What kind of chicken coop should I get?

What requirements should my chicken coop meet? I have researched this extensively. There are a few points that are important such as; good protection against other animals, good quality wood, space for the chickens, the appearance, draft and moisture-free and of course the price. Buying a good chicken coop is important. You can enjoy it for years to come. In this blog I will explain these points in detail.

How do you protect chickens from other animals?

First of all, the chicken must be protected from the fox, the cat and other predators, but there are more animals that are harmful to the chicken. The rat likes to eat the chickens' food. Make sure all openings are covered with gauze and that there are no gaps larger than 2 cm. Mesh can also be placed under the coop to prevent rats from digging through a tunnel underground to the chickens. Finally we have the red mite. The red mite is perhaps the chicken's smallest enemy, but not the least harmless. The red mites transmit diseases and cause anemia. By whitewashing the inside of the coop every year and placing the perch legs in a container with oil, you can keep the red mites out of the chicken coop. And if there are already blood lice in them, they can be controlled with the nature-friendly product Finecto+.

What wood should my chicken coop be made of?

Good wood is important for the lifespan of the chicken coop, but what is a good type of wood? There are 2 types of wood that are suitable for a chicken coop: spruce wood and Douglas fir wood. Spruce wood is a bit cheaper and lasts about 10 years when painted. When impregnated, it has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Douglas wood lasts 10 to 15 years. It is a bit more expensive, but has a nice appearance.

What does a chicken need?

A chicken does not need much space, but it enjoys free range. For the chicken's night area, you can assume 6 small, 4 medium or 3 large chickens per square meter. Furthermore, a chicken needs a perch and a laying nest. 2 to 3 chickens can breed on a laying nest. The night cage must be dry and draft-free.

How much does a chicken coop cost?

A good chicken coop can often be found for as little as 500 euros. There are also large chicken coops with a haystack, which have a rural appearance and can house many chickens.