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Housing Tips for Chickens
By Kerry Mundt of Royal Rooster - Mobile Chicken Coops
As a keen gardener, you've finally decided that now is the time to get those backyard chickens you've always wanted. Fresh manure and weed-free, bug-free garden beds just seem too good to be true. Before you go out and select your new backyard pets, the first step should be to compare different coop designs to see which one will best suit your backyard and your budget. Timber or Metal Coops? Most coops on the market are made from either timber or metal (either steel or aluminum). You might possibly find a timber coop that meets your budget and looks terrific. However, keep in mind that unfortunately timber coops don’t generally tend to weather particularly well. The timber will soon warp and the lush, golden coloring soon fades and your chicken coop looks much less of a feature piece in your backyard. Some steel or aluminum coops available on the market, unfortunately don’t do much to add to the appearance of your backyard. Many look like small sheds that are really just a functional house for your chickens. Arguably the most attractive and long-lasting coops are the A-frame variety made of either steel or aluminum. Some of these look fantastic and can even be made with Colorbond roofing that matches the color of your home. Wire When making the run section of your coop, keep in mind that simple, lightweight mesh that is used in aviaries is generally not adequate, especially if you are in a fox prone area. Thin aviary mesh can be chewed through reasonably easily by foxes determined to make a meal of your lovely pets. You chickens will be safer inside the coop if the run is made using steel mesh with reasonably small sized ‘boxes’. This will not easily be damaged either accidentally or by a fox. A large steel mesh floor may also need to be used if foxes are a threat. Foxes will happily dig underneath a coop to gain access (if they can't chew through the mesh). A mesh floor that is large enough for the chickens to be able to scratch but small enough that a digging fox can’t enter is what is needed. Budget There is range of chicken coops that can be purchased on-line or from your local feed store. While at first they might seem quite expensive, once you have a list of the materials you’d need to make it yourself, plus the time you would invest, a pre-made coop doesn’t look so bad after all! If you plan to purchase a chicken coop design online, see if you can first determine how much the coop will end up costing you to make, including your time. A weekend or two might sound like fun, but some designs are very complicated and time consuming. If you’re still going weeks later, just think of all the benefits of backyard chickens, and how appreciative your new pets will be of their fancy new home!
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Contributor's Note
Hope this information helps you when choosing a chicken coop. I know many people have wasted lots of money on cheap, imported coops from China. They might look cute but will simply not last (no matter how well built the importers claim they are!).
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Royal Rooster - for some great A-frame metal coops
Royal Rooster A-Frame Metal Coop
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
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