Chicken coop essentials
MY parents have always kept chickens, and while my own garden isn’t quite ready for them yet, I still have a hankering for a little flock of hens. It’s got me looking enviously at coop designs, so if you’re also thinking of keeping chickens, what should you consider? You have two options: buy a hen house or build one yourself.
With new coops costing only £100, you might consider building one not very cost-effective (unless you’ve got access to free materials). With off-the-peg purchases, however, you get what you pay for – so look for the following.
Ensure the hut has a separate roosting bar and nesting area; hens like to sit on a nest when laying, and huddle together on the bar when sleeping. The bed area should be off the ground, because floors can get chilly and damp in winter, which doesn’t promote healthy hens; timber flooring will also rot more quickly if in contact with the earth. Weatherproofing is crucial, so be sure to provide your birds with a sheltered patch of ground that will stay dry even when it rains, a waterproof coop roof and ventilation holes in the roosting and nesting areas.
Also ensure that any wire has a small mesh size to exclude rats and mice. Bolt locks will fox-proof any doors and hatches, and large access panels will make cleaning out a far easier task. With those essentials ticked, the good life is well within your reach.