Quick and Simple Ways To Build Chicken Coop Accessories

As you know, when you want to build a chicken coop there are many things to be aware of. Most of your time and energy over the last few days will have been taken up with the necessary questions about light, air and protection for your flock. But you have sorted them all out, your structure sound and easy to work with and I bet that you are just hankering to get your hens moved in and laying. I'll also bet that one of the last things that you want to be thinking about is having to build chicken coop accessories right?

I know that when I started out I was so relieved to have built the coop that when someone mentioned about the lack of chicken coop accessories in it I nearly threw my paintbrush at them! I recollect thinking "how bad would it be if we didn't involve a nesting box or two?" and "what the jeepers is a roost?". "Why should they need a water trough or feeder? Can't they just gobble off the floor and snooze on the floor? They are just hens after all, why must we worry with attempting to build chicken coop accessories". And then I thought about it a bit more.

Yes they are chickens which is just the rationale behind why we have to consider their requirements. The good thing about farming chickens is that they are animals, meaning that their needs are really simple. Safety and comfort when laying, eating and sleeping are the only two elements that your flock will need. That is it. If you would like their eggs, then you need to make them at ease so that they will willingly give you those eggs with as little fuss as possible.

So when you build chicken coop accessories try to imagine that you are a small, almost flightless bird and ask yourself where you would feel most safe. I wager that 'in the highest tree' would figure quite highly! With that in mind here is a break-down of a few of the essential accessories for your hen house

Nesting Boxes;
Nesting boxes are for your chickens to produce their eggs in - If you thought that they were for sleeping in, you are just like I was when I first started! Nesting boxes are easy to build because they can be made out of anything. The one thing to watch is that if your nesting box is made from materials that break down or absorb water - like cardboard - that you replace it regularly. They can be filled with straw, paper, shavings or hay, but this also has to be changed on a very regular basis.

I realize that we mutter about chooks needing their room, but when it comes to the nesting box they definitely like to share, so allocate for 4 or 5 hens per box rather than building single nests.

The Roost;
The roost is where the sleeping is done.
The roost equates to the highest branch in a tree, so it really only needs to be a solid bar. As long as it will support the mass of the chooks and they can wrap their talons around it firmly most anything will do. An important note when you build chicken coop roosts is that just as in nature, chickens will argue over the uppermost branch, so make all the roosts the equal height. This is one area that your hens will like their legroom, so make certain that there is ample area on the roosts for all your hens. This will prevent major squabbles and help promote a calm setting.

A really important tip; Do not place your nesting boxes or any other accessories below your roosts! Hens do the majority of their defacating while they snooze - and I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be that keen on laying an egg in a filthy nesting box!

Feeders and Waterers;
These are pretty self explanatory there are a excellent array of mechanized systems available that will make certain that your chickens have a set supply of fresh food and water.

Sand Baths;
Sand Baths are pretty well the only indulgent item' in the house. Most people put sand in the bottom when they build chicken coop runs - which acts as flooring as well.

Heaters;
If you live in really cold areas then these may well be installed in your house with relative ease. There are several heaters to be had, but many also create a huge fire risk so installing a heater in your coop should really only be done if extremely necessary.

A Quality Article From: http://sellwritenow.com

Fortunately there are a great assortment of designs available for when you want to build chicken coop accessories that contain all the essentials with easy peasy step by step instructions. In fact it is so straightforward I bet it even makes your neighbors envious and your eggs taste better! Click here for the best advice on building chicken coops that really work

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Articles About Animals Via RSS!

Additional Articles From - Home | Animals

Quick and Simple Ways To Build Chicken Coop Accessories

Recommended Article Directories