Many people think that it is enough to build a chicken coop in the poultry yard and populate the birds in it. However, simply erecting the structure will not be enough. It is necessary to correctly equip the chicken coop from the inside. Next, we consider in more detail how to do this.
General information
In general, there is nothing complicated in the construction of perches, equipment of nests, lighting. However, if one of the above is done poorly or missed an important point, then the birds will become uncomfortable in the room. And this, in turn, can affect their condition in a not very favorable way. The arrangement of the chicken coop from the inside (the photo will be presented later in the article) should be carried out taking into account various factors. First of all, the room should have optimal lighting, humidity level and temperature. It is also necessary to take care of ventilation, proper placement of nests, drinking bowls. To ensure that everything is in accordance with the rules, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the experience of equipping other poultry farms. The article will consider only the main moments of the arrangement of the chicken coop.
Ventilation system
The arrangement of the chicken coop can be started precisely with the creation of a ventilation system. Not all poultry farmers are well aware of its correct construction. The ventilation system in the house is presented in the form of two two-meter pipes made of 2.5 cm thick boards. The exhaust element should be installed above perches with a ceiling flush. The air intake pipe is fixed approximately 50 cm below the attic floor. It is advisable to install it away from nests and perches, so that it does not blow from the cold. For each pipe you need to make a damper.
Lighting
When arranging a chicken coop, it must be borne in mind that for good egg production, birds need about 15-17 light hours. In this regard, in the morning and evening hours, additional sources should work in the room. Many, carrying out the arrangement of the chicken coop with their own hands, are dismissive of this need. Quite rarely, as practice shows, one can find a thorough lighting system in the house . Often all the work comes down to quickly assembling the wiring from existing materials, installing a bulb burning around the clock. Lighting built on this principle, not only will not bring benefits, but, on the contrary, can harm chickens. Birds may develop nervous exhaustion, as a result of which they simply stop laying eggs.
Proper arrangement of the chicken coop (the photos presented in the article can serve as a good example) involves competent cabling and installing fixtures in the necessary areas. From a safety point of view, it is more advisable to lay wiring outside the house. In this case, the cables will be reduced to one shield. It can be assembled from plywood. A socket and a switch are installed inside the shield. Some owners seek to save money and use open incandescent lamps screwed into the cartridge. In this case, the light sources will have to be changed quite often. The fact is that birds, flying from place to place, will constantly touch light bulbs. This is fraught not only with their burnout, but also with a short in the wiring. To prevent such excesses, thick glass shades should be installed, inside which incandescent lamps of the required power will be screwed. This will ensure an optimal level of illumination and create safe conditions.
Space heating
The arrangement of the chicken coop from the inside (the photo illustrates this quite clearly) should be primarily comfortable for the birds. To make them feel comfortable, they need an optimal ambient temperature. Many owners do not insulate the house. Some believe that there is enough insulation on the outside, and if there are a lot of chickens in the house, then they will completely provide themselves with heat themselves. On the one hand, it is. But in this case it is worth considering that the temperature in the chicken coop will not be above 6-8 degrees, which, in turn, will provoke an increase in humidity. A heater of 1 kW will help get rid of it. An oil unit will be optimal. To prevent chickens from touching the heater, the device is installed away from perches. For greater safety, a plywood box with holes is constructed for it (warm air will come out through them). The cable can be additionally extended and brought to the panel with a socket on the street.
Corral
The arrangement of the chicken coop involves, among other things, compliance with the arrangement of the elements of the cardinal points. For example, it is better to install a door from the east. This is due to the fact that the optimal amount of light necessary for the production of vitamin D comes from this side. It, in turn, is necessary for better absorption of calcium. Vitamin D is produced in the body of birds independently in sufficient quantities, provided that light is received in the optimal amount. It is better to build an aviary so that one part of it is located in the east, the other in the north. As a fence, metal posts are used. They are covered with galvanized wire mesh. It is better to dig in the columns deeper so that the chickens cannot dig and crawl out of the corral. The height of the fence should be at least 2.5 meters. This distance is enough to prevent birds from flying out.
Floor
Many owners arrange an earthen floor in the pen. But over time, such a base will be plentifully flavored with droppings, and during precipitation it will turn into porridge. Then all this dirt is carried by birds into the chicken coop. To avoid this, a wooden floor can be laid in the pen. You will need a beam of 15x15 cm and an unedged board.
Nests and perches
When arranging a chicken coop, one should not forget about the convenience of cleaning. In particular, the construction of perches is more advisable to make removable. The material for them can be bars of 50x50 mm. Their edges need to be rounded with a planer, otherwise corns form in birds. In winter, birds are pressed closer to each other, and in summer, on the contrary, try to be away. This can be used when installing perches. In the summer, racks are added, and in the winter, shelves are removed. This will ensure optimal chicken landing.
According to many hosts, birds rush in dark places. However, in reality, they simply choose nooks, and clucking after the bird laid an egg is a distraction for predators. The number of nests should be sufficient to accommodate all individuals. If nearby the chicken hears one more brood hen, then it will not sweep. It is believed that it is optimal to install one nest for three birds. Where they will stand, chickens do not care. Therefore, it is better to build them where it will be more convenient to clean them. To prevent birds from dropping their nests with droppings and not spending the night in them, lids can be made at an angle of no more than 60 degrees.
House cleaning
Carrying out the internal arrangement of the chicken coop, an opening is made in the western wall of the room. Its area should be not less than 0.5 m 2 . It will greatly facilitate cleaning. The opening can be equipped with two covers that will open up. Chicken humus is considered a fairly valuable fertilizer of the organic type. Therefore, it is dried under a canopy, and then rammed into bags. As needed, humus is mixed with ash and is used to feed plants.
Dust baths
Correct arrangement of the chicken coop inside involves the creation of optimal conditions not only for individuals to rush well, but also for them to be healthy. To maintain plumage in proper appearance and to destroy pests, birds bathe in the ground, sand. So that chickens can take dust baths, you need to make a wide tank and install it on a site that is closed from precipitation. As a filler, you can use ordinary garden soil mixed with ash and sand. Such baths are best placed in places where chickens are walking.