Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
with about three square feet of floor space per bird.
Technically, as few as two square feet can be adequate for
chickens, and ducks require only three square feet each, but
the coop should be sized to account for temporary increases in
flock size during the spring and summer. For a flock of 20
birds, which is the largest practical flock for a small lot, that
means a 100-square-foot coop—a size that can be
accommodated in a number of configurations such as 8 × 12,
10 × 10, and so forth. Enough floor space helps to reduce
stress on the birds and prevents behavior problems. The most
prevalent behavior problem resulting from inadequate living
space is chickens pecking each other, which can lead to
infections and other problems.
The subject of construction techniques required to build a
chicken coop is beyond the scope of a topic on farming.
McMurray Hatchery (
www.mcmurrayhatchery.com
) has two
suitable chicken house plans including a complete bill of
materials for less than $15 each as of this writing. Judy
Pangman has also written Chicken Coops, a comprehensive
topic containing 45 illustrated plans for chicken coops to suit
every circumstance and budget.
