Chicken Coops for Sale in Leipsic, Ohio
Chicken Coops for Sale in Leipsic, Ohio
How To Set Up Your Chicken Coop
Often when people buy chickens from us they’ve never owned poultry before therefore I usually find myself explaining the basics of operating a healthy and effective coop. As I grew up on a farm much of it is second nature but many city folk are unsure of just whats involved. The easiest and quickest way to get the message across is to take them on a tour of our back section to see how everything in our coop has be arranged.
The important aspects I talk about are:
Feed …
Because chickens grow so fast I use larger feeders as soon as possible. If you are raising them from day one there are feeders available that have been designed to cover the first couple of weeks. After that one on an adjustable rope works well as its just a matter of raising the height from time to time as the chickens grow. To get the best results it needs to be kept high enough to be accessible but not too low as to allow litter and droppings to be scratched into it. As can be seen in the photo above an off cut of PVC down pipe with holes drilled through it works well as a cheap grit feeder. Commercial feeds normally have grit added however I wonder if its sufficient as our hens regularly go through a 2 kilo bag of crushed oyster shell.
Feeding guide …
Day old to 6 -8 weeks … chick starter crumbles. 8 – 14 weeks … pullet grower or similar. 14 weeks onward … regular chook feed. 18 – 20 weeks or just prior to the commencement of laying … oyster shell grit.
Don’t over do the kitchen scraps as the nutritional value from these is fairly low. If they are fed as a substitute for a properly balance diet egg production will suffer.
Water …
Its important to have a plentiful supply of good clean water at all times. Hens don’t drink much at anyone time but they do drink often and even more so during spring and summer when air temperatures increase. I always leave the coop door open when our hens free range as they can get cool water whenever they need it. Hens drinking dirty contaminated water from containers and puddles is a recipe for disease.
If its not clean enough for you to drink you shouldn’t give it to your hens.
As shown above I prefer to used a fixed water container as the hanging versions leak and spill water when knocked. Its easily removed for cleaning and is installed in such a way to prevent debris getting into it.
Perches …
Chickens have a natural instinct to perch therefore it important to provide good sturdy perches. The ones in our coup are about 5cm square and have the sharp edges taken off to make them more chicken friendly. Tree branches of a similar diameter also work well if they are reasonably straight. The perches shown above are approximately 50cm and 80cm above the floor however I set them at lower levels when I first introduce 3 to 4 week old chicks. They should be fixed securely to the coop walls whilst being easily removable for cleaning.
Even when I have day old chicks under lights I provide perches as its a habit that I want them to learn as soon as possible because it makes my job so much easier. There’s no space on my daily to do list for cleaning dirty nesting boxes and eggs. Perch space per bird should be about 20cm.
Without suitable perches hens will perch on what ever is handy namely nesting boxes, feeders and the like or they will crowd into a corner of a coop. The end result will be a hard mound of droppings which will ultimately end up in feathers on claws then into nesting boxes and subsequently onto eggs. Correctly positioned perches eliminates crowding, flighty hens, dirty eggs and ensures your hens will be more relaxed and manageable.
Like all females of the species they need to be pampered. My other half constantly reminds me that I pay more attention to our Flora’s that I do to her. Its not true of course !!
Nesting boxes …
For me keeping hens is all about egg production therefore when we I invested extra time and effort into creating workable nesting boxes.
- One nesting box for every 4 hens, wonder why sometimes as they all seem to lay in the same box.
- Easily accessible for me from the outside.
- Easily accessible for the hens from the inside.
- Removable for easy cleaning.
- Spacious … 40cm height x 40cm width x 40cm depth or thereabouts.
- Weather proof.
- 10cm lip at the front to keep shavings and eggs in.
When introducing young chickens I keep the boxes closed off until near the time when they will start laying. This is to ensure that they use the perches rather than sleeping in and fouling the boxes. As mentioned previously this means only one thing, dirty eggs.
Deep litter …
We use a deep litter system as it makes for easy maintenance and reduces the need to be continually cleaning chicken manure out of the coop. Simply put the floor is covered with a 10cm layer of untreated wood shavings which is raked over every few days. A more detailed explanation of this concept can be .
Access – easy and straight forward …
- Human sized entry, applicable if you need a large coop.
- Removing old litter is almost effortless, especially when I have to work the camera !
- Predator proof entry- exit.
A user friendly coop ensures that keeping hens doesn’t become just another unwanted chore so build or buy wisely.
Chicken Coop Designs in Leipsic, Ohio
A good place to start any search is the internet. Simply plugging in the phrase "chicken coops for sale in Leipsic Ohio" into any one of the numerous search engines and a wealth of information will pop up. This information will provide links to other websites that will be informative and will provide the right direction for finding Leipsic Ohio chicken coops. What to look for when buying a chicken coop in Leipsic, Ohio With the substantial boost in chicken keeping there has actually been an equally big rise in the range of fowl stuff on sale. Chicken housing is a proceedings in factor. It's also a timeless example of the excellent old bandwagon being got on as different prospective poultry real estate experts peddle an array of holiday accommodation declaring to be the optimal remedy to your chicken housing needs. Typically the price looks desirable, your house looks eye-catching, heck also the clean-cut family members standing there feeding the chickens look desirable. Surely they recognize a professional chicken house when they see one? There are lots of economical as well as awful coops flooding the market. I recognize this as I've tested a number of them in the area, and also seen a ewe run straight via one when the feed container showed up. The result was only a pricey heap of fire wood as well as a small flock of bemused and currently homeless bantams.
Chicken Coop And Run Plans in Leipsic, Ohio
Generally these mass produced models are created of fast grown hardwood - come the first drop of rain they swell, leaving you either barricading a doorway that will not close, or tearing the door furnishings off in a vain effort to launch the squawking residents. The initial cozy day suggests the hardwood dries out as well as cracks, the really felt roofing system bubbles as well as boils, as well as come nightfall the hens refuse to enter. This is not due to their disappointment at the decline of their once attractive residential property however since the hovel is currently a place for, and most likely crawling with, the chicken caretaker's nemesis, red mite. Add on the fact that it claimed on the blurb that it would suit 4 big hens when that equipping thickness was based upon the Circle Line at 5pm on a Friday, as well as what are you entrusted? A few joints and also some kindling. A respectable coop for thee to four birds need to cost you approximately ₤ 300 though this could depend upon whether you choose for a totally free standing house or one with a run attached. Assuming you are ranging your birds in a big space and the pop hole door allows enough for the breed you maintain, after that the primary demands of real estate come down to three factors which will specify the number of birds the house will certainly hold; perches, nest boxes and air flow. Most breeds of chicken will certainly perch when they go to roost during the night, this perch should ideally be 5-8cm wide with smoothed off edges so the foot sits pleasantly on it. The perch must be higher than the nest box entrance as chickens will additionally naturally look for the acme to perch. A perch below that will certainly have the birds roosting in the nest box over night (which is by the way when they generate the most poo) resulting in stained eggs the list below day. They should not nonetheless be so high off the floor of the house that leg injuries can occur when the bird comes down in the early morning. Chickens need about 20cm of perch each (in tiny types this is certainly less), plus if greater than one perch is installed in your house they must be greater than 30cm apart. They will hunker up with their next-door neighbors but are not that crazy about roosting with a beak in the bloomers of the bird ahead. Preferably your house needs to have a the very least one nest box for each 3 birds and also these need to be off the ground and in the darkest area of your house. Your house should have ample air flow: without it then condensation will accumulate every night, also in the coldest of climate. Know, ventilation deals with the concept of cozy air leaving with a high void drawing cooler air in from a lower gap - it's not a set of holes on other walls of your home as well as at the very same level, this is just what's referred to as a draft. If you have a house with a run affixed then the points above are still real, yet you need to likewise take into consideration the run size. The EU maximum lawful stocking density for a free range bird is (and also let's face it, one of the motivations for keeping some hens in your home is possibly enhanced or much better welfare) 2,500 birds per hectare, that's optimal one bird each 4m squared. Take a close check out a few of the bargain houses - it could well be your home has the right perches, proper ventilation as well as sufficient nest boxes for a sensible number of birds, however will each of the chickens have anything more than an A4 sized item of ground to invest the day on? And so as the stating goes, "you obtain just what you pay for". You might believe you've got a deal, however you and your group could rue the day you did. Acquisition the appropriate house and it will certainly last for a couple of years, otherwise longer offered the appropriate treatment. Ultimately your fowl and also your fowl maintaining experience will certainly be much the far better for it.for sale for sale
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