The chicken coop is a place where birds spend most of their time. Here they can not only sleep and eat, but also hide from bad weather. For this reason, it is necessary that the house was made correctly and comfortably. Also, do not make chicken coops for 10 chickens too large.
Most often, boards or timber are used as the material. Of course, you can purchase a finished house, but it may not meet all the requirements. In order to build a chicken coop, you do not need to hire specialists, you can do everything yourself. First of all, it is necessary to determine the project, and then, having purchased the necessary building material, get to work.
How much space do chickens need?
Before proceeding with the construction of a bird house, it is necessary to understand its size. So, the size of the chicken coop is 10 hens: width - 1 m, length - 2 m, height - 1.5 m. When building a house, you need to remember that the bird needs good lighting. It is for this reason that you should not put the building in dark places.
As for perches, it is better to mount them at a height of not less than 60 centimeters. Hens try to climb as high as possible. It is strongly not recommended to use wide boards for perches, since the bird will be uncomfortable to sit.
It is best to do the flooring so that feces wake up in special boxes or containers. This will facilitate the care of the bird. At the same time, cold air and moisture should not pass through such openings so that the chickens do not get sick.
Place for installing the chicken coop
Poultry loves heat and does not tolerate drafts. This means that a 10-chicken coop project should be designed with good lighting in mind. The place should be flat, since the house, installed on a hill, will be blown by the wind, and installed in the lowland will have a humid atmosphere.
The exit to the enclosure should be located on the south side. Morning rays will warm the chicken coop even on winter days, so you can not be afraid of frost. Poultry lives in the sun, that is, chickens begin to stay awake with the first rays of the sun.
It is also worth remembering that chickens need a place for walking, but it is advisable to fence it. Walking patio should be located around the house.
Coop base
In order to build a durable summer or winter chicken coop for 10 hens, several conditions must be met:
- Before you begin laying the foundation, you should get rid of the top layer of soil by 35 centimeters.
- On the site allocated for the construction, we fill up a cushion of sand and gravel. Its height should be approximately 10 centimeters.
- Formwork should be made of boards. It is best if its thickness is 25 centimeters.
- We install a frame of reinforcement with a thickness of 8 millimeters. After that, you can fill in concrete grade M300. The size of the site should coincide with the area of the future chicken coop. Further work can only be done after 3 weeks.
- The floor is installed on wooden blocks that lie on the foundation.
Floor installation
When the project and the drawing of the chicken coop for 10 hens are developed, and the foundation is already flooded, you can proceed to installing the flooring. Natural materials are best suited for flooring, it is important that they are dry. The best materials are cement, planks or adobe slice.
Litter should be placed on top of the main floor to ensure cleanliness and hygiene in the chicken coop. Materials such as chopped straw, sand or sawdust can be used. In winter, it is best to lay a litter of 20-25 centimeters to make the bird comfortable.
Wall installation
To properly build a chicken coop for 10 hens, you need to know some rules, namely the technology of building strong walls. The best quality materials are stone, brick or cinder block, but all of them are not able to retain the heat that the bird needs. For a chicken house, timber or logs are best suited. Walls made from these materials will be durable, and most importantly, they will retain heat. For winter houses, you can use adobe brick. It is made from straw and clay.
Walls are installed according to a specific template:
- First of all, a frame of wooden timber is being constructed.
- Then you can proceed to the installation of the walls themselves. They are best sheathed with boards between which mineral wool and sawdust can be used for insulation.
- As cladding, you can use plywood, lining or boards.
Ceiling and roof mounting
An important element of the birdhouse is the roof, as it can retain heat and prevent moisture from entering the house. Chickens for 10 chickens should have a ceiling, because the flow of warm air rises upward.
Of course, you can install a roof with one slope, but then the slope should be opposite the front door so that after rain the water does not fall into the yard for walking.
Rules for the construction of the roof and ceiling:
- The roof should have two slopes. Due to this form, the flow of water and snow will not be delayed on the roof. With the help of rafters, the house can be made much higher.
- To cover the roof, materials such as tile, slate, roofing material or reed are suitable.
- The ceiling must be insulated with mineral wool. After insulation, you can go to the casing. It is best to sheathe the ceiling with chipboard plates.
Device and ventilation
Some people think that it’s enough to install walls, floor and roof, but in fact this is not all. An important aspect in building a birdhouse is ventilation. For lighting and airing, chicken coops for 10 hens should have windows.
If there is a good exchange of air in the building, the bird will be healthy and productive. It is important to install a ventilation pipe or a small window for ventilation. The first hole should be located above the perch, simulating a hood. The ventilation pipe is best positioned at least half a meter from the perch. Thanks to the pipe, fresh air will enter the house.
Chicken coops for 10 chickens should have a convenient hole that will allow the bird to go for a walk. Laz is best placed near the front door.
To build a chicken coop, it is not necessary to adhere to one version of the construction of the house. Currently, there is a huge selection of construction options. It all depends on preference and taste. Some people like classic quadrangular houses, while others like triangular rooms.
Whichever option you choose, it is important that the structure is comfortable and warm. A properly constructed building will provide birds with comfort, and the owners - profit.
Walking for a bird
In the event that it was possible to build a chicken coop for 10 hens and it meets all the requirements, you can go to the final part of the construction. The last step in building a good house is to build a walking area for birds.
The height of the walk should be approximately 180 centimeters, and the length and width should be about two meters. The territory is covered with a metal or plastic grill. The bottom of the grill should be buried to a depth of 30 centimeters. This will protect the bird from rodents and predators. It is best to board the bottom of the grid.
It is also necessary to close the top of the area for walking with a net. This will prevent adult birds from flying over the net.
When the house is built, and the paddock is fenced off, you can launch the first birds that quickly inhabit a new territory. In a well-built chicken coop, the birds will be warm and comfortable even in winter.