Noah Perkins feeds his family's three chickens, Daisy, Marvel, and Hillary Clinton, back in 2008. People who keep chickens have a responsibility to keep them healthy and clean. Not just for the chickens' sake, but for the sake of humans and other animals.
Luckily, backyard chickens are relatively easy to keep, and a well-chosen coop can help. Following are points to consider.
Choose a sunny site
that is dry and has good drainage -- and is away from neighbors' windows.
Coop size depends
on how many occupants, what breed, and whether there will be access to an outside run. Err on the side of more space, rather than less.
Make it safe.
Chickens need shelter from the elements as well as from predators -- those that dig, those that fly, those that open the gate, your own pets. Consider sturdy fencing of small-diameter mesh that extends into the ground, or an electric fence. Make sure the chickens' door to the outside closes securely (raccoons have the dexterity of toddlers).
Plan good cross-ventilation
to avoid dampness and odor buildup. However, give the chickens an area to stay out of drafts.
Keep the floor dry.
It can be wood or concrete.
Make it easy to clean
-- with a big opening for the caretaker.
Give the birds 24-hour access to clean, fresh water.
Keep the water from freezing in winter.
Chickens are omnivorous and like a varied diet,
including grain, kitchen scraps and nonwoody garden trimmings.
Raise the nest box
off the floor so it's easier to retrieve eggs.
Set perches inside at different heights.
Different breeds of chickens like different heights -- some like to be very close to the roof -- and different diameters of perch.
Keep out wild birds.
They will bring in mites and lice. Sparrows particularly are attracted to the same grains that chickens eat.
An organic method to prevent mites and lice
is to give the chickens a dry place for a dust bath of diatomaceous earth (available at feed and garden stores).
Protect your chickens from disease.
Check out the resources at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
website. There's information on signs of disease, reporting a sick bird, and biosecurity practices, as well as a video on "Simple Steps to Keep Backyard Poultry Healthy."
-- Homes & Gardens staff
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