You’ve got your coop plans but have you thought about how you are going to build chicken coop accessories?
As you know, when you want to build a chicken coop there are many things to be aware of. The early stages of planning your hen house will have involved the important questions about protection, light, air and space.
But now that they are all sorted, your building is sound, easy to work with and weather and predator proof I reckon that you must be eager to get your girls settled in and laying. You’ve done all this and I bet that one of the last things that you want to be doing now is thinking about how you are going to build chicken coop accessories right?
I know that this is completely frustrating, just when you thought that the hard work was done, now you have to accessorize the blimming thing? I remember thinking “how shocking would it be if we didn’t bring in a nesting box or two?” and “what the heck is a roost?”. “Why would they need a water trough or feeder? Can’t they just eat off the floor and sleep on the ground? They are just hens after all, why must we worry with trying to build chicken coop accessories”. There must be a reason, so I thought a bit harder.
Yes they are hens which is just the reason why we have to think about their requirements. Chickens are animals and their needs are basic. Safety and comfort when laying, eating and sleeping are the only two elements that your flock will need. That is it. If you would like their eggs, then you need to make them comfy so that they will happily produce you those eggs with as little drama as possible.
So when you build chicken coop accessories seek to envisage that you are a insignificant, almost flightless bird and ask yourself where you would feel the most safe. I wager that ‘up high’ might feature quite highly! Here is a brief run-down on the more common accessories for your coop
Nesting Boxes;
Nesting boxes are for your birds to lay their eggs in – If you thought that they were for sleeping in, you are just like I was when I first started! These can be made out of anything that you may have lying around. The one thing to watch is that if your nesting box is made from materials that break down or absorb water – like cardboard – that you replace it regularly. They can be filled with straw, paper, shavings or hay, but this also has to be replaced on a very frequent basis.
I understand that we mutter about hens needing their space, but when it comes to the nesting box they certainly like it cosy, so allow for 4 or 5 girls per box rather than building separate nests.
The Roost;
The roost is where the sleeping is done.
Think of the highest branch in a tree, this is the roost, so it really only needs to be a durable shaft. As long as it will support the weight of the birds and they can wrap their talons around it securely most anything will do. An essential note when you build chicken coop roosts is that just as in nature, hens will argue over the highest branch, so make all the roosts the equal height. This is one area that your hens will enjoy their legroom, so make certain that there is ample room on the roosts for all your chickens. This will avert major squabbles and help encourage a calm environment.
A really important tip; Do not situate your nesting boxes or any other accessories below your roosts! Chickens do most of their defacating while they snooze – now I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t be that keen on laying an egg in a soiled nesting box!
Feeders and Waterers;
Pretty obvious – there are a fantastic range of mechanical systems around that will ensure that your girls have a ready stream of fresh food and water.
Sand Baths;
Sand Baths are pretty much the only indulgent item’ in the hutch. Most people put sand in the bottom when they build chicken coop runs – which acts as flooring as well.
Heaters;
If you reside in very chilly climates then these can be installed in your hutch with comparative ease. There are various heaters available, but many also present a huge fire hazard so installing a heater in your enclosure should really only be done if very necessary.
For a great selection of hen house plans – including accessories that will save you time and money head to www.HenHousePlansOnline.com
