Buying a prefab chicken coop can save you from the hassle of arranging the materials and construction. But you don’t only need to buy your feathery friends a shelter, you need to provide them a space where they can feel secure and comfortable. With so many chicken coop options available, it is important to know which features matter the most to your chicken. From choosing the right size to having a cozy space that feels natural to them, this guide will help you through the buying process.
Top Features of Chicken Coop That You Must Consider
Here are the top features that you must look for while buying a perfect chicken coop:
1. Size and Capacity
The size of the prefab chicken coop is the most important feature that you cannot overlook. Having enough space where they can roam can boost the quality of chicken’s lives. Another major reason why this feature is at the top of the list is that chickens are animals after all, and it’s their natural instinct to crave a space that resembles their natural habitat.
● Roosting Space: Being a rooster parent, you must be aware of their sleeping habits. Chickens tend to perch at a higher space to sleep, like tree branches. It gives them a sense of safety from the predators. It also helps them to stay clean and healthy, as they can avoid contact with bacteria and parasites on the ground. While buying a chicken coop, look for one that has inbuilt roosting spaces, so they can have a sound sleep.
● Nesting Boxes: Another natural instinct of the chickens is to lay eggs in a dark space where they feel safe. Thus, it is important to provide them with nesting boxes where they can feel secure during the egg laying process. These boxes will help them reduce stress and won’t trigger any kind of aggression in them. Not only this, you can also benefit from the nesting boxes as you can collect eggs easily and efficiently.
2. Durability and Material
The material used in the construction of the chicken coop plays a vital role in its durability. Isn’t it better to invest once in a high-quality material rather than investing in a low-quality cheap material followed by lots of maintenance? Chicken coops come in different material, each having their pros and cons. By considering both for different materials, you can figure out the one that suits your needs the best.
● Wood: Wooden prefab chicken coop can bring your hens a bit closer to nature. Wood is a long-lasting material that can make the coops a lot more durable than other materials. It is easy to cut and customize in different shapes. Wood is a natural insulator and can help protect your chickens from weather changes. But you need to make sure untreated wood is not used as it is more susceptible to damage from mold and insects.
● Plastic: Unlike wood, plastic is lightweight and can make easily portable chicken coops. Another major benefit is that it’s not susceptible to rot. Even if it gets dirty and there is a chance of contamination with insects and mold, you can always disinfect it and prioritize the safety of your chickens. But here comes the major drawback of buying a plastic coop. With prolonged exposure to the Sun and UV radiation, it can become brittle and break easily. Secondly, plastic is not a good insulator, you need to add insulation to the coop manually which can add up to the cost.
● Metal: Metal is a weather-resistant material. It can withstand harsh climates and can make the chicken coops highly durable. It is also not affected by mold and insects making it low maintenance. But the insulation problem remains the same as of the plastic coops. Moreover, metal coops are heavier and less customizable than the above-mentioned materials.
3. Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
Providing your little chickens with a hygienic environment is a must. Therefore, before buying a chicken coop for sale, make sure to analyze it both internally and externally. It should be easy to clean and maintain, no matter which material it is made from. It should not have unnecessary grooves and rough surfaces that make cleaning hard. Moreover, such spaces provide favorable conditions for pathogens to flourish.
4. Ventilation
Even though chickens release uric acid in their waste the bacteria present in their feces can break it down into ammonia. It’s a strong-smelling gas with lots of negative health impacts. For this reason proper ventilation is needed to maintain the air quality. It also helps in reducing the extra moisture content.
5. Lighting
Natural light plays a major role in chicken’s life cycle. If you are going to keep them in a coop, make sure there are enough windows to let natural light in during the day and a proper system of artificial lights to control the lighting inside the coop.
FAQs
Q1. How big should a chicken coop be?
A1. There should be enough space for the chickens to roam around. Each chicken requires 3 to 4 square feet inside the coop and 8 to 10 square feet in the run.
Q2. How many chickens per square foot?
A2. Keeping 3 to 4 square feet per chicken inside the coop is preferable.
Q3. How many nesting boxes should be in a chicken coop?
A3. It is advisable to provide 1 nesting box for every 3 to 4 chickens.
Conclusion
Selecting the right prefab chicken coop won’t be an overwhelming experience if you consider all the key features of a chicken coop with the right guidance. It’s all about choosing a coop that is comfortable for your chickens so that they feel safe while aligning with their needs. These features have to be taken into consideration to ensure a healthy and comfortable environment for your chickens.
