Ask Danny | Ep. 27: Constructing & Sustaining a Yard Hen Coop

Elevating yard chickens generally is a enjoyable and rewarding expertise, offering recent eggs and even a supply of companionship. Nevertheless, earlier than you begin your yard rooster journey, it’s essential to know the fundamentals of constructing and sustaining a rooster coop.

Right now’s Home-owner Manufacturing Supervisor Corey Wilson is becoming a member of me to talk rooster.

Coop Dimension

In terms of constructing or shopping for a rooster coop, measurement is a crucial consideration. The quantity of house wanted for every hen will range relying on the variety of birds you propose to maintain, however a basic rule of thumb is to offer 2-3 sq. toes of coop house per hen and 5-10 sq. toes of run house per hen.

Keep in mind —chickens sleep within the air, perched on a limb, so be certain to incorporate sufficient house for them to sleep comfortably.

Coop Elements

A rooster coop usually contains a number of key elements: nesting containers, roosts, runs, and an enclosed space for sleeping and safety.

Nesting containers present a secure and safe place for chickens to put their eggs, whereas roosts give the birds a spot to sleep.

Runs are important for train and foraging. The enclosed space serves as a protected house for the birds to sleep, relaxation and take shelter.

In terms of flooring, use supplies like sand, hay or pine shavings. These supplies are comfy for the chickens and straightforward to scrub. In addition they take in moisture, which helps maintain the coop dry and smelling recent.

A well-built and maintained coop is essential for the well being and well-being of your chickens. Offering sufficient house, perches, and appropriate supplies for the birds, will be certain that they’re comfy and wholesome and might produce eggs effectively.

Egg Manufacturing

A wholesome hen will usually lay one egg per day, along with her reproductive cycle lasting between 24-27 hours. Nevertheless, the precise egg manufacturing can range relying on various components akin to the quantity of daylight, consolation, predators, and vitamin.

• Daylight: Chickens want at the very least 14 hours of daylight in an effort to lay eggs. Within the winter, when daytime are shorter, egg manufacturing will naturally lower. You should utilize synthetic mild to complement the daytime, however it’s essential to make use of the correct sort of sunshine and the correct amount to keep away from stressing the birds.
• Consolation: Chickens want a clear, dry and secure place to put their eggs. A well-maintained rooster coop with nest containers will present the consolation and safety that chickens want to put eggs.
• Predators: Chickens that really feel threatened by predators won’t lay eggs. It’s essential to guard your chickens from predators by securing the coop and the encompassing space.
• Diet: Chickens want a balanced weight loss program that gives the mandatory vitamins for egg manufacturing. Feed particularly formulated for laying hens will present the correct steadiness of protein, calcium, and different important vitamins.

Curiously sufficient, a rooster isn’t vital for a hen to put eggs. Hens will lay eggs whether or not or not there’s a rooster current. Nevertheless, if you wish to breed chickens, you will want a rooster.

Hen Meals

There are a selection of varieties of rooster meals out there available on the market, every designed to fulfill the particular dietary wants of chickens at totally different phases of their life.

• Starter feed: This sort of meals is formulated for chicks throughout their first six weeks of life. It accommodates a excessive stage of protein, round 20-24 p.c, to assist them develop and develop shortly.
• Grower feed: Because the chicks develop, they want totally different meals. Designed for chickens between 6-20 weeks outdated, grower feed accommodates a decrease protein stage round 16-18 p.c as they don’t want as a lot protein as once they had been chicks however nonetheless want sufficient to assist their progress.
• Layer feed: Chickens are adults as soon as they attain 20 weeks outdated, so that they now want a distinct sort of meals. Layer feed is formulated for egg-laying hens, so it accommodates the next stage of calcium to assist the formation of eggshells.
• Pellets: These small, easy-to-eat items are handy to make use of and retailer, and are sometimes used as a whole feed for chickens.
• Crumbles: Just like pellets, crumbles are additionally compressed, however they’re smaller in measurement and are typically extra palatable for chickens.
• Mash: Mash is made by mixing collectively totally different grains and protein sources. It’s often moist and straightforward for chickens to eat.
• Scratch: Scratch is a kind of feed that’s made up of complete grains akin to corn and barley. Chickens are inspired to forage, so such a meals is can used as a deal with.

Price to Feed Chickens

In terms of feeding your chickens, rule of thumb is to plan for about one bag of meals each three weeks for a flock of 10 hens.

On common, a bag of rooster feed can value anyplace from $40 to $50. This may occasionally appear to be rather a lot, however when you think about the truth that chickens will lay eggs nearly every single day, it’s a small worth to pay for the scrumptious, recent eggs they supply.

Along with common rooster feed, present your birds with oyster shells for calcium. That is important for sustaining the power of their eggshells. You should purchase oyster shells in a bag and so they often value round $10-15.

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