User:SaraEvers198
Be prepared to get a lot of advice if you're a very first time chicken owner and likely to build your own chicken house. And, it will range from the bizarre to the technical to the practical and lastly to something you can actually do. But the most sage advice, and something that people most often forget, is when you allow your chickens food, a place to sleep and lay eggs, you've already done your work as a responsible owner.
This perspective is why, wherever you're, whatever type of weather you've, you are already capable of raising them should you give them a great coop. Here are some tips on how to build your own chicken coop - anywhere.
In an apartment building rooftop
Together with the rise of rooftop gardens, raising chickens are becoming the leaders in the growing real-food movement. The real-food movement, that has now found its roots in the urban jungles of New York city, advocates that people boost their own food and produce for health and ethical reasons.
According to recently conducted studies, almost any person that starts a rooftop vegetable patch, in time, also begins to raise chickens or the other way around. Aside from complementing one another - chicken waste as fertilizer and insects in the patch as chicken feed - it's also emerged as a resource of additional income for many, by selling their homegrown produce to local restaurants or bed and breakfasts.
Which is why why increasing numbers of people are beginning to build their own chicken coop in the city. So, if you wish to build your own chicken house, here are a few factors to consider:
Chickens need to exercise, so make sure that they're going to have space in the rooftop to do so. So, when creating your chicken coop, keep in mind to provide them a long chicken run.
Make your chicken coop twice as sturdy to accommodate the weather. Because the rooftop is vulnerable to strong winds and also have no defense against the rain or snow, make sure that your chicken house can stand from the elements.
Don't forget to check on the structure codes and rules before beginning to raise chickens. However, there aren't any strict rules against keeping chickens, it's better to check first than get in legal trouble later.
Inside a suburban backyard
It's a common misconception that the men are those who raise chickens. When, in fact, it's mostly ladies do so. They are the perfect pets for a busy housewife, because chickens are relatively low maintenance. All you have to do is let them out the yard to have their exercise and in a special afternoon let them roost.
And also the benefits of raising chickens is having your personal supply of eggs. For the way many chickens you're raising, you're sure to be very busy in the kitchen area if you have a laying breed. The good news is, many people agree that homegrown eggs are tastier than store-bought ones.
If you wish to construct your own chicken coop in your backyard ensure that:
Your coop has protection against predators. A great tip is to keep the coop a minimum of 12 inches off the ground, so that rats can't get inside the coop.
Make certain you clean your chicken house regularly. Apart from keeping your chickens healthy, it's also to make certain that your neighbors don't complain.
In an exceedingly cold place
Although the sunshine is ideal in raising chickens, it's also possible to bring them up in cold weather. Search for breeds which are very hardy - a chicken's quality which describes having the ability to withstand colder weather. Usually, heritage and rare breeds have better hardiness than other breeds.
If you are planning to construct your own chicken house in cold weather ensure that:
You have extra lights in the coop. Apart from providing more heat for your chickens, it also (no pun intended) egg them onto lay more.
Your coop is correctly insulated. You should use thick styrofoam boards as your insulators. Some use old bedding for extra warmth.
You clean the coop regularly. Bacteria can grow easily in damp weather and diseases can easily develop.
