Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
board or a piece of wood placed in the bottom of their wire cages, which prevents the
wind from coming up underneath them, along with bedding material such as shavings or
straw for them to nestle down in. They don't do as well in an open wire-bottom cage as,
surrounded with cold air, they are unable to warm their bodies. A board on the bottom
traps body heat and provides security.
Housing
Have a plan for the number and types of birds you'd like to raise, and know how much
space they'll require. Once you've established that poultry are allowed in your particu-
lar neighborhood, it's time to consider structure size and various design options.
How Big?
If you are a carpenter, or would like to learn to be one, there are many topics available
with detailed plans for building a chicken coop. Or you may prefer to use ideas or plans
taken from the Internet.
Locate your coop where it will be protected from weather extremes.
Include in your online search the size and space requirements for the number of birds
you plan to have. Healthy bird space requirements can influence your decision greatly.
If you have your heart set on a neat little house that fits perfectly in that space between
your garage and the vegetable garden, and you also want to have a flock of 25 turkeys,
you may need to alter your plan for either the number of birds or the location of the shel-
ter.
