What Do I Need For A Chicken Coop? A Beginner’s Guide

Getting backyard chickens is an exciting endeavor! Fresh eggs every morning and cute feathery friends hopping around your yard. But before you bring home your flock, you need to make sure you have the proper chicken coop setup and accessories. Having the right supplies will ensure your chickens are healthy, safe, and happy in their new home.

Size and Location

When deciding what you need for a chicken coop, the first consideration is size and location. The coop should provide at least 4 square feet of space per chicken inside the coop. The coop should also have an outside run area, allowing 10 square feet per chicken. Make sure to locate the coop in a shady spot, protected from wind and rain. Easy access to the coop for you to care for the chickens is also key.

Safety and Protection

Predator protection for your chickens is critical. The coop should have sturdy walls and a wire-mesh covering on any openings to prevent entry from foxes raccoons hawks and other predators. Burying wire fencing under the ground around the coop prevents rodents and animals from digging underneath. A predator-proof coop keeps your flock safe at night.

Ventilation and Insulation

Proper ventilation prevents moisture build-up and ammonia odor in the coop. Vents near the top let out hot air. In winter, small vents prevent frost-bite but maintain warmth. Insulation like straw bales or foam boards can also help moderate temperature. Adequate ventilation and insulation keep the chickens comfortable year-round.

Roosting Bars and Nesting Boxes

Chickens naturally perch on branches or bars at night, so elevated roosting bars are essential in the coop. Place roosts 2 feet off the ground and space multiple bars at least 12 inches apart. Nesting boxes with bedding give hens a place to lay eggs in privacy. Plan on one box for every 4-5 hens. Both roosts and nests are key components for a happy flock!

Food and Water Supplies

You’ll need sturdy feeders to dispense food without waste and founts or poultry drinkers to provide clean water. Placing them outside the coop minimizes messes and rodents inside. Keeping food storage bins tightly sealed deters pests as well. Easy access to plentiful food and water keeps your chickens nourished.

Flooring and Bedding

The coop flooring should make cleaning easy. Concrete flooring is durable but expensive More economical options are linoleum over plywood or thick rubber mats Several inches of absorbent bedding like pine shavings or straw should cover the floor and nesting boxes. Regular cleaning and raking of the bedding keeps the coop sanitary.

Lighting

Chickens need 14 hours of light per day to keep laying eggs consistently. Installing a light on a timer inside the coop extends their daylight hours. A simple hanging bulb with a reflective dome provides plenty of illumination. Lighting rigged to a timer sustains maximum egg production.

Extra Touches

Some optional extras can make chicken keeping more convenient and enjoyable. Handy additions are a storage shed for supplies, a camera to monitor chickens remotely, a coop heater for extreme cold and an automatic door opener. While not essentials, upgrades like these add to your chicken-keeping experience.

Setting up the proper chicken coop and accessories requires some investment on the front end. But caring for chickens is very rewarding! With a safe and thoughtfully equipped coop, you’ll give your flock everything they need for many years of health and productivity. Getting prepped with the right supplies makes starting out with chickens that much easier and more fun.

The “90/10 rule” for chickens refers to a feeding guideline that recommends 90% of a chicken’s daily diet should be a complete feed, while the remaining 10% can be treats.