Chicken Hutch / June 3, 2018 / Maryellen
Basically a large chicken coop in an urban environment means a coop that you can walk upright into just as you would in an elevator. In fact you can take the size of a typical elevator as your guide in the initial design process of your chicken coop. On the wall facing the door you can place your elevated roost and nest box. You can raise it up to your chest level and extend it up to the roof of the coop. But if you have more than three chickens consider keeping this section at least three - four feet off the ground. Remember that chickens need a lot of space when roosting. Stacking them up too close to each other can result to them pecking at each other. Another benefit of this elevated design is that your chickens are off the floor and away from predators like rats or raccoons.
When attempting to build a backyard chicken coop do not go at it with a concept in your head. This can lead to disaster. Make sure you sketch out your coop on paper even if youre not an artist and cover every angle including a top view of the roof and a sketch of the inside. If this is your first time building a backyard chicken coop you shouldnt go for an architectural masterpiece but rather start out with a simple chicken coop first just big enough for your flock and as you gain experience then go for something of a greater scale. Before you build a backyard chicken coop make an effort to collect all the materials you will need so that you wont have to take unexpected trips to and from the hardware or lumber store. A good example of materials you will need are: wood (2 x 4) concrete cinder blocks chicken wire or fence wire insulation strips and ofcourse nails screws saw and hammer. While these are your most common materials only you
A mobile chicken coop is normally made of bolts pins or snaps that are connected together. This way it can be easily assembled or disassembled by the owner. It is easy to clean because normally it includes an open bottom. Thus you just move it to a new location and clean the old spot. Obviously you will still need to do some cleaning inside the coop but not so much as with a traditional one. Look for quality materials. Since you can transfer your portable chicken coop from one place to another you have to make sure that your coop is not only light-weight but at the same time durable enough to withstand the constant transport. There are also additional features available for portable coops such as a useful wheel and handle. You can easily wheel off to anywhere you want your new portable coop. You can wheel it into direct sunlight in order for your chickens to get some heat.