How to build a chicken coop: guidelines for construction «mansion for chickens» in the country
Cottage – a lovely place to stay, but it’s also a great excuse to change activities. No wonder the regeneration of the garden and breeding of ornamental and garden plants are becoming a popular pastime for residents. However, today those who are going to build a chicken coop in the country with his own hands, nobody is surprised. And zealous owners choose solid construction. If you build a house slightly bigger than dog kennels, birds will get sick or useless to consume food. Such desirable organic eggs from them then not worth the wait. Let’s find out the secrets of a good building.
The contents
The choice of location for the future building
To find out how to make cost effective coop, with the allocation of places under construction. From the location of the house may largely depend on its design. There are basic principles to be followed in making a choice:
- Location. The house must be placed on the hill because in the valley of the birds will be more difficult to walk: it is in these places longer does not dry out the moisture, and snowmelt occurs late.
- The orientation of the buildings. The coop should be properly oriented to the cardinal. Rectangular building feature length from East to West. The perfect location of the house is that, when facing South, and the door to the East. In the window should get as much light as possible during the day. A temporary extension of daylight significantly affects the egg production of chickens. However, in the heat of the window should be obscure.
- Temperature. For chickens negative and too high and too low temperature. Already at +25° C the productivity of poultry reduced by half, and if the temperature rises another 5 degrees, hens generally stop laying. In the case of heat the window of a chicken coop must be equipped with plywood shutters. In winter, the optimum temperature is +12°.
- Peace. Chickens need to feel safe, so for the coop, you must choose a place away from zones of active rest. Protection of the chicken coop hedge is a good idea.
- Area. The location should be selected taking into account the size of the future building. 1 mTwo space hens should have no more than two hens. If the chickens live in the chicken coop and in winter, it is necessary to provide the platform, as the element of the insulation of the coop to cold air is not directly penetrated by the birds. For vestibule also need to take place in terms of construction.
Experts recommend to choose a place with a reserve area in case if luck the chickens will encourage owners to create, for example, the quail farm. After all, this farm is a great source not even additional income and full earnings.
The chicken coop is often called a barn-wreck, but if in a businesslike way to look at this building, you can do much more then a place for her to find it will be easier
To be healthy, chickens need to have a place for walks, so a coop with a vestibule deserved success
We have chickens to build a house?
Agree in advance that the material for the construction of our chicken coop we choose chetyrehkantnyj timber 100×150 mm. It is a low-budget option and the construction of such material does not require professional skill.
Stage #1 — the choice and construction of the Foundation
Choose the size of the upcoming construction. The project is better to draw to be able to accurately determine the need for materials. Of the approximate weight of a chicken coop and will proceed, identify with the Foundation.
The coop on the pier Foundation looks very secure, neat and compact, despite the fact that everything you need it provided
The best option for a relatively small coop can be considered a pier Foundation. Why?
- The economic benefit. Thumbs of the old brick will cost very cheap, and, if you want, you can do an ordinary stone. Cement, sand, gravel and trowel are the main costs for this Foundation.
- Protection. Rats and ferrets will be hard to get into the room, and the ventilation under the floor surface can prevent wood rot.
To mark the Foundation we are using thin but strong rope and metal rods. In full compliance with the project construction perimeter hammered rods. Tight them with rope, positioning it at the earth’s surface. Check the accuracy of a completed layout, measuring the distance diagonally usual roulette.
The fertile layer of the soil at 15-20 cm inside the markup carefully lift it off: it is useful in the garden. Now the building corners and around the perimeter will do the cabinets. The distance between them should be 0.8-1 m. Roy pit depth of 60-70cm and a width of 50 cm (two bricks). Using the hydraulic level and ropes are celebrating 20-25 cm above the ground reference for the construction of tables.
Pier Foundation is most relevant in the construction of a chicken coop because it is cost-effective and building on it will be protected from rotting and from predators
On the bottom of the pit pour a layer of medium-grained sand and gravel with a thickness of 10 cm, the First two bricks stacked on the bottom of the pit, they put the cement slurry, mixed at the rate of 1:3. The next two bricks placed across the previous one. So the Cabinet should be spread to a level, which is marked with ropes. To trim the Cabinet just below the level will help cement.
In the construction there comes a technological break for 5-7 days, to the solution was the ability to set. After this, the columns need to be processed with a special protective mastic or ordinary bitumen. Between the cabinets and the land should be pour coarse gravel. They also bombard the surface inside the perimeter of the building.
Phase #2 — construction of walls of buildings
For the process of packing timber designed for a long time the standard technology, which must be followed. In an insulator the first wreath of the Foundation you can use a double layer of roofing material. The ends of the beams should be connected in a half-tree. As the lag for floor use timber 100х150мм laid on edge. The optimal distance between the beams – 50 cm Intervals, sealed with scraps of lumber.
Walls are erected successive position of the bar connecting it at the corners of the buildings in the locking connection of form «groove-joint»
The second, third, and subsequent crowns on the corners are connected on the system «the tongue-and-groove». As the seal in the castle connections and between the crowns can be applied Logutova fiber. If the beam from which is built the coop has a natural moisture for a secure fit of the crowns is best to use wooden pins.
Their presence will protect the frame from distortion after shrinking. Under the pins you need to drill holes in the corners of buildings and along the perimeter using a meter and a half. They do a depth of 2.5 bar and staggered. Hammer a nail into the wood should «wpoty» approximately 7 cm. the Minimum height of the walls should be 1.8 m. Next, you will strengthen ceiling beams, install rafters and plank roof.
Stage #3 — the ceiling and roof of a chicken coop
You can make a chicken coop shed roof, but the gable design is the choice of forward-thinking people. The feed and supplies you need to store. Why not use for this purpose a convenient and dry the attic?
Of course, the roof is better to do the gable, then feed, inventory and even narushenie for the winter for the chickens, the berries will be safe
Strengthening ceiling beams, plank all plank ceiling and insulate it. Dear roll insulation can be replaced with expanded clay or coal ash. Until the insulation you need to take care of ventilation. To do this, to put together two wooden ventilation ducts. Fix them at opposite ends of the building. One end of the ventilation channel is flush with the ceiling, and the second about 40 cm below it. Tin dampers on the ventilation pipes will help to regulate the temperature inside.
Step #4 — plank and insulated floor
Freezing and blowing the sexes should be avoided. Therefore, the best option may be to consider double floors. In this case we will use the Board thickness of 25 mm. subfloor should be performed from the dry unedged Board. On Board laid out the vapor barrier, followed by — blocks 100x100mm. The spaces between the bars filled with insulation, then covered with finished floor already from the edging Board.
If the ceiling you can use any Board, for floor-saving appropriate only when laying sub-floor: finishing should be done from floorboards
In floors it is recommended to make the ventilating prospirits, which in winter will be tightly closed, and in summer they can install the grille.
Develop a poultry house inside
Well, how to build a reliable and warm the coop, we understand, now we need to organize the room inside. If we talk about the essential elements of the internal structure of the coop, the roost just one of them.
Calculation of the need in the roosts need to know what each bird will need at least 30 cm of perch. Knowing the number of feathered residents of the chicken coop, the calculated quantitative need for perches. To make them better from a rectangular timber 40×60 mm. Perches should be rounded, otherwise they will injure the birds. To place apart the roosts should be at a distance of 50 cm at a height of 60-80 cm from the floor, but not over each other. The trays are placed under the roost, will facilitate the process of cleaning the coop.
To organize a chicken coop from the inside is no less important than to ensure its proper construction: the chickens need roosts, waterers, feeders, places for laying hens
Locations for layers must be located in that part of the coop where chickens can feel safe and secure
Do not forget that we were worth a chicken coop for laying hens, this means that you need to provide them all the conditions that they laid eggs. It is possible to equip them in boxes of sawdust in the place where the chickens will feel peace and security.
Feeders and waterers should be full, clean and is located on a hill. Cleanliness and order in the hen house can provide a simpler, if the floor is covered with sawdust or straw. Sloping the floor will also make cleaning an easy task. In winter, the coop can be additionally insulated with mineral wool and polyfoam.
Video example of the work and advice from professionals
How to build a henhouse with your own hands in a different way, we offer you to watch this video: