Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Ventilation and insulation
Good ventilation may seem obvious, but it is important not to overlook this when you are pre-
paring your coop. Ventilation allows fresh air and oxygen into your coop, as well as the re-
lease of carbon dioxide. Without it, potentially toxic carbon dioxide can build up in the coop
and harm the flock. A simple way to create air passageways is to drill several holes in the top
of the walls and cover them with mesh. If you prefer, you can have windows in the coop. Al-
though windows can help keep your birds cool in the summer, you also will need a good va-
por barrier and insulation to keep them warm in the winter. Be sure the ventilation and insula-
tion work together to achieve the most comfortable environment. Keep in mind that the insu-
lation inside your coop will need to be covered so your birds do not peck at it.
Roosts or perches
It is a natural instinct for chickens to want to perch off the ground to protect themselves from
predators, especially at night. The birds sleep shoulder to shoulder on an elevated roosting bar
if they have a coop or will sleep in a tree if they are free-range. The number of roosts in the
coop depends on the size of your flock. If you have more than one perch, do not situate them
directly on top of each other, so the birds can freely go to the bathroom without hitting anoth-
er bird.
Arrange your perches in a ladder style, sloping toward the back of a wall. You can even use an
old ladder for your roost. Perches should be across from the nesting boxes so you can collect
eggs without having to walk through bird feces. Do not structure perches above the feeders or
water containers to prevent bird droppings from contaminating them.
Wood works better than metal or piping when constructing roosts or perches, and a broom
handle or dowel will work well. Perches should be 2 inches in diameter for chickens and
roosters, 1 inch for bantams, and the edges need to be smooth and rounded for better gripping.
Space the bars about 12 inches apart because if there is enough space for chickens to roost, it
is less likely they will perch on feeders, waterers, or other places not meant for perching.
The floor beneath the roosts will collect the majority of the bird poop, and this area will need
to have easy access, which you can attain by opening a window or shutter on the wall behind
the coop. Some coops have manure boxes under the perches that are several inches high, filled
with bedding, and covered with moveable screen lids. You can take the manure from these
boxes every day or once a week and use it for composting and fertilizer. You also can clean
