched for the entire paddock Chicken coop with a square high paddock in the form of a summer gazebo Two-story poultry house: the chicken house is located on the roof of the paddock Teremok, in which one roof slope covers a square paddock Made with a flat roof, minimalist style

Features of the winter design

The winter chicken coop is made more insulated, with south-facing windows and good ventilation. If the design is designed for more than 20 chickens, then additional electric fans are built into the walls.

The temperature inside the bird house should be above +12°C. Windows should be glazed and tightly closed. In cool weather, chickens cluster together, warming each other.

Walls all-season chicken coop should be made of wood. The room with perches is separated from the entrance by constructing a vestibule.

The walls of the winter chicken coop are best made of wood and build a vestibule

Use of oil and infrared heaters is allowed. It is also possible to use panels in the form of foil-coated plates. They will radiate heat using infrared radiation. Structures are attached to the ceiling.

It is advisable to use such devices if the walls are made of concrete or brick. When the temperature reaches the required level, the design will automatically turn off.

Large chicken coops can cause significant problems. It is quite difficult to heat a vast building, and the cost of thermal insulation will also be considerable. If you plan to keep birds all year round, then it is important to consider some features:

The roof is made of two layers.
Sheathe the walls with heat-insulating material.
If you plan to build a chicken coop from logs, then it must be carefully caulked. The floor is covered with a deep bedding.
In cold weather, additional frames should be installed on the windows.
If the house has an attic, then the floor must be covered with sawdust or straw.
For heating, high power lamps or a heater are often used.

Video: do-it-yourself chicken coop making

Making a chicken coop with your own hands is not a difficult process. The design can be made even from improvised means, it is only important to correctly draw up a drawing.

Using a small chicken coop may not always meet the requirements of the poultry farmer. These designs come ready-made, but an experienced poultry farmer knows what results he wants to achieve from his layers. Therefore, he builds a chicken coop according to his preferences.

Design options for country chicken coops

one-story portable chicken coop;
mobile arched chicken coop;
chicken coop in the form of a wheelbarrow;
mobile chicken coop trailer;
mini chicken coop on rollers.

Such structures can be moved around the site at any time, they weigh little. But they fit a small number of heads.

An ideal option for a family is a barn with a paddock for 5-20 chickens. With the content of 5 chickens, 3 square meters is enough. m. The larger the livestock, the larger the housing requires. 10 individuals require a minimum of 5 square meters. m, 20 chickens - 10 sq. m. If the laying hen is getting fat, then it starts to rush worse, so more space is allocated for them. If the poultry farmer grows broilers, then the chicken coop can be made smaller so that the bird moves little and gains weight.

Before you start building a chicken coop with your own hands, you need to think about the dimensions that are suitable for it. And also, think about seasonality and location. With the right arrangement, it can become a decorative part of the garden.

Beginning poultry professionals it is advised to build a barn for chickens next to the house and observe the conditions:

What is better to build a chicken coop in the country?

Build a chicken coop with your own hands can be from improvised means. Common materials for the construction of a country chicken coop:

wooden beam;
wooden lining for wall cladding;
galvanized sheet for the manufacture of a sliding tray under the perch;
chain-link for walking area;
ruberoid.

Creating a green roof (plants on top) protects the chickens from overheating and adds beauty to the building.

When it is not possible to purchase materials for construction, you can use those that are at hand. e.g. pipes, pallets, polycarbonate.

Wooden structural elements are coated with a solution that protects the wood from moisture and pests.

How to build a comfortable chicken coop

Creating convenience for chickens is not difficult, it is important to follow the sequence of actions. When building a chicken coop in the country, you will need to collect a sufficient number of bars and boards, which will become the basis of the structure. For the foundation, cement and brick are used. It is worth thinking about warming, for this they prepare mineral wool, sawdust and roofing material. To fence the walking area, you will need several meters of chain-link. The list of tools includes:

self-tapping screws, nails;
level, ruler;
saw;
shovel;
a hammer.

This set is considered basic, additional tools may be required during assembly.

Foundation

In some cases, the construction of a foundation is not required: when building a small chicken coop. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that predators do not attack chickens. Install around the perimeter of the chicken coop metal plates.

When the poultry house is large, building the foundation becomes an important step. And the best option is columnar. In this case, floor ventilation will be good. It can be made from inexpensive materials, and it is easy to build:

They study a drawing prepared in advance, and metal rods are driven in around the perimeter, they are connected with a rope.
The top layer of soil 20 cm deep is removed.
Support pedestals are placed around the perimeter at a distance of at least 1 m (a hole of 60 cm is prepared for each column).
The columns are placed at a level with an elevation above the soil surface at a distance of 30 cm.

The construction of the columnar foundation ends here. They give him time to tamp. To do this, leave for 5 days.

If you want to build a chicken coop not only for summer use, but also for winter, you need to take care of preparing a strong floor that will retain heat well. For this purpose, a double floor is made: the first layer is the "rough floor", which is made from any boards; the second is the "main floor" of high-quality boards without gaps. Beams and a layer of insulation are laid between the layers.

Frame and walls

Not only the floor must retain heat, but also the walls. Therefore, it is recommended to build a chicken coop from high-quality timber, leaving openings for windows for ventilation. The bars are fixed and upholstered with boards from the outside and inside, and a layer of heat insulator (sawdust, mineral wool) is placed between them.

Walls must be at least 1.8m high. Otherwise, the chickens will become crowded and egg production will decrease. For improvement appearance the chicken coop is painted or decorated with finishing materials based on budgetary funds. The windows are made removable so that the chickens are comfortable during the hot period.

Roof

Under the roof it is convenient to place all the necessary devices for chickens. Therefore, it is made double-sided. Snow does not accumulate on it, which helps to avoid dampness indoors.

Roof manufacturing procedure:

lay flooring-insulation (slag, expanded clay);
fasten ceiling beams at an angle;
fix roofing material;
covered with slate or other roofing.

As you can see, it is not difficult to build a gable roof..

Inner space

Interior decoration is given Special attention. Nests and perches are placed in such a way that laying hens rush well. The calculation of perches is simple:

one chicken needs at least 30 cm;
you need a bar 40x60 mm, it is rounded;
placed at a height of 80 cm from the floor;
trays are placed under the perches for collecting chicken manure.

Perches cannot be placed on top of each other.

Nest arrangement:

take boxes filled with sawdust (wicker baskets);
they are placed in the corners of the house (height above the floor 40 cm);

Dry material or straw is laid on the floor for the convenience of chickens, so they will be more comfortable. Litter will accumulate on it, which will facilitate cleaning.

Aviary

In spring, chickens are divided into 10-12 individuals and provide them with a separate place for walking. If the chickens are crowded, this leads to the development of infectious diseases.

For a chicken coop with a paddock, an aviary is additionally equipped, the dimensions of which should be 2 times larger than the poultry house. They build it on a flat green area, so that later, when walking, the chickens have enough useful substances that they will find in the grass and soil.

For the construction of an aviary prepare:

bars;
metal mesh.

The chicken pen is a construction of several sections. One of them is hung with hinges and used as a gate.

Construction of a summer chicken coop for broilers

For breeding broilers with your own hands, you can build a chicken coop-hut of a small area. A dozen chickens will be enough for 5 square meters. m.

Making a chicken coop:

Using self-tapping screws and boards, 2 side frames are assembled. The upper part is fixed with self-tapping screws. In the lower part, a board is fixed at a distance of 35 cm from the bottom. Spacers are fixed in the middle part and a rectangular plywood sheet is laid, it will act as a ceiling and floor at the same time and give rigidity to the structure.
A chain-link mesh is attached with staples or nails and a door is made.
The role of the roof is performed by two sheets of plywood attached to the sides. The ridge is formed by two horizontal boards.
The feeder and drinker are attached to the door. Equip a perch and a nest of straw.

If there are no screws, use nails. They are not driven in completely and bent so that the bird does not get hurt. For the convenience of the birds, a ramp is prepared from a piece of plywood with transverse slats.

Chicken coop lighting: windows and electricity

In order for the light to penetrate as much as possible into the chicken coop, window openings are made on the south side. If there is not enough lighting for chickens, they become lethargic and less likely to rush.

The total area of window openings must be at least 1/12 of the floor area.

Windows must be opened to allow fresh air to enter. They are protected by netting from predators. Windows open in summer.

In order to organize an artificial lighting, lamps are installed at the rate of 1m2, the required power is 5 watts. With the help of a relay, you can adjust the length of daylight hours, in winter it should be 17 hours. Shade places with nests, and drinkers and feeders, on the contrary, require good lighting.

Capital chicken coop for all seasons

If you plan to breed chickens in the country all year round, then the chicken coop needs to be insulated. An additional heating system is carried out to ensure high egg production in the winter. Windows need to be glazed and gaps should be smeared if the frames are old.

The foundation of an all-season chicken coop must be durable. For the purpose of its construction, a pit is prepared with a depth of 0.5 m. Formwork is installed along the perimeter and poured with concrete. Wait a few days for complete solidification.

The thickness of the walls should be more than 20 cm. Mineral wool is used for thermal insulation. Windows and doors should be tightly closed to prevent drafts. The floor is insulated with polystyrene foam and a metal mesh is placed to protect against rodents. Boards are laid on top of the grid. They make the floor warm.

Perches for laying hens in the country

After construction is completed, special attention must be paid to the organization of perches and nests where it will be convenient for chickens to lay eggs. A dozen chickens need 3 nests. On the summer period perches are installed in the walking area, the distance between which should be from half a meter above the floor. Nests are filled with straw and changed regularly. Visors are made over the perches.

Hay is not used because it rots and becomes a breeding ground for small pests and infections.

Bright lighting for chickens - the reason for the decline in egg production. Therefore, nests should be less illuminated than the rest of the chicken coop.

For a chicken coop with year-round residence of chickens, additional ventilation is made from a corrugated pipe. They make a hole in the ceiling and bring the pipe up. This ensures good ventilation and does not create a draft.

With proper arrangement of the chicken coop: creating natural exhaust ventilation, proper lighting and a warm room; the birds will lay all year round.

Are you planning to breed chickens in the country, but do not know how to build a chicken coop with your own hands? You can make it from scrap materials and without using any fancy tools. In our article you will find many tips, as well as detailed photos, videos and drawings that will help you build a poultry house correctly.

Preparatory work

Before you get started, you will need to choose the most suitable chicken coop design. Think about its size, location and seasonality in advance, because these characteristics will not be able to change after construction is completed. In addition, if you try hard, then the chicken coop will become not only a reliable haven for chickens, but also a real decoration in your country house.

Location selection

Building a chicken coop with your own hands should begin with choosing a good location. Try to place the room on a hill. So you can protect it from flooding during heavy rains. Think in advance how much space you need. If you plan to expand your farm over time, then immediately pick up a large area.

Also try to correctly position the house relative to the cardinal points. There must be windows on the south side, so you will extend the daylight hours for the birds, which will increase egg production. Doors are best placed on the west or east side, so you will save the room from the cold north wind.

Most breeds of laying hens are quite restless birds, and the presence of sources of noise near the poultry house can significantly impair their productivity. Try to find a place in the country where they will not be disturbed by various harsh sounds. It will also be a good solution if we build a chicken coop with our own hands surrounded by a hedge that will protect the birds from stress.

Materials and tools

To build a chicken coop in the country, you will need to stock up on a sufficient number of boards and beams. They will form the basis for the floor, walls and roof. When building a foundation, you will need bricks and cement. In addition, when you build a chicken coop, stock up on a lot of insulating materials, such as roofing felt, mineral wool, or sawdust. To build an aviary, you will need several meters of metal mesh.

You will also need a basic set of tools. Before you start building your chicken coop, make sure you have everything from this list:

a hammer;
saw;
nails and screws;
ruler with a level;
shovel.

Building a chicken coop

Building a comfortable chicken coop with your own hands is not difficult if you follow the entire sequence of actions correctly. Before that, you can watch photos and videos to better understand the construction process. Having decided on the place and the list of materials, you can start building a building in the country.

Foundation

First, decide if your chicken coop needs a foundation. If you are going to build a small poultry house, then you can do without it. But at the same time, do not forget to deepen metal plates around the perimeter to protect birds from predators.

If your poultry house is quite large, then the construction of the foundation will be mandatory. The best choice when building a chicken coop will be a columnar foundation. It is fairly easy to build and can be made from the cheapest materials. In addition, by properly building such a foundation, you will be able to avoid the penetration of predators and provide good ventilation for the floor.

To begin with, study the drawing and, according to it, hammer metal rods into the corners of the future building.
Connect them with a rope and, just in case, take verification measurements.
Remove the top layer of soil by about 20 cm. If this is fertile soil, you can use it to good use in the country by transferring the land to the garden.
Further along the perimeter, it is necessary to build pedestals that will become supports for the future building. The distance between them must be at least 1 m. A hole about 60 cm deep is dug under each cabinet.
Pedestals should rise above the ground by about 20-30 cm. Using a level, make sure that they are even and located at the same height.

On this, the construction of the foundation will be completed. It is necessary to give him time to compact, so it is necessary to continue building the chicken coop no earlier than after 5 days.

Floor

If you are trying to build a chicken coop in the country, which can be used both in summer and in winter, then the floor should retain heat well. The best solution in this case would be to make a double floor. To do this, immediately above the foundation, a “rough” floor is spread, which can be made of any materials. Next, beams are laid on it, a layer of insulation is laid and the main floor is laid. It should consist of even boards and not contain cracks and openings.

Frame and walls

Walls also need to retain heat. Therefore, it is recommended to build a chicken coop using a frame of bars. Do not forget to leave openings for windows, they must be made to ensure good ventilation. After fixing the bars, it is necessary to upholster them with boards on both sides. Place insulating material between them. For these purposes, mineral wool, sawdust or other insulation is well suited.

The height of the walls should be at least 1.8 m. Otherwise, the chickens will be very limited in space, which can also adversely affect egg production. You can also paint the walls in your favorite color. This will not only improve the aesthetic appearance of the house, but also prevent damage to wooden structures by insects. Also, do not forget to install windows that can be removed or opened during a hot period.

Roof

If we decide that we are building a chicken coop in the country, then in the same room we place everything necessary for caring for the bird. It is enough to make a gable roof, and under it you can place tools and feed for your layers. In addition, this design will avoid the accumulation of snow and rain, which can lead to dampness.

It is not difficult to make such a roof. First lay the flooring, then fasten the ceiling beams at an angle. The floor must be well insulated. Insulation can be made from improvised materials, for example, from coal slag or expanded clay. Further, roofing felt is attached to the beams, which is covered with slate or other roofing material.

Aviary

If you decide to build a chicken coop with a paddock, then you will need to attach an aviary. Its size should be 1.5-2 times the area of the house. Try to build it on green grass to provide birds with access to healthy food while walking. To build an aviary, you can make several sections of the bars, tightening them with a net. One of the sections can be attached with hinges, making a gate out of it. You can see examples of interesting enclosures in the photo and video in our article.

Inner space

When building a chicken coop, it is very important to pay attention to its interior decoration. It is necessary to properly place perches and nests and make sure that the layers are calm and comfortable inside. You can see various options for interior arrangement in the video.

First of all, take care of the number of perches. Calculating it is very simple: each chicken needs at least 30 cm perch. It is best to make them from a 40x60 mm timber, which is recommended to be rounded. Perches should be placed at a height of 70-80 cm, while they cannot be fixed on top of each other. To make cleaning easier, you can place trays under the perches.

If you are building a chicken coop for laying hens, then you will need to take care of comfortable nests. Wooden boxes filled with sawdust are suitable for this purpose. Place them in the corners of the house at a height of about 30-40 cm from the floor. Be sure to also lay sawdust, straw, or other dry material on the floor. It will make the birds feel more comfortable and also make it easier to clean the house.

Photo gallery

Have you decided to build a chicken coop in the country, but have not yet decided on the design? Maybe one of these photos will inspire you!

Drawings and diagrams

Video "We build a chicken coop in the country with our own hands"

In this video, you can learn even more about how you can build a chicken coop with your own hands. Here is waiting for you detailed instructions, as well as many useful tips, which will greatly simplify the manufacture of a summer house.

Chickens are always fresh eggs and meat, the quality of which you are sure. In order for them to regularly delight the table, you need to responsibly approach the process of breeding birds. A significant part of successful animal husbandry is a comfortable home, in this case a chicken coop.

Always remember that animals need a warm and comfortable home just as much as their owners. How to build a chicken coop with your own hands and what should you pay special attention to? Let's figure it out.

Basic moments

Properly organized housing greatly affects the egg production of chickens, so it is in your interest to take care of their comfort.

The winter chicken coop should be warm: the temperature cannot fall below 12°C, and in summer it should not exceed 25°C. Non-compliance with temperature limits and drafts will adversely affect the health of the bird, and you risk not seeing fresh eggs for breakfast.

Avoid excessive moisture. The barn for chickens should have natural or forced ventilation. The choice of type depends on the size of the house. It also normalizes the temperature and eliminates the smell.

Like all living things, chickens need light, so use light bulbs that provide warm yellow lighting. They must be turned off at night. There are systems that automate this process. Hide cables well from birds.

But do not forget about sunlight: the chicken coop should receive both sun and shade. For the same reason, it is recommended to have windows on the south side. It is also desirable to install a manhole and an aviary on it, since it is the least susceptible to cold winds. However, light should not enter the nests.

Safety and tranquility - the house should be removed from sources of loud noise and protected from the entry of rodents and other animals. A good solution could be a building on poles-supports.

For location, they usually choose remote corners of the site, where the noise of the streets will not disturb the birds, and the smell of the chicken coop will not disturb you. Settle chickens next to another animal only if the neighbor will not disturb them.

The location on a hill will save the chickens' home from flooding in the spring and in the rain. On a flat area, you can create it artificially, or you can dig a drainage ditch around the perimeter.

It is better to fence a place for walking at the rate of 2 m2 per bird. You can approach the issue in an original way: install walking tunnels made of metal mesh around the perimeter of the site.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the house are calculated based on the breed and number of chickens. So, for how many goals is it recommended to allocate 1 m2 of space?

for 3 birds of meat breeds;
on 4 - egg;
for 15 chickens.

In this case, the chicks should be kept in individual rooms separated from adult chickens. This is done in order to ensure free access to feed.

For example, 10 birds will feel comfortable in a 2 x 5 m chicken coop.

The height is chosen so that a person can safely stand at full height; usually 2.2 m.

Walls and floor

The bedding needs to be changed periodically. For ease of cleaning, provide a special door or hatch in the design.

Windows must be fitted with screens and be able to be opened. Their area is at least 1/12 of the floor area.

The interior of the chicken coop

For the manufacture of nests, plywood, boards and various non-traditional materials are used: baskets, plastic containers. In this regard, chickens are not whimsical and will be happy to accommodate in the proposed nest.

The number is taken at the rate of one nest for five heads. The parameters of one nest are 40 × 40 × 40 cm. The width and height can be reduced to 30 cm. Placement in two tiers is allowed. It is better to settle laying hens in a secluded corner away from the hustle and bustle.

Birds love to perch. It is a pole with a diameter of 5 cm. If a rectangular beam is taken, the corners are rounded, and the future perch is polished with sandpaper. Place them in tiers: the first at a height of half a meter, the next - 35 cm above the previous one.

Arrange them in a ladder, not on top of each other. As for the length, it is enough to allocate 25 cm of poles for one bird. How best to arrange the perches in the chicken coop, tell the photo.

If the chicken coop is located in the country and it is planned to keep the birds only in the warm season, then you can do without heating, but in winter you can’t do without it.

The best way to maintain the temperature is an electric convector. It dries the air, which solves the problem of high humidity, and consumes electricity quite economically. The second heater, which turns on only at night, will make the life of the birds even more comfortable.

Arrangement of a paddock

Chickens should be able to walk on fresh air, for which the corral is equipped. He must not go to the shady and south side. It does not allow the growth of plants dangerous to chickens, moisture or dirt. Protect it from other animals.