Chicken CoopsChicken Coops

 

Chicken Coops - Deciding on which type

 

Your chicken coop needs to be secure from predators, waterproof and well ventilated.  It needs perches for roosting and a nest box for egg laying, and should be easy to maintain and clean. As a rule there needs to be 23 cm of perch space inside the chicken coop for each bird and one nest box per 4 birds.

Of all the different shapes and sizes, there are basically 3 types of chicken coops to choose from – Ark, Coop & Run and Eglu.

 

Ark Chicken Coop

 

Ark Chicken Coop

 

 

 

The ark is usually the cheaper option as far as chicken coops are concerned and has the advantage of being easy to move around. This means you can move the chickens before they destroy your grass. You also know where they are. Ideal for just 1 or 2 chickens and for a small garden, although you can get some bigger ark coops too. On the down side they can be a bit tight for chickens to move around.

 

Static or Semi-Static Chicken Coop & Run

 

Static or Semi-Static Chicken Coop and Run

 

 

 

These are generally bigger than arks and so can house more chickens. They also have give chickens somewhere to perch – which the arcs don’t generally include and are probably easier to clean out. There is more room for the chickens to exercise, and usually such coops come with the facility to have a run extension. However because they are bigger and heavier they are more difficult to move round the garden.

 

Chicken Coops - Eglu

 

Eglu Chicken Coop

 

 

 

 

 

These are different, stylish and easy to maintain. However they are very expensive in comparison to the traditional wooden chicken coops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other essential items to consider include


Perch

 

In the wild chickens would fly up in a tree and roost as soon as it gets dusk which would keep them safe from predators. It is therefore desirable that a chicken coop does include a perch where they can sleep at night, although not all chickens will use them.

 

Nesting box

 

A nesting box should be about 30 cm2 and should be placed in the darkest, cosiest corner of the chicken coop so the hens will feel their eggs are safe. Please note though that chickens can be a law unto themselves – and just because you have provided a cosy, secluded, dry, comfortable nesting box for them to lay in, they still may decide under their favourite bush is a better place!