Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Raising Chickens - Location And Methods � Part 1

Poultry can be made to do well almost anywhere, just as cattle are made profitable on many farms not especially adapted for dairying. Management and system of housing should be varied to suit the location. Some good paying poultry farms are on stiff, heavy clay land, where water collects in pools after rain. Others just as profitable are on rather thin, light soil. Still, it is generally agreed that a good, free, well drained loam has certain advantages. The soil dries quickly after a rain, snow melts more quickly, it warms rapidly in the sun, every shower purifies it by carrying down a part of the impurities. On wet, heavy soil the fowls should have very wide range or the ground becomes muddy and unwholesome. Yet such land is a rich storehouse of plant food and affords the best of grass and insect diet even when drouth checks all fresh growth on other land. Heavy land is best suited to the colony or free range systems. Some of the largest and most profitable farms have been thus located and conducted, and the fowls maintained in perfect health and vigor.

On rather poor land the fowls should also have wide range in order to find enough wild food. Good pasturage should be considered as important as for cattle.

Rocky land is seldom made the location of large farms for poultry culture, since frequent cultivation and cropping is a part of most systems. Money saved in buying rough or sandy land is soon lost many times over in decrease of net returns. If one may choose, let him buy good, clear, well drained loam, with a gradual southern slope and a forest protection at the north. But, as said before, most locations can be made satisfactory by suitable buildings and system of management.

The site of permanent buildings should be well drained naturally, but in a great majority of cases the conditions will be improved by at least heaping up with a horse scraper a little knoll of earth about the same in area as the house. Dryness is the great preventive of disease in poultry, and is even more important than warmth. A dry hen will stand a great deal of cold weather without much injury.

Foundation and Walls – It pays to have a stone foundation reaching down to frost line, or from one to three feet below the surface and rising about one foot above the, ground level. When covered with earth, a dry, dusty floor is ensured all winter, and rats are kept out even without a cement covering for the stone floor. Anything but a stone foundation is likely to take up more or less moisture, which will freeze and thaw, making the floor hard and cold, or muddy, neither state being suitable for scratching and for dust baths. Floors below ground are unsatisfactory in moist climates Dampness works in, spoils the scratching floor, stops laying and causes lameness, colds and bowel trouble. If the floor, however, has been raised by a rock filling, the outside of the building may be banked with earth to good advantage.

Tight Foundations – When small buildings are erected upon the farm, there is a temptation, in the interest of economy, to omit the tight stone foundation and put the building on posts. This leaves the building open beneath and permits the cold winds to reduce the temperature. A plan is shown in the cut, Figure i, which obviates this. The walls are boarded up and down, using matched cedar boards, and allowing these to extend to the ground, as shown. A little soil is then banked up against the lower end, which is grassed over quickly, making a tight foundation that will last many years. If the framing is made to use crosswise boarding, put on the latter as shown at right of Figure i, using a wide cedar board to extend from the sill down to the ground, and bank with a few inches of earth as before mentioned. The building can then be shingled or clapboarded.

In placing a house, let it face the south or as nearly so as possible. It is cooler in summer and warmer in winter than one facing either east or west. The sun in summer during the hottest part of the day is nearly directly overhead and does not shine in so strongly in a south window. In winter, when low in the heavens, the south window catches more of the sun’s rays.

A Poultry House Floor of cement may well be patterned after the plan shown at left of Figure 2. The foundation is of loose stones to give drainage. The stones above are cemented. A layer of small stones beneath the cement serves as drainage. The sills of the house are bedded in cement to keep out vermin. This plan gives an exceedingly warm house, and the cement floor will keep out all rats and poultry enemies. A cement floor is a cold affair in winter unless covered with plenty of dust and litter.

A Very Warm Wall designed by G. C. Watson of the Pennsylvania experiment station is double on all sides and practically air tight, with a two-inch air space between the walls. A section plan is shown at right of Figure 2. A two by three scantling set edgewise forms the plate, and to this the boards of the side walls are nailed. These boards may be of rough lumber if economy in building is desired. If so, the inner boarding should be nailed on first and covered with tarred building paper on the side that will come within the

hollow wall when the building is completed. This building paper is to be held in place with laths or strips of thin boards. If only small nails or tacks are used, the paper will tear around the nail heads when damp and will not stay in place.

The cracks between the boards of the outside boarding may be covered with inexpensive battens if they are nailed at frequent intervals with small nails. Ordinary building lath will answer this purpose admirably, and will last many years, although they are not so durable as heavier and more expensive strips. The tarred paper on the inside boarding and the battens on the outside make two walls, each impervious to wind, with an air space between them. Common building paper may be used or stout paper of any kind.

How To Build A Chicken Coop

Monday, August 9, 2010

Poultry House Plans � 4 Steps You Must Follow

Having good poultry house plans to follow is one of the most important steps you need to know in order to have success with your building efforts. Many people overlook small steps that cost them a great deal of time and frustration.

There is a clearly defined building pathway that should be followed whenever you’re attempting to build a chicken coop, so by making sure you don’t overlook these, you’re going to put your best foot forward for building a chicken coop that stands the test of time.

Here are the big points your poultry house plans should cover.

Find A Good Space Of Land

Finding the right space to build your chicken coop on will be vitally important because it’s this that helps keep your coop maintaining itself over the years. You want a piece of land that has a slight elevation since this will also prevent the coop from becoming flooded later on if water starts accumulating during a heavy rainfall.

In some cases this may mean you need to do some landscaping, but typically it will all depend on the type of soil you have in the area you are and the overall surface flatness.

Choose and Appropriate Size and Type

Second, make sure you’re taking the time to choose a good size to build your chicken coop with. Poultry house plans need to be specific about exact measurements when it comes to this.

The last thing you want to do cram your chickens in too small of a space, so be sure you take the time to carefully get the precise measurements you need and draw a building plan out before you build.

Locate the Best Space For Your Windows

Third, keep in mind that the windows you’re building will have a very large influence on how healthy your chickens stay so that is also something that you must not overlook. Windows serve to not only light the chicken coop but also act as a ventilation source, so no poultry house plans would be complete without them.

Most chicken farmers will build two or three windows total, however figure out the best number in order to meet your own individual needs.

Add The Chicken Run and Fence

Finally, the fourth thing you must do to have success with your chicken house is build the chicken run and fence.

Your chickens need to get out and get exercise on a regular basis, so having the run available will allow them to do that. The fence is also a vital component for protecting your chickens from predators, so again, something that you cannot do without.

By making sure you follow these steps while using poultry house plans to guide you, you’ll get the best possible poultry house.

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Friday, August 6, 2010

Building A Poultry Enclosure On A Budget

If you’re building a poultry house enclosure and are trying to stick with a firm budget, there are a variety of different things that you should keep in mind in order to have maximum success with this project.

Many chicken farmers spend far more money then they really have to trying to build their chicken coop and with a few simple adjustments they could have saved hundreds of dollars at least.

Here are the main points to know about building a poultry house enclosure on a budget.

Choose The Best Land Before Building

The first thing you should be doing before building a poultry house enclosure is taking a good look at the land you have available to build on. In most cases, you would be required to do some landscaping before building.

This is due to the fact that building a poultry house enclosure on ground that wasn’t firm and level would significantly decrease the stabilization, especially as time progressed, and that could in turn make it much more likely that rebuilding needs to take place.

If you choose to hire in help to do this landscaping, expect to pay big dollars because it can get quite pricey.

The second option is to just do it yourself, but even still, this will take time and could still cost you a small amount of money.

Therefore, the best option is to just survey the entire land you have available and locate the place where no landscaping will be necessary. You may need to look hard for this, but once you find it you’ll be happy you did.

Add Properly Placed Windows That Allow For Ventilation

The second thing you should take into account to help save yourself money is making sure you place the windows properly in the chicken coop. Windows are going to be the primary light source that the chickens have unless you plan to wire in electrical light – which is very expensive.

Also, windows will serve for ventilation purposes, which is another important aspect for helping your chickens maintain good health. By making sure the windows are stationed well and also allow for ventilation, you essentially kill two birds with one stone – and save yourself money in the process.

Build A Smaller Sized Poultry House

Finally, the third way to save money while building a poultry enclosure is to choose to build a smaller size. Obviously the smaller you build, the fewer building materials you will need, which is often where you incur the highest amount of costs.

Unless you’re planning on selling the eggs commercially, often two to three chickens will be plenty to give you more than enough eggs that you need each day, provided you are building the coop well.

There’s no need to build bigger unless you absolutely have to as this will not only increase your building costs from the start, but could also make them higher down the road as well with upkeep.

So be sure you keep these points in mind. By taking the right measures you can certainly decrease your building costs and still go about building a poultry house enclosure that’s perfectly suited for your chickens and your budget.

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Build a Chicken House � Chicken House Building Tips

By Shannon Clark

If you’re looking to build a chicken house, there are some important things that you must consider first before doing so. Many people just jump right into the building process and end up neglecting certain aspects which really cost them a lot of time and money in the long run.

By keeping the following building tips in mind, you will be sure you’re making all the right decisions when it comes time to building your chicken coop.

Here’s what you need to know.

Tip# 1: Always Factor In Chicken Number

The first thing to keep in mind as you go about building a chicken house is how many chickens you plan to have. You are going to need a much larger chicken house if you want to raise 10 or more birds compared to if you only want two to three.

Making sure that the size of chicken coop you choose is correct is vital otherwise your chickens are not going ot lay eggs properly.

Tip# 2: Think About Your Climate

Next up, in order to build the right type of chicken house you need to think about your climate. How much rain do you get? What type of temperatures do you typically experience?

All of these will factor in when it comes time to decide what type of materials you want to use while building..

Tip# 3: Do You Want A Mobile Chicken Coop?

Third, consider whether you want to have a mobile chicken coop. Many individuals like being able to move their chicken house around with them, either for cleaning purposes or just because they want to watch their chickens when they are inside the home.

Mobile designs typically work best when you have a lower number of chickens due to the fact larger houses are much harder to transport around.

Tip# 4: What Is Your Price Range?

Finally, the fourth tip to keep in mind is cost. When you build a chicken house there are many different things you can do to keep your costs low if you are on a limited budget. In some cases, if you know some quick and easy tricks you might even be able to build a chicken coop for free. It’s all about understanding what types of materials can be used and then factoring in the cost of building and purchasing those materials if necessary.

So, keep these chicken house building tips in mind. If you do some reading first before getting started, you will definitely cut your total costs down.

Here is more information on how you can build a chicken house on a budget.

To read my review of ‘Building A Chicken Coop’, please click HERE:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Clark http://EzineArticles.com/?Build-a-Chicken-House—Chicken-House-Building-Tips&id=2162501

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Monday, August 2, 2010

Keeping Chickens Warm In Winter

If you are worried about your chickens freezing during the winter, keep in mind that you only have to take minor precautions to keep them warm. Remember, chickens normally acclimatize themselves to cold weather. In fact, their physical constitution is more tolerant to cold than to heat. The body warmth they get from simply huddling together during cold weather can go a long way into keeping them warm for most of the winter. However, it doesn't mean that it's safe to neglect the environmental conditions that determine the well-being of your poultry during the cold months.

Heat conduction plays a critical role in the wintering of your poultry. Placing a bed of sawdust or bundles of straw in the coop helps in keeping them warm just in case huddling together is not good enough to handle the cool temperature. Setting up a heat lamp in a secure place also helps in providing direct heat just in case a particular chicken has poor tolerance for extremely low temperatures. Just make sure that the heat lamp is at a safe distance to prevent your chickens from getting too close (chickens like to perch, so make sure the heat lamp is at an elevated area that they can't reach).

A coop that is dry and free of draft (but still ventilated) is very essential to maintaining reasonable heat within the shelter. One thing to avoid is barring the door since chickens love to go outside and exercise every once in a while, even during winter. Make it a point to clear the coop's surroundings of snow in order for your chickens to have the luxury to venture outside whenever they feel the urge to do so.

Proper feeding is very important during a chicken's winter days. Corn is a good supplementary diet since it provides internal warmth. And of course, water needs to be provided daily just like in summer days. I highly recommend using a hard horse rubber dish for the fact that it's relatively easier to remove the ice without breaking the dish.

Providing roosts is also vital in avoiding your chickens' toes from freezing. A roost made out of wood is always better than metal or plastic because wood doesn't conduct cold. The roost should also be wide enough so that the chickens' feathers can cover the toes and be able to provide warmth into them.

Combs and wattles on chickens can be a big problem since extreme coldness can cause frostbites. Rubbing Vasoline regularly can be a big help to alleviate this particular problem. You can also resort to "dubbing", which is the process of removing these extra appendages, in the means to fully remove the possibilities of frostbites and the complications that go with it.

Remember that the rules change if you are brooding chicks. They should be kept entirely safe from drafts by placing a solid wall around them. Maintain a heat lamp over them the same way you do with full-grown chickens. If you can't establish an airtight habitat for them, it is best to avoid the notion of raising them in the winter.

Incredible Chickens! The Complete Guide To Raising Chickens At Home!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Raising Chicken Tips: Producing High Quality Chicken Eggs

The effort to produce high quality food sources and quality farm products has been a major focus in all sectors of the food industry. For the average man working in the poultry industry, the changes, complexities, and practices in producing high quality chicken eggs and meat could be stressful if not bewildering, but what happens in the farm determines directly the quality of the products that the poultry produce.

In egg production, the main focus of safety is to prevent salmonella contamination. It is also the ensuring that the chicks and pullets are not harboring the bacteria. One effective way at preventing this from happening is insuring that the feeds used are free from pathogens. Regular vaccinations are conducted to assure that the flocks are healthy and the observance of proper sanitation, eggs washing and refrigeration is observed from the farm to the market.

Producing high quality chicken eggs is straightforward. It only requires keeping healthy hens that are free from infection. The things to do:

• Reduce stress in the chicken house. Chickens that are not over stressed are more resistant to infections. For this the chickens must not be disturbed, if that cannot be avoided, prevent disturbances to the least possible. Chickens are naturally evasive to contact from those that it is not familiar with, even unfamiliar human scent.

• Except for scheduled management and maintenance, the supply of water and feed must not be interrupted. Even when the chicken can do with yesterday's water, the water supply nonetheless should be as clean and uncontaminated as possible.

• Maintain ample spaces for hens. A layer would need 4 to 5 square feet in moving space. When hens are crowded, irritations between hens occur that leads to pecking and fighting disturbing egg production.

• Make sure that the chicken house is secured from other animals and unauthorized personnel. Contact with poultry must be minimized.

• Do not feed broken eggs to the chicken. Doing so will develop the habit and will start them pecking at eggs. Instead, clean the chicken house of all residues of the eggs and dispose of it immediately.

• Keep a clean chicken house. Cobwebs, dust, dirt, and broken eggs harbor bacteria. This includes good housekeeping in all aspects of egg production like, egg packers, conveyors, elevators, and egg belts.

• All eggs must be collected promptly. Collecting eggs twice each day works well for most farms. For bigger farms the collection must be done often.

• Eggs must be handled carefully to prevent cracks, washed, and refrigerated soon afterwards.

• It often happens that pesticides are to be used to aid sanitation and cleaning. That being the case, only use pesticides that are approved for egg production. Likewise, use chemicals only when necessary.

The above-mentioned guidelines are sufficient practices in producing high quality chicken eggs. For further assurance, a common test it to place the eggs between a light and the eye. The yolk of high quality eggs appears translucent. Those that appear cloudy are already stale and may no longer be fit for consumption.

Incredible Chickens! The Complete Guide To Raising Chickens At Home!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Raising Chickens: What Chickens Need to Survive and Thrive

Ancestrally, chicken are jungle birds. They are survivors living in trees and are good at adapting to outdoor conditions. Taking good care of chickens then is easy provided that the chicken raiser give them what they need to survive and thrive. The needs of chickens are few and simple.

Housing

• The first among the basics for raising chickens is a housing that is clean and secured from predators. Chickens are a good prey for foxes to badgers and for cats to rats. The chicken house then should be secured that every possible entry point of predators are closed and barred.

• Build a chicken house that is elevated from the ground. This will keep them away from damp and diseases. While chickens are sturdy birds, they are prawn to bacteria and diseases, many of which come from the damp ground.

• The chicken house should also be made of materials sturdy enough to withstand different weather conditions and it should have ample ventilation.

Space

• Provide enough space for chickens. Chicken could be irritable creatures when the mood strikes them and that could be just about anything. When they are, quarrels will start. When blood is drawn, the blood will strike the fancy of other chickens in the henhouse will start pecking at the bloodied chicken sometimes to death. A chicken house is already cramped when there is less than three square feet of space per chicken.

• Likewise, the nest box should not be designed to accommodate more than four chickens. Two chickens per nest box are good.

• Chicken runs should be secured and fenced around with the base of the fence buried at least 10" into the ground while the height should be at least five feet.

Food and Water

• Chickens could live on yesterday's water but when the water has droppings it has to be cleaned. A steady supply of clean water is essential if the chickens are to be healthy. Vitamins and minerals could also be introduced into the water to boost the chicken's immunity from diseases.

• There are two basic types, the corn, and the pellets. Corn feed is mixed with other seeds and the seed mixed to the corn does not differ much from one manufacturer to the other. The other type is pellets. Pellets have three categories. First is the starter mash or layer mash, the second is the crumbled pellets that are recommended for feeding the pullets and the third is the pellets. There is no difference in composition and nutrients present. The difference only lies in the manner of fineness and coarseness of the feed.

• Chicken eats most food and it is good to let them roam around for variety. Chickens should also be fed grits, as they would need this for digestion to prevent having a sour crop.

These are the basics that the chicken will need to survive and thrive. There are other minor issues like disease prevention, selecting the breed, laws and regulations, but for chicken keeping, these are the things that come first.

Answers To Raising Chickens - A Complete Guide To Keeping Chickens

Monday, July 26, 2010

Raising Chickens 101: Protecting Chickens From Other Animals

Chickens have a lot of attributes but unlike most animals in the food chain, except for their typical if not initial distrust, they have none for defense. Aside from that, chickens do not move fast, are noisy, meaty, and tasty, that makes them the ideal bird to prey upon. To protect chickens from predators and other animals, observe try the following.

Introduce human smell.

The scent of humans is very repulsive to animals. It has often been claimed that the reason that man is the least to be preyed upon is due to human smell. There is not much study to support this but the fact is man will only be preyed upon when a predator is starving and there is nothing else available, when a predator is sick and is unable to hunt or is very old that their movement and ability has been limited, when the animal is threatened with its back to the wall and escape routes are closed and sometimes when a man is mistaken for another identity. To do this, hang bags of hair and used clothing inside the chicken coop and the fence preferably near entrances.

Discourage predators from your premises.

This will depend much on the predators that are in your area. Different predators use different methods. Consult with the animal control or the local authorities in your area. Aside from that you could use chemical deterrents. An electric chicken fence may also be ideal. Outside of these, remove places and clear spaces where predators could hide. Having dogs around will discourage most predators from getting near the place.

Build sturdy chicken coops.

Build the chickens living spaces free from gaps and holes. If the flooring of the chicken house is made from slats, install wires underneath to prevent predators from digging from underneath. Cover weak posts with wires to prevent them from biting through and lock up the chicken hutch without fail when the chickens are roosting in their coops.

Prevent access.

Predators will dig underneath a fence if they could not jump over it. When building the fence, ensure that it goes at least 10" or more below the ground to discourage digging. See to it that there are no weak points either in the fence or in the chicken house itself.

Provide barriers.

When the fence is made from chicken wire, bury planks that are at least 8" deep into the ground, also put footplates near the fence. Make the height of the fence at least five feet to prevent foxes from jumping over. Leave the top of the fence rough for added measure. Generally foxes could jump as high as their length. There are foxes though that could jump more than that. Leaving the top of the fence rough could catch if not scrape their underbellies on it.

Other methods of protecting your chicken from other animals could be provided by other farmer/residents in your area who have been raising animals longer than you do.

Incredible Chickens! The Complete Guide To Raising Chickens At Home!

Raising Chickens: Important Information on Feeding

Chickens can eat almost everything from meat to vegetables. You can give them dog food and they’ll peck it with full gusto. You can give them pig food and they’ll eat it without hesitation. Chickens are cleaners of garbage tidbits. They can even wipe out every insect, worm, or anything little and more vulnerable than they are. The good thing about raising chickens in your backyard is that it needs no feeding qualifications other than vitamins and boosters.

Grains can also be fed to your chickens. Scraps of food bits and peelings can also be fed. You see, feeding isn’t that hard for as long as you save some of those leftovers for your poultry to feed on. Chickens are also intelligent for they know when the bucket of treats is ready for lunch.

You can feed your chicken in many ways. You can either put it in a container that is big enough to accommodate their number during mealtime. Scattering their food isn’t also a bad idea without the worry that it will go to waste and remain scattered. Bones with tiny bits of meat are also their favorite.

Now, when it comes to hens laying eggs, calcium is required for their diet. During the months when laying season is on its verge, you can feed your hens calcium just by including in their meal clam shells that are already crushed. Do not, by any means give clam shells that are whole. They may be at risk of recognizing these clams as their own egg shells. So you have to see to it that the clam shells are thoroughly crushed into pieces before giving it to them. These are available in your local feed stores.

The most advisable food for your chickens are feeds, pellets, corn and grains. Meat, fruits and vegetables can be given out too. But chickens can’t have all the fun gobbling everything up. Their diet must also be kept in observance because there are certain kinds of food that aren’t advisable for them to eat. These foods can either be harmful or worse, deadly. Aside from the foods mentioned below, basically, other feedings are safe.

Reason why chickens should not eat these types of food

Chicken If you were given the opportunity to eat the thigh of your neighbor, would you do it? Same reason why chickens will dearly object if served with their own kind. But they will not know this. They never will. That’s why, it is alright if you have included chicken bones to their meals. But the consequences can be outstanding because if given large amounts of chicken meat or parts of the spinal cord and brain, this may lead to the development of encephalopathy.

Apple: An apple every two weeks given to 4 birds is fine but if this routine is done every day, you could expect digestive problems.

Peelings of Potato: Chickens don’t really like the idea of eating roots crops. The taste isn’t that enjoyable either.

Orange Peelings: The toughness of this is too much for them to take.

Tomato: Given in small quantities, tomatoes can be good but be careful cause if given in excess, they might affect the chicken’s droppings.

Banana: For some reason, they just don’t like them.

These are just some of the foods that aren’t really advisable to give to your chickens. Just take note: Root plants aren’t on top of their list; hard fuits can never be favorite; if given in large quantities, whatever the food is, will give their digestive system a hard time.

Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Saturday, July 24, 2010

The Do It Yourself Chicken House

Building chicken houses from prefab is a good idea to many. For one thing, it will definitely save time. For others though, the cheaper route is better as every cost incurred when raising chicken will always add to the cost of every head of chicken produced. Besides, there is really a definite satisfaction when you build and design your own chicken house. If the do-it-yourself chicken house is the route for you, the following will be helpful.

The Layout

The key point is that chicken houses are places of shelter. As chicken are creatures of habit, the chicken coop must be a permanent safe retreat for chickens where they can roost, nest, feed, and stay healthy safely. A chicken coop will also need a chicken run. Chicken runs are the area outside of the coop where the chicken could roam about, forage for additional nutrition, play, and have dirt baths. The chicken run will depend much on the available space or local regulations. Generally, rural area regulations are relaxed followed by urban areas with strong farming backgrounds. Whether the dirt run is free range, confined, or fenced will vary on the type of predators that are in the area.

The Design

Typically, a chicken will need about four square feet of space and three hens could share a nest. Each hen will also need a perch about 9" long. The design should also include a hatchway, storage area, ventilation, lighting and a feeder system. For a cleaner and healthier environment, design the floor to accommodate deep litter. This is normally done by piling three to four inches of wood shavings under the floor. Most people will design or make allowances for a feeder and water container and supply system, often though it is convenient to purchase the system in a local farm supply store.

The Materials

  • You will need 4x4 wood for corner posts/studs and skids
  • For boundary and floor joist, framing for walls and roofs you need 4x2's.
  • 2x3 will be needed for perch support and perch and a 2x2 for the nesting perch.
  • Plywood will be needed in building wall cladding, flooring, cladding battens, doorstops, parts of nest boxes, roofing and litter boards, and tarpaper for under roofing.
  • Hardware
  • Feeder system

Tips for Building the Chicken House

Chickens have virtually no defense against predators. Due to this, the do-it-yourself chicken house must be built in such a way that even when there are boards or planks for flooring, it will still be wise to add chicken wires under the floor to discourage rodents from entering the coop as they could easily chew through the wood. Possible weak points and entry points should be wrapped with chicken wire as well.

The perimeter fence of the chicken run must be constructed in a manner that the fence goes deep into the ground (about 10") to discourage predators from digging. The height of the fence must be about five feet in height to prevent foxes from jumping over.

Chicken Coop Video Guide - Only Video Guide!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Raising Chickens 101: Chicken Behaviors

The groups that chickens live in are called flocks. Chickens are very social birds. But they are often aggressive toward each other.

They have a “pecking order” which is the order of the weakest bird to the strongest. Chickens dominate the weaker birds especially when they are competing for food or a nest.

Chickens are noisy like many other birds. They often cluck at each other and roosters’ cock-a-doodle-doo at dawn.

Chickens are not very fond of water. So instead of taking a bath in water, they like to take dust-baths. They like to keep their feathers in good condition so they also stroke themselves with their beaks.

When chickens aren’t feeding or exercising, chickens enjoy taking a nap by perching about the ground on a branch or pole. Most times the chickens stand on one leg. The muscles lock into place so when they are resting, they won’t fall off of the perch.

Like back in the day, chickens still peck and scratch at the ground to fine yummy food for the day. Even though it is many years later, chickens are still the same animal as before.

Build A Chicken Coop In 3 Days

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Do Chickens Make Good Pets?

Gone are the days when chickens were only kept for their eggs and meat. Nowadays, people take a liking for chickens because of their domestic appeal, and many would even claim that they get a sense of kinship with their poultry, that same kinship people get from common pets such as cats and dogs.

But before you entertain the idea of keeping chickens as pets, you have to check the local zoning laws in your area for the simple fact that some counties prohibit the housing of "farm animals". Once you're able to verify this, the one thing left to do is to pick the particular breed of the chickens you want to have as your constant feathery companions.

You will need to have extensive knowledge of which breeds are most suitable to your preference. A bit of visual appeal can also go a long way into sparking and maintaining interest. A chicken can have a variety of colors and styles to choose from - red, gold, brown, spotted, dappled, high-tailed, bushy tailed, feather-legged, the list goes on. Be very nit-picky, for it's your sole responsibility to ensure that your chickens are not only well fed, but also nurtured and yes, loved. Why keep a pet in the first place if you're not going to shower it with attention?

If there are kids always hanging around the chicken coop, it might be advisable to choose the smaller breed, or in poultry talk - bantam chickens. That way, kids won't be afraid of them, and will be drawn to them as much as they do to small pets like rabbits and cats. It goes without saying that you need to pick one that is young, more preferably a one-day old chick. This gives the bird ample time to get domesticated and get used to being handled by people. The birds won't "fly the coop" and be predisposed to hurt anyone every time people get close to them.

In that parlance, hens make better pets than cockerels since they are more docile in nature. The fact that hens are capable of providing you a steady supply of eggs without the requirement of fertilization only fuels that premise. Sexing the chicken is not as easy as it looks, so you are better off asking the help of a “chick sexer” if you're not well trained to do it on your own.

Pet chickens naturally have to be free-range. They love to have enough space to walk around with, so make sure there's enough of it. Perches also need to be set up since it is hardwired into a chicken's instincts to roost and sleep on an elevated surface. Also make it a point to scatter some dirt into the ground since they love to dig and scratch with their feet.

Feeding your chickens occasionally with special treats (worms, fish, table leftovers, etc.) in the palm of your hand can also help tame them as they grow. In this manner, they associate you as a source of food and will always cluck in anticipation every time they see you.

Chicken Keeping Secrets - Guide To Keeping Backyard Chickens

Friday, July 16, 2010

Raising Chickens101: Inside the Egg

A chicken’s egg is a wonderful thing. It provides things that soon-to-be-chicks need to help them grow and unfertilized eggs are delicious and nutritious.

The shell of a fertilized egg protects the embryo as it grows and prevents dirt and germs from getting inside the egg. When the egg is first laid, the chick is nothing but a tiny white disc.

For a chick to grow correctly and to hatch, the egg needs to be kept warm or incubated. After the egg is laid, the hen will sit on it and occasionally rotate it to warm it evenly. The nest should be damp too. If it isn’t, the egg will dry out and die.

As the days pass by, the chick gets bigger and bigger inside of the egg. The body begins to form, and then in three days, the embryo has a heart and blood. The egg is ready to hatch in 21 days.

Build A Chicken Coop In 3 Days

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Building Chicken Nest Boxes

Chicken nest box design comes in all sizes and shapes. The suggestions for better designs also vary. The large variety of suggestions speaks so much about personal experiences and thereby the preference. In building chicken nest boxes, there are designs that stand out in view of practicality and function.

First though, a good chicken nest box must be planned to get the chicken lay eggs in manners that are most productive. The basics are the same. You build a box, put in some straw or wood shavings and when the time comes so too the eggs. But when there is low egg production chances are something must be done to improve the nest box. For as much eggs as possible, here are suggestions:

Often, chicken nest boxes are built to house more chicken and there are practical management reasons for this. The fact though is that when the nest box is crowded, chicken prefer laying eggs on the floor where the eggs are dirtied, trampled on, and even eaten lowering production. Chicken are actually more productive when they nest on smaller boxes. A box that could house four chickens at a time is good. Smaller is better. When nesting boxes are smaller, there is also less room for the chicken to kick around the straw or wood shavings, creating less mess and keeping the straw where they should be.

The roof of the chicken nest boxes are sloped for the purpose that chickens do not roost on the roof. A roof not angled steeply will invite chickens to roost there and when that happens expect where the eggs will be. Inside the nest box, keep at least two inches of straw but if you could have wood shavings (pine is preferable) that is even better.

If you could provide a chute where the eggs will roll after being laid, and collected at a separate place, the added cost of the chute will be paid for in terms of more eggs that could be used. It will also be practical as frequent intrusions disturbs chicken and that destroys eggs in the process let alone the muck that you will help splatter around.

In place of the egg chute, construct the chicken nest box with doors constructed at the backside so that you could collect the eggs from outside the coop without disturbing the chickens very much. Build a lip at the opening to prevent the eggs from falling when the doors open. A two-inch high lip is enough to keep the eggs safe. Likewise, build also a similar lip at the entrance to the nest boxes that serves as a chicken step. This will prevent the eggs from falling from inside the chicken coop as the chicken kicks around before laying more. The lips will also keep the straw inside the nest.

The sizes in building chicken nest boxes vary widely. In general though the height would be about 9" and if you intend to limit the chickens inside the box, a 12" square is sufficient and let the nest boxes be cave like, cold and dark.

Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Raising Chickens: Tips How to Clip their Wings

Clipping a chicken’s wings is an owner’s way of saying “You can’t go anywhere.” It is basically defined as the method of preventing backyard chickens to fly anywhere they want. Some, who think that wind clipping is inhumane, would rather see their chickens flying and wasting their time chasing them around the pen so as not to lose them. But others, who do it, believe that it is more of an advantage than a disadvantage.

One of the basic advantages of clipping is that if you keep your chickens in a free-range status, you lessen the thought of worrying that your chickens will go flying around and say “Bon Voyage!” If you wanted to keep your chickens inside their pen and make them lay those eggs, you have to adapt to certain measures no matter how brutal it seems.

For those who agree in the idea of clipping and are fascinated on how to clip the wings of their chickens, don’t dare think that there is bloodshed involved because there is none. Well, maybe just a drop.

You don’t have to clip everything including the actual wings with muscles, bones, veins and all. The only part that is needed to clip is the ones with the feathers. Long primary feathers. For first timers, ask for assistance from someone who knows how because if you don’t, things might get messy between you and your chicken.

Clipping chicken wings may be inconvenient and needs caution but it is the best way to outsmart your chickens. If done correctly, you can take away the balance and flight coordination thus making them want to stay even if they are against it.

There are pointers to know on how to properly clip a chicken’s wings but first, you have to organize the things you’ll need.

  1. Sharp scissors with a rounded tip.
  2. Pliers
  3. Used towel
  4. First Aid Kit
  5. Your vet’s number

Procedure:

a. Look around you. Do you see a candidate? Yes? Time to catch her. The perfect candidate for wind clipping is the chicken that has her wings growing very prominently. Usually these are the chickens you see who fly proudly above other birds. Catch the bird by the feet. This is the most ideal way of getting her under your grasp.

b. Hold the chicken by the legs and support the body by holding her underneath using the palm of your hands to stop her wriggling. Use the towel to wrap it around your chicken’s body to avoid any unnecessary movements. Leave either the left or the right part of her wings free.

c. Spread the wing displaying the entire feather section that needs cutting. The feathers must be the primary ones. From the tip of the longest wing feather, estimate at least 5 inches then start cutting at that point. Use very sharp scissors so that the process will not be that agonizing for your chicken to take.

d. You know you’re done if you see that the clipped wings are already on ground and the remaining ones are aligned in proportion. In cases of mistakes, mistakes that made your chicken bleed profusely, either call the vet and ask for an advice or rush her to the nearest animal clinic for treatment.

Check Out ====> Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Raising Chicken Tips: Requirements for Building a Coop

A coop is what you normally call a chicken’s house. It’s their kingdom! A hen’s castle. So you have to make sure to keep their house maintained at a four star accreditation for this will help the chickens grow healthy and happy. Therefore, to keep it the way it should be, there are specific requirements to cope up with to build a coop that will satisfy both you and your chickens. You, the poultry owner, of all people should understand this.

Requirement #1

Regarding its design, the coop must be secured from any kind of predator. Every single angle in the pen – sides, below and above, must be structured to withstand the wrath and longing of predators who are always on the lookout for a free meal. When selecting a wire mesh, be sure it is the right one. Predators are more than one. They scour within the area of your coop unnoticed just waiting for the time when they can attack. You have to make sure that the coop is impenetrable because some predators like raccoons just reach out for their prey, easily.

Requirement #2

In connection with requirement number one, this is a continuation. Aside from predators, you have to secure the coop from those nasty rats. They burrow through the ground and come up from below. If the coop floor is not blocked, these rodents will slip into the hen’s quarters. Rodents are attracted to the food you’re giving your chickens and the droppings they excrete.

What’s more devastating is that these pesky rats love eggs. So whenever laying season comes, they gather too. Want to get rid of them? Good idea. But prevention is better than cure. That is why preventing them to come into the pen is better that getting rid of their presence completely. All you need to do is construct a floor within the pen, otherwise, bury a fence about 12 inches deep around the hen’s house. Be sure that the materials you will use for the fence and the floor is thick or hard enough for them to impossibly bite through.

Requirement #3

The way you build your coop must not be drafty or breezy. Subsequently, seasons will change and so would the weather. That is why; your coop must be able to endure any kind of natural effects.

Requirement #4

Roosting poles must be provided for your hens to slumber. It must have an approximate 2-inch wide rounded edges. You allot an 8 to 10 inch space between every bird. Put nest boxes to encourage egg laying. One nest box is equivalent to three to four chickens. Situate the boxes inches above the ground. Do not let it touch the soil. Place these nesting boxes somewhere private where no one can bother them while they’re doing their thing. Safety is the very first policy one should follow.

Requirement #5

Your coop must be roomy. Spacious. You have to allot at least 3 square feet for every bird. There should also be space where the feeder and the waterer can hang to which is 7-8 inches above the ground.

Requirement #6

The coop must be accessible for the owner’s sake ONLY. Predators and rodents not allowed. Easy accessibility can help you clean the coop so that bacteria and bugs do not fester.

Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Build a Chicken House Quickly With These Techniques

Do you think that it’s going to take weeks to build a chicken house? If so, you may want to think again. With the right techniques and tips you can easily accomplish this goal in as little as a few short days and have great success while doing so.

Here is what you need to know in order to build a chicken house properly.

Plan The Entire Inside Before Building

The first thing you must do as you build a chicken house is take the time to plan the entire coop before you build. Many people make the mistake of building too early and then find out they have built too small because of all the additional pieces that have to go inside.

Remember that the measurements that you get in terms of total free space are just that – free space. If you start adding the feeders, the waterers, the perches, and so on, this will take away from the total amount of free space you have, making your chickens feel more crowded.

To solve this problem, draw a blueprint out first and then proceed to build a chicken house according to that design.

Make Sure You Give Your Chickens Enough Light

Next, you also need to make sure that you’re giving your chickens enough total light. This is accomplished by being sure you add enough windows throughout the coop which will serve to allow the sun to shine in.

Just be sure with these windows that you are not placing them too low or the sun may shine directly at the chickens, which can make them feel uncomfortable. Locate the main direction the sun typically hits your chicken coop and be sure to focus your windows on that side of the house.

Never Build Smaller Than You Think You’d Need

Finally, as noted in the first point, size is one of the biggest things you must take into consider as you build a chicken house. If you aren’t sure how many chickens you plan to keep, it’s a smart move to build slightly larger than you think you’ll need, then if you do decide to add one or two more, you will have enough room.

The worst situation is when a chicken farmer builds the perfect size coop but then finds out he needs more chickens. Then you have to tare down the coop and rebuild parts of it or else add an extension onto the coop that’s in place.

So be sure you’re following these three tips as you build a chicken house. The process may seem quite intricate but by using a building plan that breaks it down into manageable steps, it really becomes something that you can easily handle over the course of a weekend.

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Monday, July 5, 2010

Backyard Chicken Pen Building Tips

As you get ready to start building a backyard chicken pen, there are some critical aspects that you must keep in mind so that you see optimal results from the process. Many people are overlooking some aspects of the process that then lead them to have to either go back and rebuilt later on or else have chickens that aren’t laying eggs on a regular basis – which is a frustrating issue to say the least.

By taking the time to consider the following tips, you can help ensure that you do things right the first time around. This will also help to save you money – sometimes hundreds of dollars depending on the particular backyard chicken pen you’re building.

Here is what you must keep in mind.

Plan Your Windows Before Building

The first thing you should be doing is taking the time to plan the windows before you build your backyard chicken pen. The windows are going to be the primary source of light for your chicken coop, so you want to make sure that they are placed in the correct position.

You normally should cut the windows in the walls prior to constructing the coop so that you can get this right. Also think about what direction is going to give you the most natural sunlight since that’s where you should be maximizing the window placement on the chicken coop.

Think About Predators In Your Area

Second, also think about what predators are in your area that you will have to watch out for. In some cases this will influence the type of design you use for your backyard chicken pen so it’s something you definitely do not want to overlook.

Be sure whatever building plan you use, it thoroughly discusses the different predators that hunt for chickens and gives clear indications what areas have to worry about these the most. This will give you a good starting point to work off of when attempting to maximally protect your chickens.

Consider Your Primary Light Source

Now, if you happen to live in a location that doesn’t get a lot of natural sunlight, it will be important that you think about wiring in some electrical light into the backyard chicken pen.

Chickens do not respond well when they are not getting enough light, whether it’s sunlight or electrical light, so find a way to make sure your coop is well lit.

Electrical light can get to be rather expensive so usually it’s better to avoid this if you can, but in some cases that just isn’t possible.

Don’t Overlook Ventilation

Finally, also be sure that you don’t overlook ventilation in the backyard chicken pen. This will help ensure that the air inside stays fresh and is not only enjoyable for your chickens, but for you as well. If you hardly want to go into the chicken coop, the chances that you’re regularly maintaining it and spending time with the chickens will be dramatically reduced.

By being sure you keep these tips in mind, you will increase your chances of creating a backyard chicken pen that’s a big success. The more information you can gain before you start to build, the better your results will be.

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Friday, July 2, 2010

Raising Chickens 101: The Laying of Eggs

For most of a hen’s life, she is laying both fertile and unfertile, eating eggs. Hens usually only lay one egg a day.

Hens like having a nice, tight nesting box to lay her eggs. Nesting boxes are made from wood and usually have hay at the bottom of them.

Hens like laying eggs in dark, warm places rather than light, cooler places. In the wild, they use a hollow on the ground and sometimes find corners of a farmyard.

The shell of eggs when first laid are usually moist but it air dries fairly quickly. When the days become longer, hens lay more eggs. As the days get shorter, the amount of eggs they lay gets lower and lower until winter when they don’t lay any eggs at all. Occasionally, they lay eggs all year round.

Build A Chicken Coop In 3 Days

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Raising Chickens 101: Different Types of Chickens

There are way too many different types of chickens to count. It’s hard to believe that they all descended from the same ancestor, the wild Red Jungle Fowl of India and Southeast Asia. And they still exist today! Farmers began taming these chickens thousands of years ago and later spread throughout the world. Eventually, hundreds of different breeds of chickens developed and are now seen at many farms and zoos.

Some chickens are cold climate chickens and some are warm climate chickens. One difference between the two is the way the coop is required to be built depending on the temperature needed.

Larger chickens are great for meat but don’t lay as many eggs. When they do lay eggs, though, they are usually brown. Smaller chickens aren’t as useful for meat but are great layers. Their eggs are white. Some chickens are all-purpose. They are good for meat as well as for eggs. They lay brown eggs. Its more usual to see these chickens at smaller farms

Most chickens today are produced by mating or crossing different breeds. They are called hybrid birds. This gives farmers many advantages such as more eggs or a larger amount of meat.

Some chickens are used for show. These are stranger and fancier chickens. Some lay an odd size or number of eggs while some have more fluff or interestingly colored feathers. These chickens are fun to have around and bring more excitement to the farm.

Check Out ====> Build A Chicken Coop In 3 Days

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Hen House Plans � How To Choose One Properly

There are a wide variety of hen house plans available right now that you may feel overwhelmed in choosing which one will be most appropriate for you. This isn’t surprising because of the fact that most people don’t understand the process of building a chicken coop, therefore to them all the hen house plans may even look the same.

They are not the same however and if you’re not choosing the correct hen house plan, the chances that you have success with the building process will be much lower.

Here is what you need to know in order to choose the correct plan for you.

The Number of Chickens You Plan To Keep

The first thing you’ll want to think about is the total number of chickens you plan to keep in your chicken coop. The hen house plans you’re looking at should differentiate between small, medium, and large sized plans. Matching the correct size to the total number of chickens you want to keep will help make sure they’re happy in their surroundings are will be laying eggs properly.

If you’re not sure exactly how big you should be building, always go larger than you think you’ll need.

The Type Of Land Available To You

Next, also consider the type of land that you have available to you. Are you going to have to landscape? If so, you’ll want to make sure you’re looking for hen house plans that give information on proper landscaping techniques so you can do this correctly.

Also think about how firm the ground is. If it’s not very firm at all, you will likely want to consider a more solid base structure on top of the land to prevent the walls from shifting over time.

The Climate You’re Located In

The third factor to think about before you dive right into the building process is the climate you are located in. If you’re getting a wide variety of weather patterns, you’re going to want to think a great deal harder about the amount and type of insulation you use in your chicken coop.

It’s important that the hen house plans you’re looking at identify methods that you can use to help maintain proper temperature over time because if it’s either too hot or too cold in the house there is a very high chance that you’re going to run into some problems.

Whether You Want Your Chicken Coop To Be Mobile

Finally, consider whether or not you want to build a mobile chicken coop. These are increasingly popular among many people, especially those who also want to keep their chickens as pets as well.

There are many advantages to a mobile chicken coop so it is something you should give some consideration at least.

By taking some time to look through various hen house plans you can take a big step towards making sure you’re choosing one that best matches your own individual needs.

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Raising the Not So Grown up Chickens

As the chicks get older, they would require less maintenance. Meaning, there are still some things to take care of but it’s less delicate than when dealing with babies.

There are quite a few differences between taking care of newly hatched chicks and those that are like 2 weeks up to a month old. These are the chicks that already have prominent feathers and their bodies are bigger compared than when they were quite smaller. These are also the chicks that you bought from hatcheries.

The basic needs are still important like food, water, comfort, and warmth. Those four essentials can never be taken away from the list even if they are already old enough to lay eggs.

The list remains the same, although, now that they are more grown up, their needs have increased. Their appetite and hunger increases, their need for space increases, their need for water increases. Everything about them increases. Thus, you should make proper adjustments and see to it that every matter is taken care of.

Unlike in their early stages, water must be boiled or otherwise, sterilized for ensuring that the water they drink is safe enough not to upset their stomach and affect their health. But now that they have already grown for a bit, any kind of water will do. Just be sure that you’ll give them clean water like something that came directly from the faucet. Not yet ensured with the water’s safety? Then boil it.

You could now disregard the idea of putting an upside down jug on a dish. If you don’t take it away, the chicks will just frequently trip it over and the jug will fall and all its contents will be spilled. Use something that will not have the tendency to fall in any kind of motion, a pot or plastic water container can do. You can also buy the appropriate water container in agricultural stores.

Baby chicken foods can still be given. Though at times, you can introduce new kinds of stuff like including mashed potatoes in their meal. True, they hate potato peelings but they love the inner part of it especially when it is mashed. You could also include veggies like lettuce cut into pieces, cabbage, and grass is also a fine recipe to feed them. Insects? A first-class favorite.

When it comes to the temperature, you have to lessen your efforts and worries. Since these grown up chicks already have literary grown feathers, not full, but it’s getting there, sort of, warmth can be erased from the topic. The few feathers that they have grown are enough to keep their bodies warm during cold nights. But just to be sure that they get the heat they deserve, keep the heat lamp but in a more minimal state. Maintain a 20 degrees temperature within the chicken’s vicinity.

Chickens love to bathe in dust for some unexplainable reason. To add up to that, they love rubbing their feathers into the soil, and wag their feathers clean. It’s beginning to look like a tradition. With this kind of activity, it is therefore necessary to have a sandbox or let them roam around so they can dustbathe freely. But even so, maintain a clean environment. Provide a wider space for them to romp and for them to have enough room to sleep and not overcrowd.

If problems do arise, common sense can always work. These basics will definitely help you raise the chickens you need.

Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Raising Chickens 101: Chicken Appearance

Chickens come in various colors, shapes, and sizes, but they have the same basic body structure.

First off, they all have a comb on top of their head and a wattle underneath their beak. Roosters usually have larger combs and wattles. All chickens also have two legs and two wings. They are all covered with feathers with a tail sticking up at an angle to the body sometimes with feathers that drop all the way to the ground.

Similar to people, chickens come in many different colors. Some chickens are mostly neutral colors while some have unique color combinations, speckles, or stripes. Besides just white, black, and brown, chickens also come in gold, silver, red, blue, and green.

Chickens usually have a rather small head, with a strong, pointy beak. They have plumb bodies and their breast is keel-shaped like a boat.

Their legs are covered with scales. Some breeds have poofy feathers growing from beneath them, covering their legs. They have nice, sharp claws that help them walk and grip things. Chickens are better at walking than flying but can flutter up to a perch.

Check Out ====> Build A Chicken Coop In 3 Days

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Raising Chickens - Location And Methods � Part 2

It has been left for the West Virginia experiment station to determine just how much difference there would be in egg production between similar flocks kept in warm and cold houses. Two houses, built exactly alike and situated side by side, were selected for the experiment, in each of which were placed twelve pullets. One house had previously been sheathed on the inside and covered with paper to make it perfectly tight. Both were boarded with matched siding and shingle roofs.

The fowls were fed alike in each case. The morning mash consisted of corn meal, ground middlings and ground oats, and at night whole grain was scattered in the litter. They also had fresh water, grit and bone and granulated bone. The experiment started November 24 and continued for five months. The following table shows the number of eggs laid during each period of thirty days :

RESULTS FROM COLD AND WARM HOUSES

12345Total
Warm House87130138120154629
Cold House39106103124114486

The experiment clearly indicates that it is important to build warm and substantial houses for winter egg production.

In very cold climates special pains should be taken to make the roosting place warm. Combs are usually frozen during the night. Double walls battened with lath outside and lined with building paper make a warm roost room. With single-wall houses, double boarding on the north side is a protection. An outside shield of corn stalks or hay and litter is also effective.

Costly material is not needed for the poultry house. Often a discarded barn or other building can be bought cheap and the sound lumber used again. Others on farms can work up home grown timber. For city poulterers, large packing boxes bought at dry goods stores are a cheap source of lumber. Sometimes old street cars have been bought for a trifle and remodeled. Serviceable houses have been made from staves of old barrels as an outside covering. Old strips of carpet, oilcloth, wall paper or building paper may be utilized to some extent as mside protection.

A coat of home-mixed paint improves the durability and appearance of a house enough to pay for its cost. Whitewash is much better than nothing, and will add years to the life of second-hand lumber.

Shingles properly applied to a roof of fairly steep pitch are the best and warmest roofing, but a strip of building paper should be laid beneath to keep out currents of cold air which work in between the shingles. Tin or iron is sometimes cheaper than wood, and for temporary structures, felting paper with a coat of paint will last about two years. An advantage of sheet materials for roofing is that a steep pitch is not needed to carry off the water, but such materials are cold in winter and hard to repair when damaged.

Glass in Cold Weather – Amateur builders commonly use too much glass, which makes a house unnaturally warm on sunny days, but extremely and dangerously cold by night and on stormy days. One window not over three feet square and about eighteen inches above the floor to each ten feet of house length is enough. Warmth is much increased by a shutter or curtain for night. Windows should be arranged to slide to one side or be easily taken out during hot weather.

Double windows are sometimes used, but these are expensive, somewhat of a bother to put on and hard to keep clean. The cut, Figure 3, shows a single sash, double glazed, which a poultryman has recently described. The sash is made so that the glass can be set on both sides of the wooden bars, leaving a half inch or more of space between. This gives a double window and the cost is said to be not more than twenty-five cents extra per sash for the glass and the labor of setting. Those who are providing windows for new or re-modeled poultry houses will do well to experiment with this plan. The glazing must be tight and carefully done to keep out all dirt and dust from the inner surfaces of the glass. Figure 4 shows a window partly double, making a convenient arrangement for ventilating without draft, and securing greater warmth at night and on cloudy days. Roosts, Nests, Troughs, Fountains, etc, will not be treated at length in this volume. Roosts should be all on a level, should be about two inches thick, rounded on the upper side, not over two feet from the floor, and removable.

Troughs and Drinking Places should be protected by slats. Nests should be numerous, secluded and easily removed. Beware of too complicated inside arrangements when large numbers of fowls are kept for profit. Successful large farms are nearly always

conducted on very simple plans, but with emphasis placed on the main needs of the fowls. Notes – Dryness and warmth are the two main essentials in most climates. Everything inside should be removable, also doors and windows. The house should be made tight enough feo hold smoke when fumigated.

Cost ranges from twenty-five cents to five dollars per fowl. A reasonably good business house may be built at one dollar per head. When building an all-around house, provide for summer as well as for winter. Rather than extend beyond seventy-five feet, better start a new building. Study actual needs of fowls rather than comfort of the attendant.

How To Build A Chicken Coop

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Gathering the Right Materials before Building the Chicken Pen

Being a starter in the world of raising chickens, one of the important thing you should consider and is also necessary is the fact that you can protect your raised chickens without even being on a shot-gun watch for 24 hours every waking day; that is why you have to build a pen that will last for a very long period of time. Before building, planning and gathering is the very first step.

Location is the first thing to consider. Do you live in a rural or in an urban area? Your answer will depend on the chickens you can keep. Usually in rural communities, the number of livestock you want can be unlimited but when in urban settings, raising chickens can have restrictions regarding its number. Or sometimes, they are totally banned.

Another thing is the kind of chicken that you are planning to raise. If they weigh heavier, this will be an advantage because this kind of status will make it more difficult for them to fly away. A simple wire and post design pen can be used. But in most instances chickens are more prone to flying away. Especially if they are not used to the place, a fence with a higher walls or wires is more appropriate.

The place where you construct your pen must be safe and sturdy enough to withstand any predator’s mark. It should be constructed in a way that your poultry are not easily snatched not only by scavengers but also by people who are pretty much interested in chicken stew. They must be protected and locked-in, especially at night.

What is a post and wire type of pen? It is by far the simplest kind of design wherein materials like posts, strong wires, fence staples are used. The tools needed to help you complete the job are the ordinary hammer, wire cutters, crowbar and sledgehammer. Gathering these materials are the very first thing you have to do upon planning.

Fence post can’t be bought one at a time but in bundles. If you became worried that the excess lumbers will go to waste once the fence is finished, worry no more. This is because fence posts can be used in incredible purposes like supporting beams for sheds. Chicken wire is usually used. But for safety purposes a stucco wire is stronger and is more recommended for holding building sides.

There are really no actual fence staples, that is why the local staples used for wiring can be used as an alternative. Skimping the staples should not be stressed. You need a lot while construction is ongoing and also additional supplies in cases of emergencies.

The sledgehammer is used to pound the post into the soil. Weight is the first thing that you have to take note of when choosing a sledgehammer. Make sure that it is not too heavy that you can’t lift it up and not too light that you will need to exert all your efforts just to pound your post.

The crowbar is used for digging a hole where the pole will be placed. Lastly, the regular hammer will be useful for those hardheaded staple wires to dig in the posts.

Now that all materials are properly intact, you can plan on the actual building of the pen.

Check Out ====> Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Keeping Your Chickens Healthy While Raising Them

There have been thoughts on what to do with your flock daily. Raising chickens can be quite easy but also needs maintenance to keep their environment safe and clean for both your chickens and your own happiness. Some owners hesitate to do such a grueling task. But in reality it is one of the easiest works you can do to give your chickens the welcome they deserve.

In this section, you’ll learn about what to do and what not to do daily.

a. Keep their feed and water containers full at all times. Do not let them run out of these two essentials. They need these two things everyday to live. If you tend to leave your house for a couple of days, be sure to leave sufficient food and water so that your chickens don’t run out of their needs and will not reach the point of picking on each other.

b. Clean their water canister. If their water becomes cloudy or if they sensed that it’s already dirty, they will refuse to drink it and in the long run, they will become dehydrated and eventually conjure illness and die.

c. Every morning, observe for their health status. Look at their physical attitude. Do they look bright, active, and healthy? If they don’t look anything close to normal, then you should call or see the vet to ask for suggestions and answers.

d. If you are the type who loves collecting eggs for breakfast or for selling, the moment they are laid, you can already get them from the coop. Put the eggs inside the fridge to maintain its freshness.

e. From time to time, you will have the chance to visit their coop and look at your chickens. Before you leave, make sure that things are safe inside and outside the pen. If you see rat holes, block it. If everything seems fine, be sure to close the door. As dusk comes, that’ll be the time when all the chickens are in their nest. Not a single chicken in sight. Secure the area so that predators will not have the opportunity to get in.

Unlike other pets, you can leave the chickens for days. You have to keep in mind that they have to be provided with enough food and water supply. If you came back and found eggs, it’s still okay to collect. It still has its freshness.

Here’s a fact that you should know about an egg’s freshness: it will take you at least 12 days from the day that it was laid before it matures and an embryo develops inside.

Another thing that you should know about eggs is that upon collecting them, there will be chances that you’ll see slight smudges of dirt or feces on the egg’s surface. Do not attempt too scrub the dirt off no matter how the urge is killing you. Because one thing about eggs is that they are not ejected to this world without protective barriers.

Bloom is the term that is given to the membrane that is located at the surface of the egg itself. The use of the bloom is to protect the egg from bacteria and microorganisms that may insist on penetrating through the shell. If you scrub this, you take away the protective covering.

But if you are that type of person who wanted things to always be spiffy clean, like that of the obsessive-compulsive type, you can clean the dirty egg provided it will be under warm water and in a very gentle touch.

Check Out =====> Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Bird Flu: A Chicken Raiser's Nightmare

Since its outbreak, every poultry owner had become aware of the consequences that can happen if this deadly disease is not prevented. Bird flu or what is also known avian (meaning bird) influenza (flu), is the number one killer of poultry chickens in Asia and some parts of the world.

Bird flu started in China and became a widespread disease for their chickens thus wiping out over millions of poultry businesses and dropping the chicken industry to a devastating point. The thing about avian flu is that, not only can it affect birds but also humans which makes the illness more dangerous to various lives. It can be passed from chicken to chicken, chicken to person, person to person, person to chicken, and so on. That is why authorities in the health sectors are taking this serious matter in their hands and are making strict surveillance.

Avian influenza is not just a disease underlying a typical cold. It is more than that. In fact, it can kill an entire poultry habitation within a week. If passed onto a person, it can be more lethal as a person can interact with hundreds of people in a day without even noticing that they have become the perfect carrier of the disease. Worse, this sickness is not a picky disease. It could affect everyone including children.

The incubation period, if passed to a human, is not exact but as record shows, it may take about three to five days from the exposure to the disease-causing virus. Till then, the person will experience signs and symptoms that are similar with the common cold like fever, cough, sore throat, and aching of the muscles. Sometimes, the only thing that could indicate if the person has bird flu is if they are having conjunctivitis.

If the person who was affected and has experienced the signs and symptoms stated above ignored the indications, it may lead to severity of the disease. The person now will start to experience viral pneumonia and eventually, acute respiratory distress which is the most common cause of deaths among bird-related diseases.

But this pandemic crisis can be pretty much prevented if certain precautions are practiced if everyone who is involved will cooperate with the measures that were given out by the authorities.

Through thorough surveillance, WHO (World Health Organization) supports in eliminating the disease. Through this, they can trace the source of infection and track down those who were affected by the flu. They will confirm instances of the disease and how many deaths were known. Once WHO officials find out the extent of the disease’s proximity, they will contain the area under quarantine.

Those who are in the zone will not be allowed to go beyond it and those who wanted to enter will be prohibited. That is why the concerned officials must be responsible enough to bring in reliable data otherwise there would be miscalculations that can result to more chickens and people being affected instead of being saved.

With the word spread out all across the globe, the government is also having strict participation for the observance if there are any occurrences of the virus in their community. Residents are the one who have to be more watchful because they will be the one more affected.

Their communication and participation is the most important tool to evacuate the presence of this disease and make raising chickens safer to both chickens and owners.

Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Monday, June 14, 2010

Chicken Raising Tips: Chicken Fencing That Saves You Money

Buying pullets is the easiest. It is also the cheapest. Chicken fencing? That varies. No matter how you look at it though, the cost of the fencing will add up to the cost of the chicken. In high urban areas, raising more than a few chicken would consequently raise eyebrows. In fact, you could be placing yourself in harm's way. Raising chicken in urban areas are more of pet raising. Commercial? Just don't.

When you are in a rural location with ample backyard space, keeping chicken is a capital idea. Capital, literally. You see, there is fancy chicken fencing, state of the art fencing and if you could afford electric fencing that is fine too, it would keep the chooks out and hem the chicken in. It will still add up to the costs though, but it is a choice, not a necessity. If you want to travel the frugal route, just as effective albeit not as pleasant to look at, were talking.

You will need corrugated galvanized iron sheets, chicken wire, planks, and whatever means to build them. The idea here is as simple as protecting the chickens and those flowers and plants that adorn the yard as much as keeping the predators out. When building, remember that chicken scratches all over the dirt. To our chagrin, they love it. They could scratch near the fence and before you knew it, the fox and raccoons gets the idea and figures out a way to get their dinner easy.

The way to prevent this is to sink the bottom of the fence about 10" into the ground. The area near the fence are usually forgotten so don't. If that is not possible in some areas along the perimeter, sink 8" planks to prevent predators from scraping underneath. If foxes roam the area get the thickest chicken wire possible. Foxes have teeth that are as sharp as wire cutters that could easily cut through thin chicken wires.

Normally animals could jump as high as their heads when standing on hind legs. Foxes are about four feet but do not bank on that. Foxes could jump as high as five feet so make the height of the fence a little higher just so the chicken are on the safe side. This may not be as dangerous in hotter months when there are easier prey for the fox to pounce on but during colder months, the fox could hunt more aggressively and get a shelter besides. While at it, do not trim the wire at the top portion of the fence. Leave it rugged.

Use the GI sheets as further protection between the posts where you nail your chicken wire. Nail also thick wire fencing around the portion of the wood with signs of wear to discourage chewing.

Chicken fencing such as this would not win you a prize for best chicken fence design. But bet your neighbor's dog this will win you savings. Bunches of it!

Chicken Coop Guide - New!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Raising Chickens: Pros and Cons

There are so many reasons why someone would want or wouldn’t want a chicken in their backyard. There are debates about it and here are some:

Pros

1. Costs incredibly cheap.

When we say cheap, not only does the chicken itself count but also the maintenance of it all. Compared to keeping a dog or a cat for a pet, it is much cheaper to take care of a number of chickens most likely because they are not choosy when it comes to food. You can feed them scraps and table leftovers and they will happily gobble it up. With as little as $2 a day, you can spend on a bunch of layer mash.

2. You can get something from them.

Eggs. Meat. Ornament. Who wouldn’t want it? In terms of eggs, it is seldom that you encounter a chicken that can’t lay eggs. It is a good source of iron, which is good for the brain. You could either sell these eggs or keep them in your fridge. With meat, every part of a chicken can be eaten. Yes, every. In cases of those who don’t want to see their chickens go bye-bye, they raise them as pets and for exhibition purposes.

3. Low maintenance.

Unlike dogs who need everyday grooming and cats who need your undivided attention, chickens need none of those. You don’t have to bring them to your vet every once in a while to take shots and doses of vaccines. All you have to do is feed them and supply clean water every day. Their coops must be cleaned at least once a week or twice every month depending on the number of chickens that you own.

4. Fertilizers for free and an instant pest control agent.

These are the two things that chicken raisers love about owning a chicken. When you allow your chickens to roam around your backyard, it is in their nature to peck on whatever it is that catches their interest and their hunger. Chickens love anything that came from the ground most especially the ones that are moving. They eat insects, bugs, worms and the like. For them, these are special treats. Furthermore, it is in their nature to eradicate their internal wastes anywhere they please. But their poops are considered as natural fertilizers that the ground needs to grow plants and root crops in a healthy state.

Cons

1. They are not the best guard pets to have.

While chickens can coo and make familiar sounds, it is not in their nature to bite or coo on anyone they see who looks suspicious. All they can do is grow, eat, and lay eggs. They are also not the ideal pets you would want to have especially if you need a response like waggling of the tail or a purring sound.

2. Chickens are messy.

Indeed. Plus, their poop smells terrible that it can reach certain areas in your house. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to go through enduring hours of cleaning, chickens aren’t really the pets for you.

3. One for all, all for one.

Well, in terms of getting sick this is a con. Because when one catches flu, everyone gets it too. And if one dies because of that flu, it is expected that every single chicken living with that infected chicken who also got that flu is also going to die after a few days.

Easy D.I.Y. Chicken Coop Plans

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Chicken House Plans That Deliver Maximum Results

As you get ready to start choosing which chicken house plans you’re going to use to complete this project, it’s important to start taking some time to ensure that you’re choosing a building plan that is designed to get you the best results for what you’re looking for.

Many people make some critical mistakes in choosing their chicken house plans and that is why they aren’t getting fresh eggs on a daily basis. Instead, look to the following factors that will go a long way towards helping you see optimal results.

Consider Size

The first thing that you must think about is the total size. This is going to have the biggest impact on how comfortable your chickens are while they stay in the coop, therefore you want to make sure you are getting it right.

Find chicken house plans that give you a precise building size calculation method that will allow you to determine exactly how large you need to build the coop in order for it to be a success.

If you don’t follow this step, the chances that you see good results will be much lower.

Think About Your Climate

Next, you should also consider the climate of the area you’re living in. Does it get very cold quite often? Or does the climate stay warm all year round?

This will influence the amount of insulation you’re going to have to have in your coop and how much ventilation may be needed in order for it to stay at an appropriate temperature in the summer months.

Good chicken house plans will provide you with all this information to take the guess work out of it.

Identify Your Building Materials

Third on the list, you should also take the time to identify the building materials that you should be using. There are a variety of different materials that will all work well, so this is something to spend a good amount of time thinking about.

You can really save on costs if you make careful selections with this aspect since it is the number one factor that most people pay money for. If you can find good used building supplies to use, you’ll virtually eliminate this cost altogether.

Determine Potential Predators

Finally, the last thing to take into account is any of the predators you may run into. An attack on your chicken coop can be one of the most devastating things to happen to any chicken farmer therefore it’s really important that you’re taking measures to prevent this.

Ideally the best way to go about doing this will be research the various chicken coop predators that are out there and then pay attention to which ones are most commonly found in your area. All of this information should be readily available so it shouldn’t take too long for it to be quite clear exactly what you need to protect yourself against.

So, do not underestimate the importance of good chicken house plans. They will really make it a much easier process and one that you can certainly have a great deal of success with over the long run.

Check Out ====> How To Build A Chicken Coop

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Raising Chickens 101: Mating Chickens

Small farms often have a young rooster also called a cockerel. Its smart to only have one cockerel or else they would get jealous of each other and fight over the hens.

Mating is usually year round but chickens don’t seem to mate as much in winter. A rooster will mate every two or three days, mating with many different hens.

During the day, the cockerel prances around fluffing his feathers, showing off to the hens. When a hen wants to make, she lays down on the ground. The rooster climbs onto her back from behind and spreads his wings out for balance.

Afterwards, the hen has fertilized eggs inside her. Only eggs that have been fertilized by a rooster will eventually grow into chicks. If the eggs are not fertilized, they are safe to eat.

Build A Chicken Coop In 3 Days

Friday, June 4, 2010

Mobile Chicken Coops

By Shannon Clark

More and more people are starting to turn towards using mobile chicken coops rather than building larger ones that are stationed in one place. There are many benefits to using a mobile chicken coop, so going this route does become appealing to many individuals.

There are some things you need to know first though before going ahead with mobile chicken coops because if you don’t, you may find that this particular variation wasn’t exactly the best choice for you.

Here are some of the pros and cons to a mobile chicken coop.

Easier To Clean

One of the biggest benefits to a mobile chicken coop is the fact that they are easy to clean. Since you can just transport the coop closer to your house, this makes it an ideal situation for those who have limited cleaning facilities.

If you prefer, you can move the mobile chicken coop to the cement garage and then use a hose to wash it down if necessary.

Cheaper To Build

Another big benefit to a mobile chicken coop is the fact that it’s cheaper to build. As these coops are generally smaller you can often use materials that you already have around the house. If not, there’s a good chance that a neighbour will have some of the stuff you need, further making it easy to build a cheap chicken coop if necessary.

Decreased Feeding Time Commitment

Moving on, another nice thing about mobile chicken coops is they are much lower in terms of total time commitment to feeding. Again, since you can simply just move the coop closer to your house, this makes it ideal for feeding your chickens.

If you constantly have to walk out a ways to get to your coop to provide food, that will really become a chore day after day. Most people really appreciate this aspect of mobile chicken coops, so it’s definitely something to consider.

Limited Coop Size

One thing that is important to remember about mobile chicken coops is that you will be slightly limited when it comes to their total size. Mobile chicken coops are not going to be able to house all that many chickens, so if you’re attempting to keep six or more, you may want to consider a larger, more permanent coop.

You could always also build a mobile coop to use on occasion for a few of your chickens, just don’t expect to keep a large number in it for a longer period of time.

Durability Factors

In most cases, mobile chicken coops will be relatively durable due to the fact that they need to be in order to sustain the constant movement. When they are not constructed properly however, then you might run into problems with their durability and find that you are repairing them more frequently than normal.

Always be sure the mobile chicken coop plan you are using is well laid out so you don’t run into this problem.

So, keep these factors in mind when thinking about building a mobile chicken coop. Many people really enjoy them, so if you decide it’s right for you, don’t hesitate to begin the hunt for a plan to get going.

Here is more information on how you can build a chicken house on a budget.

To read my review of ‘Building A Chicken Coop’, please click HERE:

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shannon_Clark http://EzineArticles.com/?Mobile-Chicken-Coops—The-Advantages-to-Mobile-Chicken-Coops&id=2168600

How To Build A Chicken Coop