Chickens, as well as other poultry, should be provided with regular walking. Why is this so important? During the walk, they are not only happy about the sun, but are also searching for various insects.
They can also get various seeds in the ground. Walking in no case can not be neglected, if only because fresh and green food have a beneficial effect on the health of chickens.
The best place for walking is considered a small meadow, on which grows juicy grass. Or a garden. If you prefer to grow chickens "on the floor", then it is necessary to equip a paddock near the house. It is also called a solarium. The solarium must be fenced. How to fulfill this and other conditions, we will now tell.
Design requirements
Self-made corral:
Most often, tanning beds are fenced on the south side using a chain-link mesh.- It should be quite high. For layers - 2 meters or even higher. For broilers - not less than 1.8 meters. It is better to exceed these figures than to downgrade. So there will be less risk that the bird will simply fly away.
- In the pen you need to place a comfortable feeder. If possible, in addition to feed, add small gravel there. Next you need to add mash or feed, or something else than feed the poultry in the area.
- It is important to carefully monitor the condition of the feed, because in the open air it deteriorates quickly.
- Its size depends on the number of chickens in your compound, and, of course, on your abilities.
Most often, tanning beds are fenced on the south side using a chain-link mesh.But this, for example, is not scientifically proven, you can find this fact not worth attention. But it has been proven by science that it is 6 times more than the content in eggs of such a course is 6 times more carotenoids than in the eggs of those chickens for whom walking is not available.
Types of walking
Chickens contraindicated draft and strong wind. Therefore, you need to place the room on the leeward side. Deaf walls of the house will protect chickens from this problem. It is desirable that bushes or a spreading tree should be planted near the hen house. Plants will provide additional protection.
We turn finally to the types of walking. When is it better to build a closed range walking range? When the site is not far from the forest, or not fenced. Ideally, a closed range is done on the same platform as the poultry house. He has, of course, a roof and walls of fine mesh.
This type of walking has advantages and disadvantages.
On the one hand, birds in such walking are not afraid of predators. They can not be afraid, for example, rats and weasels. But on the other hand, they will not be able to peck on fresh grass here.
If possible, outdoor walking should be provided.. He, too, needs to be fenced off with a net, make a full or open canopy. Better if you protect the birds from the scorching sun. You can do this with the help of the roof or small shrubs. Or - and that, and another. So that the birds can choose.
Materials
List:
- if you do not live in the southern part of the country, you will definitely need glass wool in order to insulate the chicken coop;
- bricks;
- optional: Particleboard for ceiling and wall cladding;
- sawdust to equip litter;
- slate to put on the roof;
- boards, their number depends on your layout;
- screws;
- polyurethane foam;
- nails.
How to build a good chicken coop: step by step instructions
Firstly, you need to decide on the number of birds and the type of chicken coop, it will be summer or winter.
If you have decided on these issues, you can proceed to the construction of the paddock.
- Determine the area on which the foundation will be poured and the supports installed.
Then it will be the turn to pour in an ordinary strip foundation, to reinforce it with the unnecessary metal that you have in the country.- Wait for the foundation to dry out and insist on it.
- The construction of the paddock is simple, similar to a shed or a garage, at this step you need to lay a brick, the height of the structure is at least 2 meters, the size depends entirely on the number of birds. to be kept in the pen.
- When several rows of bricks are completed, the solution should be infused. You can even postpone the work the next day.
- When the walls are ready you need to prepare the foundation for the roof.
- After the manipulations that precede this, you need to cover the roof with slate, everything else is standard for buildings of this type.
- At the end, it is necessary to install windows and doors in the places you have chosen in advance.
- Then you need a complete sealing of the premises with foam.
- Wait for the foam to dry, cut off the excess, then putty all irregularities.
Then it will be the turn to pour in an ordinary strip foundation, to reinforce it with the unnecessary metal that you have in the country.How to make a summer aviary?
What are the differences of summer aviary for chickens? It also consists of a chicken coop (where birds spend the night), nests where eggs will be carried. the sticks on which the chickens like to sit, in some cases - there are nests in the second tier, in order to pick up the eggs, you need to equip the stairs.
In order not to open the door every time, you need to equip the grill. Walls can be made of mesh.
Tip! Sun positive for chickens is very important. It is also important to equip a small reflective flashlight. So that if the hens fall at night, they should see where to jump.
How long will the construction take?
Very fast - it only takes a couple of days. The technology of building a chicken coop has been described above. We can only say that the construction of a "house" for chickens with a range of walking is a fairly quick and simple task.
Sex, by the way, is very desirable in the hen house.
The following reasons:
- No predator can undermine and attack.
- So the birds will be warmer. In the summer there are also cold nights. The walls must be upholstered trim board.
A photo
Below you can see a photo of a summer aviary for walking birds.
Are there any differences in poultry houses for 30 or 100 hens?
Poultry houses for different number of heads differ only in size. If the content of 6-7 chickens needs at least a square meter of area, then the content of 100 chickens will need at least 16 square meters.
Care of the room
- The food should be abundant, but the hens are unpretentious birds. They will fit and food waste.
- Lighting should last almost all day. 16-17 hours a day can not turn off the light in laying hens.
- Comfortable temperature for layers - 25 degrees. Drafts are not allowed.
- Chickens love to swim in the sand or ashes. Therefore, it is better to have a box with ashes in the hen house or on the walk.
- For the nests, the chickens need to pour some hay in the corner, and they will do the rest. Some chickens are more comfortable to carry in boxes.
- These birds love to perch. It is better to equip it at a height of 1 meter, the diameter of the perch should be about 5 cm.
- Room cleaning should be everyday. To do this, you need to shake up the litter every day, clean it from litter, every day you should clean the litter boards.
Hatching
Care for free-range chickens is not an easy task, but if you understand all the rules and particulars - it's not so difficult.
The food should be abundant, but the hens are unpretentious birds. They will fit and food waste.- Lighting should last almost all day. 16-17 hours a day can not turn off the light in laying hens.
- Comfortable temperature for layers - 25 degrees. Drafts are not allowed.
- Chickens love to swim in the sand or ashes. Therefore, it is better to have a box with ashes in the hen house or on the walk.
- For the nests, the chickens need to pour some hay in the corner, and they will do the rest. Some chickens are more comfortable to carry in boxes.
- These birds love to perch. It is better to equip it at a height of 1 meter, the diameter of the perch should be about 5 cm.
- Room cleaning should be everyday. To do this, you need to shake up the litter every day, clean it from litter, every day you should clean the litter boards. Global cleaning, whitewashing house should be once or twice a year.
The food should be abundant, but the hens are unpretentious birds. They will fit and food waste.Conclusion
Caring for free-range hens and broilers is not an easy task, but if you look at all the rules and particulars, it’s not so difficult.
