Building A Chicken House? – Chicken House Requirements
While the recession has wreaked global havoc, the art of self-sufficiency has made a dramatic comeback. Faced with depleted earnings and rising bills, people have responded by taking steps to support themselves. Back garden smallholdings have sprung up to produce food and/or rear chickens. As a result of the latter, the sales of chicken house have spiralled and, not surprisingly, more and more people are building their own. If you are considering taking this DIY step, it is essential to examine the different factors you should think about when trying to determine the type of chicken house you want to build. Before you go ahead with putting together a house, you must be sure you’re getting some key factors right so you finish up with what is required to meet your needs.
BASICS TO GET STARTED:
Most people have a tendency to think you need a lot of expensive materials to successfully build a chicken house; however, this is not the case at all. Houses can be made from a variety of different materials, including such things as an old shed, scrap lumber, PVC pipes, or other recycled materials you may have around the house already. Usually, wood is the most common material used to build the chicken house, but it’s also the priciest so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons. If you want your chicken house to last for years and years to come, it may be a good idea to invest in a wooden one to ensure that it withstands various climate changes. Keep in mind, though, that wood varieties will also differ in price and that will influence your decision so looking at the different types of wood is also important.
BUILDING A HOUSE TO LAST:
One problem that many people run into when building their chicken house is that they do a decent job, but the structure does not stand up in the long run. Gaining a better understanding of the construction process and exactly what’s needed to build one that lasts will ensure that your money is well spent.
PROPER LANDSCAPING:
Before starting to build the house, you need to make sure the land you want to build on is level and landscaped properly. You have two options here – either landscape an area that you really want the chicken house to stand on or look for a piece of land to build on that needs no landscaping at all. The latter is going to be cheaper than the former, but again this will come down to personal preference. By doing this first though, you’ll build a chicken house that lasts for a longer period of time since it will have a more sturdy foundation.
SPEND MONEY ON THE BASE STRUCTURE:
Next, one area that needs a little more investment is the structural base. Choosing to opt for very cheap building materials here could come back to haunt you in the long run. There are definitely cheap options you can certainly consider and will work well, but there are still limits. Knowing which cost-effective materials stand the test of time will help.
MAKE USE OF WINDOWS:
Windows are a critical element within the chicken house because they are going to allow for enough light so your chickens continue to lay eggs. When they are not getting enough light, you’re more likely to run into problems. Making use of windows in the house not only helps ensure the chickens stay happy over the long haul, but can also reduce your building costs if you’re using proper materials. It’s important that you consider the structural design with the windows, however, because placing them in the wrong position could cause the walls to be less sturdy so having a proper plan to guide you is critical.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT FEEDERS:
Finally, choose your feeder position wisely. When the feeders are at an incorrect height level, the chickens will either not be able to get to their food comfortably or they may start to scatter it all around the floor. When that happens, they’re bound to start picking at the floor and possibly other areas of the house which could lead to damage over time. By taking the time to properly plan your chicken house so it lasts over the years you will prevent yourself from having to spend more money down the road fixing issues that you come across.
By: Jackie Strong
About the Author:
BASICS TO GET STARTED:
Most people have a tendency to think you need a lot of expensive materials to successfully build a chicken house; however, this is not the case at all. Houses can be made from a variety of different materials, including such things as an old shed, scrap lumber, PVC pipes, or other recycled materials you may have around the house already. Usually, wood is the most common material used to build the chicken house, but it’s also the priciest so you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons. If you want your chicken house to last for years and years to come, it may be a good idea to invest in a wooden one to ensure that it withstands various climate changes. Keep in mind, though, that wood varieties will also differ in price and that will influence your decision so looking at the different types of wood is also important.
BUILDING A HOUSE TO LAST:
One problem that many people run into when building their chicken house is that they do a decent job, but the structure does not stand up in the long run. Gaining a better understanding of the construction process and exactly what’s needed to build one that lasts will ensure that your money is well spent.
PROPER LANDSCAPING:
Before starting to build the house, you need to make sure the land you want to build on is level and landscaped properly. You have two options here – either landscape an area that you really want the chicken house to stand on or look for a piece of land to build on that needs no landscaping at all. The latter is going to be cheaper than the former, but again this will come down to personal preference. By doing this first though, you’ll build a chicken house that lasts for a longer period of time since it will have a more sturdy foundation.
SPEND MONEY ON THE BASE STRUCTURE:
Next, one area that needs a little more investment is the structural base. Choosing to opt for very cheap building materials here could come back to haunt you in the long run. There are definitely cheap options you can certainly consider and will work well, but there are still limits. Knowing which cost-effective materials stand the test of time will help.
MAKE USE OF WINDOWS:
Windows are a critical element within the chicken house because they are going to allow for enough light so your chickens continue to lay eggs. When they are not getting enough light, you’re more likely to run into problems. Making use of windows in the house not only helps ensure the chickens stay happy over the long haul, but can also reduce your building costs if you’re using proper materials. It’s important that you consider the structural design with the windows, however, because placing them in the wrong position could cause the walls to be less sturdy so having a proper plan to guide you is critical.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT FEEDERS:
Finally, choose your feeder position wisely. When the feeders are at an incorrect height level, the chickens will either not be able to get to their food comfortably or they may start to scatter it all around the floor. When that happens, they’re bound to start picking at the floor and possibly other areas of the house which could lead to damage over time. By taking the time to properly plan your chicken house so it lasts over the years you will prevent yourself from having to spend more money down the road fixing issues that you come across.
By: Jackie Strong
About the Author:
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