Additional Chicken Coop Guidelines
Free Range Chicken Raising
- If you have enough space in your backyard, you may want to consider chicken raising free-range style.
- To ensure that you do not spend too much, choose a corner area so that you already have two sides of the required ‘walls’ of the free-range site.
- In putting in the fence posts, make sure that they are set at least 30cm into the ground.
- Use only 25mm x 25mm x 2mm wire mesh – this gives you the necessary strength and protection against predators.
- For the roof, you can either use corrugated plastic or tin sheeting.
- Make sure that the fence reaches up to the roof and that the roof edges extend beyond the fence line.
- The entrance door/gate should be wide enough so that you can truck in a wheel barrow – for bringing in chicken feed, for cleaning purposes etcetera.
- Make sure that you have enough perches for the chickens to rest and sleep on during the night.
- Make provisions for at least 2 100-watt light bulb sockets in the middle of the free-range enclosure. Your chickens need warmth during the cold days. If at all possible, it may be better to also provide tarpaulin or plastic covering for the wall during cold seasons and when it rains.
Fencing /Overhead Cover Guidelines
- Use the recommended size of 25mm x 25mm x 2mm wire mesh.
- In putting up the fence, make sure it is set at least 30cm into the ground (wire mesh fence and post together) for added protection against predators.
- To provide a bigger chicken run for the semi-permanent and permanent chicken coops, put/construct the whole structure in a big fenced in area following the fencing guidelines.
- For overhead covers (except for free-range style chicken raising) of movable, semi-permanent and permanent chicken coops, it may be cheaper to use old fish nets.
Have fun and enjoy your new pets with the entire family!
For more information on building your own chicken coop, download the chicken coop plans here : Download
