There are benefits to keeping chickens if it is legal in your area.Chickens are fun to own and can provide fresh eggs.Chickens should be kept in a safe environment.It's a good idea to hire a professional to help with the making of your chicken coop.Provide water and feed the chickens a good diet.Chickens can make you sick, so protect yourself.
Step 1: It's easy to buy a premade chicken house.
The easiest way to set up a chicken habitat is to buy a coop.Premade chickens can be bought online for a couple hundred dollars and shipped to your home.Buying a premade coop ensures that your habitat will be safe and sound, as well as saving you the hassle of trying to build one yourself.Chickens can be anywhere from 2 to 5.They can be found at local feed stores.
Step 2: If you can use an existing structure, that's great.
If there is an existing structure in your yard that can be converted into a chicken shelter, you can save money and space.It costs a lot of money to build a shelter, so converting space can help.Something like a small playhouse, staircase, or space beneath a deck can work.
Step 3: The right materials should be selected.
Proper supplies are needed to build a chicken house.The floor should be made of knotty cedar.The rest of the house can be built with pine.Professional help is highly recommended if you've never built a structure before or built one for animals.If you're not familiar with building, you can find online blueprints for chicken structures.A poorly built structure can be dangerous for chickens.
Step 4: Keep the floor elevated.
If the floor is not on the ground, it will rot.The floor 2.5 should be elevated off the ground.Cinderblocks will be required to do so.
Step 5: Line the floors with bedding.
It's important that your chickens have a good place to roost, that eggs are soft to land, and that poop is easy to clean.Straw or hay are the best bedding options.
Step 6: The features should be included.
Chickens should be kept warm and safe with certain features.You will need a grate on the top of the house.Air circulation is aided by this.There should be two doors in the house, one on one side and another on the other.During the cooler months, the coop should be insulated.Placing your car against the garage can help with this.Alternatively, you could invest in heating units that are safe for chickens.These can be hung from the side of the building.Birds can get burned if your heating unit is too close to them.
Step 7: Chickens should be kept safe from predatory animals.
Lock your chickens at night.The chickens should be locked up in the night.Chicken wire or hardware cloth should be around the perimeter of your chicken house.Chicken wire or cloth should be on top of the chicken house to protect it from owls.Chickens that are free range still need a shelter at night.
Step 8: Local laws and regulations should be checked.
You want to make sure you follow the rules when raising chickens.If you live in an area that requires you to keep your chicken coop a certain distance from your home, you may be required to do so.
Step 9: It's a good idea to clean your rooster regularly.
It's important to keep your chickens healthy and happy.Stray feathers and droppings should be removed regularly.The walls should be hosed down.To get anything you missed, do one more round of shoveling.Use equal parts water and white vinegar and a brush to scrub the chicken house.Allow it to dry before letting the chickens back in.It is important to keep feed off of the floor.These animals could bring diseases to your chickens.
Step 10: Chicken feed can be used.
Chickens should be fed a healthy commercial feed.Chicken feed can be purchased at a local store or online.You should give food to people.It's a good idea to check the feeders every other day to make sure the food is dry.The number of chickens will affect the amount of food you need.Guidelines for feeding should be on the package.
Step 11: Table foods can be used to supplement your chickens' diet.
Chickens can be raised with a variety of food.They can supplement their diet with table scraps.Instead of being thrown out, produce like watermelon, apples, bread, and scraps of meat like bacon can be put into a chicken coop.Chickens like eggs and eggshells.Egg shells can be thrown into your chicken's coop instead of being thrown away.
Step 12: Clean water should be provided at all times.
Chickens need to stay hydrated.It's a good idea to keep a large water bowl in the house.It's a good idea to have a 5-gallon bucket.You should check it every time you check your chickens.If the water gets dirty, replace it.It's a good idea to have a heated bowl or bucket in the winter.
Step 13: Take care of egg production.
The light bulb encourages egg production.Eggs can be used as food if you remove them when you see them.Each hen will lay about six eggs a week.Do not collect eggs if you have a rooster.They might be fertilized.
Step 14: You can check the laws in your area.
Check the laws before committing to raising chickens.You can look into your city, state, or local homeowner's organization.The local Department of Natural Resources should be checked out.Chickens can't be kept in the backyard in some areas.
Step 15: Take precautions to avoid getting sick.
Chickens can spread diseases.To stay safe from the virus, you should take precautions.You should wash your hands after handling your chickens or anything in or near the chicken shed.Don't get in the way of your birds.Children should not kiss the chickens or pet them.Chickens are not allowed in your home.Do not drink or eat near chickens.
Step 16: It's important to account for cost.
Chickens are not expensive to raise.If you hire help, the cost of building a home can be between $300 and $400.Monthly expenses will include food, water, and heating systems.Before committing to raising chickens, make sure you can afford them.
Step 17: Prepare to take care of the birds.
roosters sometimes slip in by accident, even if you're careful to select only hens.If chickens lay eggs, have a brooder set up.There is a large cardboard box filled with pine shavings.The heat lamp should be installed to keep the chicks warm.Potentially fertile eggs should be transferred to a brooder.It's important to keep your brooder away from cats and dogs.It's a good idea to store the brooder in a garage.