How to build your backyard poultry coop

Building a backyard poultry coop gives both the bird and the farmer comfort and convenience.

The backyard coop is the most important centerpiece of the poultry farming, since this is just like humans who build homes for themselves and their families.

The key point in the construction of the backyard coop is space, sanitation, and protection. This design will give you ease while checking and caring for the chickens and for collecting eggs.

Space is key for promoting peace among the flocks of birds, each bird is required to have both at least 4 square feet of indoor and 5-10 square feet of outdoor access at all times.

The coop must also have a covered outdoor run so that the birds can enjoy a bit of fresh air. The feeder and water equipment should be kept in the covered run so that the coop can always be dry and clean.

Read also: poultry farm equipment and their uses

The large covered area is to provide shelter from the weather and direct sunlight as well as providing security from predators. The area also provides biosecurity by preventing wild bird’s droppings from landing on the area occupied by the birds.

Farmers should ensure that they build coops that gives them undeniable access to the birds, the doors and the roof of each coop should be tall enough to accommodate a standing person.

This will help the farmers or other farmworkers to be able to clean, feed, and check on the birds at any time.

There should be provision for nest boxes for layers so that farmers can collect the eggs from outside without going inside the coop.

For predators proof, the coop should be galvanized with welded wire instead of chicken wire because the chicken wire can be stretched which allows predators inside the coop.

The galvanized welded wire should be buried six inches underground and the wire should be 90 degrees out from the coop so that burrowing predators can be kept out of the coop.

The wire should later be covered with dirt so that predators can hit the buried wire whenever they try digging under the coop.

Good ventilation is another factor that should be considered when building the poultry coop, it should accommodate enough fresh air throughout all seasons. Since ammonia building up in the coop is disastrous to the birds, farmers should be enlightened to not seal the coop during the cold season.

As night draws near, the birds need additional light, therefore farmers should consider adding electrical outlets to their coop. you should also have an automatic timer that keeps light and dark hours consistent for the chickens, especially the layers, so that it can regulate their layer hours and their sleeping hours.

To maintain, a healthy flock of chickens, you must consistently feed them fresh, complete feed and clean water daily.

Create space for feeders, water equipment, and a space to store the feeds. To prevent the water from freezing out during cold climate, water heaters will be needed in the farm

The moment the coop is ready, put the chickens into their home and monitor their progress. Provide them with water and feed as a welcoming home treat.