Chicken Coop Waterer

by chicken house plans on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 | Comments Off

In today's article, we are going to take a look at the key chicken coop provisions required. When you first develop your chicken coop plan, providing for proper housing and related features is absolutely necessary to keep your chickens in excellent physical shape, contented and happy. You will do best in your efforts if your chickens are as "contented as a cow," so to speak.

As I stated once before, you will do best if you consider your chickens to be pets instead of just livestock. Most people tend to take better care of their animals when they have the mindset that they are pets. The happier and healthier your chickens are, the faster and stronger they will grow and the more egg production you will get.

Perhaps the most important feature of your chicken coop plan is that of safety. You like to feel safe in your home right? Well, so do your pets. (Notice the pet mindset there!) Your chicken coop must be predator proof from all sides. Make sure that all openings are protected with the correct size wire mesh, typically 15 mm ( 5/8 inches) square so that no predator can reach into the chicken coop. Not even your cat! That's right, your cat should be considered a predator too!

Also, make sure the area surrounding the chicken coop is protected with the same 15 mm square fencing and buried at least 30 cm (1 ft) below ground level. This will prevent sly foxes and or wily coyotes from entering the chicken house.

Next, be certain that the chicken coop itself is well ventilated. This will help to prevent respiratory disease. Ever hear a chicken cough! Just kidding, they can't cough, but they can get sick!

Make sure the coop has a section that is not in the direct flow of air. Chickens can stand cold weather, but they cannot stand being in the direct cold air flow path for too long.

Provide roosting poles for the birds because that is how they sleep! (And you thought they needed beds!) Make sure there is adequate spacing so they do not crowd one another when roosting. You don't want to ruffle any feathers! They'll do that well enough on their own.

Then be sure the chicken coop is easy to clean. Place removable plastic trays under the roosting poles for easy removal of droppings. Yes, this is the nastiest job, but some ones gotta do it! Hey, maybe you can get one of the kids to do it!

Now also make sure you provide for nesting boxes. You should put one nesting box for four or five birds in a dark corner of the coop which will encourage the little ladies to lay eggs. The nesting boxes should be a little off the floor, but lower than the roosting poles inside.

You also need to make sure there is enough room for the the little buggers to roam around and play. A good rule of thumbs is 4-5 square feet per bird.

Then, last but not least, there must be a waterer and feeder. You don't want your pets to go hungry or thirsty do you?

Now for today's Stupid Chicken Joke!

Why did the chicken cross the "net?"

To get to the other site!

Oooh, that's a keeper!

Bill Boren is a market research expert who investigates and reports on topics that have proven to be of interest to major segments of the world. Further information regarding the information presented in this article can be found at http://www.chickenhouse-plan.com

Can I put insuated pipe tape around my chicken waterer to keep it from freezing?

I can't run electrical wires to where my chicken coop is and I probably couldn't afford it anyways. Has anybody ever tried to wrap that insulated silver pipe tape around there waterer to help with freezing? My husbands in Iraq and I got 3 children. Its hard to keep going outside every few hours to check on it or change it. Any suggestions on what I can do to keep it from freezing so fast? Winters are cold here. I really don't have the money to buy anything really expensive. Thanks in advance to everybody that can give me a sincere answer and not acting stupid about it.

insulation wont stop it from freezing "unless" you let the water continously flow a little bit.THen i would use the foam tube insulation. The only other thing I can think of is build a solar heating system that would keep it from freezing during the day and melt the frozen night water. It would cut own on how often you had to check the water. google : ' make a solar cooker" and "make a solar oven" I am positive if you find or make a good spot in the coop,this will work for you. You will have to use your imagination, maybe cut away a tree branch. maybe build the reflector on the roof coop, remember you have to use black water dish to absorbe more heat. you could brage to your nieghbors and the kids can use it for their science fair project ; your "eco frendly solar powered chicken waterer". sounds like a fun project to me.,,Bandett