Livestock farming: how to build a chicken coop for ten chickens with your own hands. Drawings and diagrams

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Keeping chickens at home is not only fashionable, but also profitable. Chicken eggs are a healthy and tasty dietary product, and the meat is much easier on the stomach than pork or beef. To ensure that chickens do not get sick, grow quickly and lay eggs well, it is necessary to build a chicken coop that will provide the birds with comfortable conditions. To build a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens, you need not only diagrams and materials, but also an understanding of the needs of the bird and the optimal conditions for keeping it.

Homemade chicken coop

To figure out what a chicken coop should be like, you need to understand why it is needed. The bird spends the night in the chicken coop and lays eggs, so it must protect from rain, cold, dampness, rodents and predators. Chickens do not clean up after themselves, so the coop should be high enough so that you can clean it of droppings. In addition, it is necessary to provide places for nesting and resting.

No less important characteristics of the chicken coop are lighting and ventilation. Lack of lighting will lead to a decrease in fertility, and poor ventilation will weaken the health of the birds and they will begin to get sick.


Video: chicken coops for 10 chickens

Preparing to build a chicken coop

During preparation, you need to determine the location for installing the chicken coop, think about its internal architecture and appearance, and also decide on the material for the roof, walls and insulation. To build a good chicken coop for 10 chickens with your own hands, you need to develop drawings taking into account the characteristics of the site and your height.


Using ready-made drawings will simplify construction, but complicate bird care.

  • It is not advisable to make the area of ​​the chicken coop less than 4 square meters. m.;
  • there should be 2–4 nests in the chicken coop;

  • feeders must be placed along the wall opposite the perch;
  • the feeding system must have a door for cleaning and loading from the outside;
  • feeders and drinkers should rise 5–10 cm above the floor;


  • the floor should be smooth but non-slip;
  • the perch is installed at a height of 40–60 cm;

  • the total area of ​​windows should not be less than 10% of the floor area (optimally 20–30%);
  • The chicken coop should be adjacent to a fenced area (aviary) for walking at the rate of 1–2 square meters. m. per bird;
  • A ladder must be installed between the chicken coop and the walking area.

Choosing a location for the chicken coop

For When constructing a chicken coop, a small elevation, sheltered from the winds, is suitable, preferably on the south side of the house, in this case the birds will get more sunlight and there will be no drafts in the chicken coop. Never build a chicken coop in low areas. When it rains, the water will wash away the chicken droppings and spread them throughout your property. This can lead to various intestinal diseases in humans, as well as colds in birds. The distance from the chicken coop or aviary to (the border of your site) should not be less than 4 meters. If you take water from a well or well, then the distance from them to the chicken coop should be at least 40 meters.

Drawing up drawings

A do-it-yourself chicken coop for 10 chickens, drawings of which can be found on the Internet, does not take into account the characteristics of your site, so you can draw up your own drawing based on it. To draw up drawings, a few sheets of squared notebooks, a pencil and a ruler are enough. In the drawing you need:

  • draw the outlines of the chicken coop and indicate its dimensions;
  • draw the location of internal elements;
  • indicate the height of the walls.

This will help you in determining the amount of building materials and preparing the foundation. When drawing up the drawing, think about what material you will build the walls from and how you will attach them to the foundation. Numerous forums for poultry farming enthusiasts and novice farmers will help you with this.

Material selection

The optimal materials for building a chicken coop are boards and. They are inexpensive and easy to work with.

If you have surplus, then you can build walls from it, or select some other material. The only material that is not suitable for building a chicken coop is sheet iron. The best quality is mineral wool, which will not block the escape of moisture to the outside if something happens to the ventilation. Mineral wool has only one drawback - it is afraid of water. You can use regular straw instead.

Having purchased the necessary building materials and decided on the shape, size and architecture, you can begin construction. To build a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens, invite an assistant. Many jobs are much more convenient to do together.

Foundation

Any type of foundation is suitable for a chicken coop, but the easiest to make is a strip foundation. Dig a hole 30 cm deep, the length and width of which is 20–30 cm greater than the dimensions of the chicken coop. Compact the ground and pour a crushed stone cushion 10–15 cm thick. Install formwork on it around the perimeter of the chicken coop, laying down waterproofing - pieces of roofing felt. The width of the formwork is equal to the width of the wall, and the height should raise the floor above ground level by 15–30 cm. Two weeks after pouring the foundation, wooden walls can be erected. If you decide to build brick walls, then you need to wait 4 weeks.

Walls and roof

These jobs do not require any special qualifications. If you want your building to be no worse than do-it-yourself chicken coops for 10 chickens, photos of which are posted on the Internet, invite a professional carpenter or mason, however, the chickens still won’t appreciate it. If you make a roof from transparent polycarbonate, you will seriously improve it, which will have a positive effect on the egg production of birds and their general condition.

Interior architecture

To create a perch, use square bars or straight branches from trees 4-7 cm thick. Do not use round or polished bars for them - it is difficult for birds to stay on them, which is why they will not sleep well. This will negatively affect their general condition and egg production. To make nests, you can use any wooden boxes measuring 30x30x40 cm (width, height, depth).

Once construction is complete, lay clean straw on the floor of the coop. Ventilate using plastic pipes with a diameter of 50 mm. The pipe should rise above the ground at least two meters, then pass through the wall and go down to the floor of the chicken coop. On the opposite wall it is necessary to provide a small openable window for ventilation.

The video below will help you build and arrange a chicken coop with your own hands.

Video: DIY chicken coop

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The chicken coop is where the birds spend most of their time. Here they can not only sleep and eat, but also hide from bad weather. For this reason, it is necessary that the house is made correctly and comfortably. Also, do not make chicken coops for 10 chickens too large.

Most often, boards or timber are used as the material. Of course, you can purchase a ready-made house, but it may not meet all the requirements. In order to build a chicken coop, you do not need to hire specialists; you can do everything yourself. First of all, you need to decide on the project, and then, having purchased the necessary building materials, begin work.

How much space do chickens need?

Before you start building a bird house, you need to understand its dimensions. So, the size of a chicken coop for 10 chickens: width - 1 m, length - 2 m, height - 1.5 m. When building a house, you need to remember that the bird needs good lighting. It is for this reason that you should not install the building in dark places.

As for perches, it is better to mount them at a height of at least 60 centimeters. Chickens try to climb as high as possible. It is strictly not recommended to use wide boards for perches, as it will be uncomfortable for the bird to sit.

It is best to make the flooring in such a way that feces spill into special boxes or containers. This will make caring for the bird easier. At the same time, cold air and moisture should not pass through such openings so that the chickens do not get sick.

Place to install a chicken coop

Poultry loves warmth and does not tolerate drafts well. This means that the design of a chicken coop for 10 chickens must be designed taking into account good lighting. The place should be level, since a house installed on a hill will be blown by the wind, and one installed in a lowland will have a humid atmosphere.

The exit to the enclosure should be located on the south side. The morning rays will warm up the chicken coop even on winter days, so you won’t be afraid of frost. Poultry lives by the sun, that is, chickens begin to wake up with the first rays of the sun.

It is also worth remembering that chickens need a place to roam, but it is advisable to fence it off. The walking yard should be located around the house.

Chicken coop base

In order to build a durable summer house or for 10 chickens, several conditions must be met:

  • Before you start laying the foundation, you should get rid of the top layer of soil by 35 centimeters.
  • We fill the area allocated for construction with a bed of sand and gravel. Its height should be approximately 10 centimeters.
  • The formwork must be made of boards. It is best if its thickness is 25 centimeters.
  • We install a frame made of reinforcement 8 millimeters thick. After this, you can pour concrete grade M300. The size of the site should match the area of ​​the future chicken coop. Further work can be done only after 3 weeks.
  • The floor is installed on which lie on the foundation.

Floor installation

When the design and drawing of a chicken coop for 10 chickens have been developed and the foundation has already been poured, you can proceed to installing the flooring. Natural materials are best suited for floor construction; it is important that they are dry. The best materials are cement, boards or adobe.

It is necessary to lay bedding on top of the main floor, which will ensure cleanliness and hygiene in the chicken coop. You can use materials such as chopped straw, sand or sawdust. In winter, it is best to lay the bedding at 20-25 centimeters to make the bird comfortable.

Wall installation

To properly build a chicken coop for 10 chickens, you need to know some rules, namely the technology of constructing strong walls. The best quality materials are stone, brick or cinder block, but all of them are not able to retain the heat that the bird needs. timber or logs are best suited. Walls made from these materials will be durable and, most importantly, will retain heat. It can be used for winter poultry houses. It is made of straw and clay.

The walls are installed according to a specific pattern:

  • First of all, a frame is constructed from wooden beams.
  • Then you can move on to installing the walls themselves. It is best to sheathe them with boards, between which you can use either mineral wool or sawdust for insulation.
  • You can use plywood, lining or boards as cladding.

Ceiling and roof installation

An important element of a bird house is the roof, as it can retain heat and prevent moisture from entering the house. Chicken coops for 10 chickens must have a ceiling, because warm air flows upward.

Of course, you can install a roof with one slope, but then the slope should be opposite the front door so that after rain water does not get into the exercise yard.

Rules for constructing a roof and ceiling:

  • The roof must have two slopes. Thanks to this shape, flows of water and snow will not linger on the roof. With the help of rafters the house can be made much higher.
  • Suitable materials for covering the roof include tiles, slate, roofing felt or reeds.
  • The ceiling must be insulated with mineral wool. After insulation, you can move on to the sheathing. It is best to sheathe the ceiling with chipboard slabs.

Device and ventilation

Some people think that installing walls, floors and a roof is enough, but in reality that's not all. An important aspect when building a bird house is ventilation. Chicken coops for 10 chickens must have windows for lighting and ventilation.

If there is good air exchange in the building, the bird will be healthy and productive. It is important to install a ventilation pipe or a small window for ventilation. The first hole should be located above the perch, simulating a hood. It is best to place the ventilation pipe at least half a meter from the perch. Thanks to the pipe, fresh air will flow into the house.

Chicken coops for 10 chickens should have a convenient opening that will allow the birds to go out for a walk. The hole is best placed near the front door.

To build a chicken coop, it is not necessary to stick to one option for building a house. Currently, there is a huge selection of construction options. It all depends on preference and taste. Some people like classic quadrangular houses, while others like triangular rooms.

Whatever option is chosen, it is important that the structure is comfortable and warm. A properly constructed building will provide comfort to the birds and profit to the owners.

Poultry run

If you managed to build a chicken coop for 10 chickens and it meets all the requirements, you can move on to the final part of construction. The last step in building a good house is building a bird run.

The height of the walk should be approximately 180 centimeters, and the length and width should be about two meters. The area is covered with metal or plastic bars. The lower part of the grate should be buried to a depth of 30 centimeters. This will protect the bird from rodents and predators. It is best to cover the lower part of the mesh with boards.

It is also necessary to cover the top of the walking area with a net. This will prevent adult birds from flying through the mesh.

When the house is built and the paddock is fenced off, you can release the first birds, which will quickly settle into the new territory. In a properly built chicken coop, birds will be warm and comfortable even in winter.

Many owners raise poultry. The best option is chickens. They are undemanding to living conditions, but it is necessary to build a good chicken coop. For a small family, it is enough to have 10 laying hens. To do this, you will need to make a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens. Drawings and detailed instructions will help you build a quality structure.

You can make a beautiful and spacious chicken coop yourself

Read in the article

How to make a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens: drawings and requirements

To begin construction work, you should familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for such a structure:

  • placement of the building. A rectangular chicken coop should be placed from east to west. Chickens lay eggs better if there is enough daylight, so windows should face south;
  • When creating a warm chicken coop with your own hands, it is worth remembering that the room should not be hot, since at temperatures above 25 degrees the chickens will not lay eggs. But even in winter it is necessary to create warmth. In cold weather you will also need a structure. The temperature must be at least 12 degrees;
  • it is better to locate the building away from noisy places;
  • high humidity can cause poultry diseases, so ventilation is necessary;
  • The dimensions of the room are selected taking into account the fact that two chickens can be accommodated per square meter. In cramped conditions, chickens lay eggs worse.

Helpful advice! When designing a poultry house, you need to take into account that over time the number of individuals may increase and more space will be required.


When arranging a room, it is worth equipping the windows with shutters made of, and for walking, provide an area under a tree or under.

chicken coop cage

Features of chicken coop design

Drawings and photos will help you create a competent project for a chicken coop with your own hands. It is important to choose the right size of the building, which depends on the planned number of birds. The type of structure depends on how many birds will live in it and on the types of materials.

When designing, it is worth planning to open the door inward, and the floor should be arranged with a slope towards the entrance. This will make the cleaning process easier. It is worth considering the interior design of the room. There must be a sufficient number of drinking bowls and perches. For such a structure it is worth considering heating, lighting, etc.

Features of installing the simplest chicken coop at the dacha with your own hands: stages of construction and photos

When deciding how to make a chicken coop with your own hands, you should familiarize yourself with the main stages of installation.

The table shows the main steps in constructing a simple poultry house.

Image Stages

Construction (only for structures with large livestock)


Selection and installation of flooring


You can build a chicken coop from scrap materials. To save money, you can use the room without construction or use a base on posts, for which leftovers or cobblestones will do. The floor can be made of adobe or earthen, and the roof is made of durable plastic, tin or remnants of slate.


Nuances of creating a foundation

For a do-it-yourself chicken coop for 20 chickens, a photo of which can be seen in this review, you will need a more durable one. Depending on its type: or columnar - you will need a concrete mixture, a composition of or.


The foundation is erected in accordance with certain rules:

  • the area is cleared and the top layer of soil is removed, about 25-55 cm;
  • Sand and gravel are used as a cushion;
  • the formwork is made of boards, its width is 25 cm;
  • rods are used for;
  • Concrete grade M300 is used.

Construction of the building can begin after the concrete mass has hardened. It is worth considering that the size of the site should be equal to the dimensions of the future chicken coop.

To create a columnar base, you will need markings, which are done using metal rods and rope. Then, cabinets are installed around the perimeter, which are placed at a distance of a meter. In this case, the supports should protrude 25-30 cm from the ground. They are strengthened with cement mortar bricks.

Chicken coop walls

When building a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens, you need to prepare drawings of the walls. Wood is in demand as a raw material for walls. They are used for cladding walls. In this case, the joints must be thermally insulated. In addition to boards, you can use plywood or clapboard. Adobe brick is considered a good material. The combination of straw and clay allows you to retain heat.

Installed according to the standard pattern. As insulation to separate the foundation and beams, roofing material is used, which is laid in two layers. Floor joists are also made of timber, which is laid edgewise. In this case, voids and cracks are sealed with remnants of timber and flax-jute fiber.


Roof, ceiling and floor of the building

To create a winter chicken coop with your own hands for 10-20 chickens, high-quality floors and roofing are of great importance.


The arrangement has some features:

  • it is better to use a gable roof, which will protect against the accumulation of moisture and snow;
  • coating material: roofing felt or slate;
  • thermal insulation is performed using mineral wool or.

In a gable roof, you can build a small attic where you can store bedding for chickens and feed. After installing the ceiling beams, the ceiling covering is laid. In this case, boards are used, and expanded clay and coal slag are used for insulation.


When building a chicken coop you need to do well. If they freeze, the room will be cold. It is recommended to use thick boards for the floor. First, untreated boards are laid, then a layer of vapor barrier material is laid, and treated boards are placed on top.

Note! When arranging a pitched roof, it is necessary to ensure that the slope does not point towards the poultry walking area.


How to make ventilation for a chicken coop for 20 chickens with your own hands: drawings

Particular attention should be paid to a do-it-yourself chicken coop. The ventilation device is responsible for supplying fresh air. This is especially important in the cold season, since birds are rarely outdoors. A budget and simple option is natural ventilation, which consists of ventilating the building. In this case, the exhaust window should be small and located on the ceiling or above the door. This scheme has many disadvantages, since heat will leave the room along with the air masses. At the same time, heating will require a large amount of resources.


A more reliable option is an exhaust system. It makes sense to install it if there are at least 20 chickens in the chicken coop. You can build such a structure with your own hands:

  • two holes are made for pipes; the entrance for air passage should be located away from the perches;
  • Instead of a pipe, you can make special wooden boxes, but they need to be painted and;
  • pipes for supplying fresh air are located at a distance of 35-40 cm from the roof, and the pipe for exhaust rises 1.5 meters above the roof;
  • To protect against precipitation, the upper ends of the pipes are equipped with small umbrellas.

For uniform circulation, it is better to place pipes on opposite sides of the room. In this case, it is used, which is mounted in the window. You need to turn on such a system manually. There are also special sensors that allow you to control the humidity in the room.


How to arrange a chicken coop inside?

After completion of the main work, the interior of the room is arranged. The construction of comfortable perches is of great importance. In this case, the length of the perches and their number are calculated. These elements are best made from . The perches are ground to a rounded shape so that the chickens do not get injured. Perches should be installed at a height of 65-75 cm, and 55-65 cm should remain between perches. It is recommended to place special pallets or trays under the perches. This will make the cleaning process easier. It is better to make the perches removable to make sanitization convenient.


It is worth equipping nests in the form of boxes, which should be darkened. They are installed in a separate place, and the drawers are covered from above. A separate entrance is recommended for changing bedding and collecting eggs.


Another important element is the feeders. They can be made of wood and installed on a small hill. Bedding is made of peat, straw or sawdust. They come in different depths. When soiled, deeper bedding is dug up. In addition, bedding is optional for the chicken coop in winter.


Lighting Features

Good food ensures the growth and physiological development of birds. You can create a well-equipped and lit chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens: drawings, detailed diagrams and photos will help you do this. High-quality lighting affects the following parameters:

  • number, size, density and weight of eggs;
  • chick development;
  • digestibility of consumed feed;
  • periods of egg laying and their duration.

When planning a lighting system, you need to know some features. Chickens do not see well in the dark, so in the evening, do not turn off all the lamps at once. When all the birds are settled on the perches, you need to turn off the remaining lamps.

For hatched chicks, lighting with a brightness of 35-45 lux is required. Then, as the bird grows, the light intensity gradually decreases to 6-8 lux. An adult bird will need a light of 10 lux.

A device for smooth switching on of the light is recommended, since if the light is turned off abruptly, the bird may become frightened. This is especially true for breeds that are bred to produce eggs. Chickens should also be accustomed to the dark from the third day of life, so that if the lights go out, the birds will not trample each other.

Helpful advice! If birds behave aggressively and pluck each other's feathers, then a reduced lighting intensity can solve this problem.


Heating

Before choosing, you need to take care of the insulation of the fences. There should be no drafts in the poultry house, so if the walls and roof are blown, they will not help.


It is worth insulating doors and windows, since most of the heat escapes through these openings. It is also worth building a deep litter. This design consists of a layer of slaked lime and 10 cm of shavings, sawdust and straw. Natural heat-insulating materials are also used: peat, foliage and even manure. Natural composting allows heat to be released.


If you approach the construction of a chicken coop responsibly, then this building can be made cozy and reliable. Using inexpensive materials, you can create a high-quality and well-equipped house for birds.

Many summer residents and people living in private houses are engaged in keeping chickens. Like other living creatures, chickens need a special place where they will walk and spend most of their time. If in summer you can equip an old barn and an aviary next to it for this purpose, then in winter you will need to build a full-fledged chicken coop to keep the birds.

Is it necessary to build a warm chicken coop?

The health and egg production of poultry directly depend on their comfort, adequate nutrition and general physical activity. Temperature and daylight hours play an important role.

Old barn converted into a chicken coop with a run for walking

The period from November to March is the most difficult for both poultry and poultry farmers who keep laying hens all year round. If in spring and summer the bird leads an active lifestyle, walks freely around the enclosure or alley, bathes in sand and specially designed containers with water, then in winter, for obvious reasons, its activity is greatly limited.

If the temperature is too low and there is no light, the egg production of laying hens is greatly reduced, and in some cases stops completely. Based on this, during the cold season a chicken coop should be built for chickens, providing the following conditions:

  • temperature above 10–12 o C and low air humidity;
  • artificial lighting that increases daylight hours;
  • natural or artificial ventilation for constant air exchange;
  • a place for nests and a free perch at a low altitude;
  • free space at the rate of 1 m2 per chicken.

Compliance with the conditions described above ensures that laying hens not only remain completely healthy and survive the winter well, but also maintain egg production and overall body weight.

Types of insulated chicken coops

An ordinary chicken coop is a barn, near which there is an area for walking the birds in the fresh air. The walking area is fenced with a fine mesh net, which will reliably protect the bird’s habitat from unwanted penetration of predators.

Winter chicken coop made of timber and boards for 30–35 chickens

In fact, this option can be taken as a basis when building a warm chicken coop. Especially if you need a room to keep no more than 10–15 chickens. If desired, you can consider a more comfortable chicken coop with both external and internal walking areas. But in this case, its size will be noticeably larger, which is not suitable for small suburban areas.

Depending on the number of birds, the following types of chicken coops can be used:


In many ways, all three types of chicken coops are similar and differ only in size, but with enough materials and free space on the site, an insulated chicken coop can have a completely different look.

For example, you can build a completely enclosed structure, which will already have a place for walking. This will allow the chickens to avoid hypothermia during walks, and will also give the bird the opportunity to walk freely, even when it is -15–20 o C outside.

Choosing materials for construction with your own hands

A variety of building materials can be used to build a chicken coop - from edged boards to masonry bricks. Any material has both positive and negative qualities, which should also be taken into account when choosing.

Base material

The construction of a chicken coop, like any structure, begins with laying a load-bearing foundation. The foundation is necessary for reliable protection of load-bearing walls and roofs. In the absence of a foundation, the walls of the chicken coop will be under constant influence of moisture, which will come from the damp earth. As a result, this will lead to rotting and damage to structurally important components of the structure.

Concrete, brick or foam blocks are used to make foundation supports

To build an insulated chicken coop, you can use the following types of foundations:

  • columnar - suitable for building chicken coops using frame technology, when the walls are made of thick boards and OSB. Foam blocks or concrete mixture are used to make the foundation. The supports are erected along the perimeter of the future structure;
  • pile - used for the construction of buildings on heaving and moving types of soil. A base in the form of metal piles sunk into the ground around the perimeter of the building is suitable for constructing wooden chicken coops. If the foundation is a pile-grillage foundation, then its load-bearing capacity is sufficient to build a chicken coop from foam blocks;
  • strip - the most reliable type of foundation. It can be used to build a chicken coop of any size and design. To make a strip foundation, a concrete mixture of grade M500, steel reinforcement Ø18 mm and edged boards are used.

To make a grillage, you can use either a 20x20 cm wooden beam or an M500 concrete mixture. The first option is cheaper and easier to implement. Using a concrete mixture requires the ability to set formwork and knit a reinforcement cage, but in general, the use of these materials allows you to build a more reliable and durable foundation.

The choice of materials for making the floor in the chicken coop depends on what type of foundation is used. For pile and columnar foundations, it is more rational to use wooden beams, edged boards and CBPB sheets. In the case of a strip foundation - concrete and reinforcing materials.

Wall materials

The choice of material for constructing the walls of a chicken coop depends on the size of the structure and the technology by which it will be built. The simplest and fastest option is a chicken coop made of wooden beams and OSB. A beam or thick board (from 22 mm) is used to construct the frame, which is later sheathed with OSB sheets inside and out.

Foam block is perfect for constructing permanent walls of a winter chicken coop

To build the main walls of a chicken coop, you can use the following materials:

  • shell rock is a natural material with low thermal conductivity. Perfect for building chicken coops for 25–30 chickens. The shell rock is a rectangular block 180x180x380 mm. The technology of work is in many ways reminiscent of the process of laying foam or cinder blocks;
  • foam concrete is a popular environmentally friendly building material. Suitable for building chicken coops of any size. For the construction of walls, it is better to use D400 foam blocks measuring 200x300x600 mm. The thickness of the walls being erected depends on the temperature regime in the region;
  • brick is a traditional material for the construction of load-bearing walls. Has low thermal conductivity and long service life. It is best used for the construction of permanent chicken coops for 50 or more chickens. Both solid and hollow bricks are suitable for the construction of chicken coops.

When choosing material for walls, you should also take into account how long the structure will be built. If you are just trying yourself as a poultry farmer, then the optimal choice of material for walls will be wooden beams and OSB. In the future, such a chicken coop can be disassembled or expanded with a small extension.

If you already raise chickens in large numbers and are planning to build a permanent chicken coop, then it is better to build a permanent structure from foam blocks or bricks. Such a chicken coop will cost more, but its service life is noticeably longer.

Insulation material

To insulate the floor, walls and ceilings of the chicken coop, you can use various thermal insulation materials. The cheapest option is to use sawdust, expanded clay and dry hay. Expanded clay is used to insulate floors or ceilings, and sawdust and hay are used to insulate walls.

Polystyrene foam has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which makes it one of the best materials for wall insulation

The only disadvantage of this method compared to modern heat insulators is that the materials have a high thermal conductivity coefficient. In turn, this requires the installation of a large layer of insulation, which is not always possible when building a chicken coop.

Modern insulation materials that can be used to insulate walls and floors in a chicken coop include:


When choosing a thermal insulation material, you should take into account its cost and the surface area that you plan to insulate. For small chicken coops, you can use stizol and other materials made from polyethylene foam. Stizol has a low thermal conductivity coefficient (0.3 W/m*K) - this ensures that the material reliably retains heat indoors.

For chicken coops with 50 chickens or more, it is recommended to use a combined approach. For example, insulate the floor with expanded clay and the walls with extruded polystyrene foam. If you want to save money, it is better to use polystyrene foam or mineral wool together with stizol.

Preparatory work

In order to quickly and easily build a chicken coop, you should carefully prepare for construction work. To do this, you need to decide on the location of the chicken coop, draw up a drawing of the future structure, calculate the material and prepare construction tools.

The diagram should show the location of nests, roosts and feeding areas.

When choosing a location on the site, it is advisable to adhere to the following:

  • It is not recommended to build a chicken coop in a lowland or on a slope. It is optimal if it is a free site located on a hill;
  • chickens and other poultry are afraid of noise. Therefore, it is better to build a chicken coop away from the road and other sources of noise;
  • The health of chickens directly depends on the amount of sunlight. To ensure free flow of light, the structure should be located on the south side.

If the soil on the site is clayey, loamy, swampy or other soil that does not absorb moisture well, then it is recommended to drain the site before building the chicken coop. If this is not done, the supporting base of the structure will quickly become unusable, and this will reduce the service life of the chicken coop as a whole.

Once you have found a suitable place to build a chicken coop, you can proceed to drawing up a drawing. This can be done either using regular paper and pencil, or using special computer programs for design.

Opposite each structural element you need to indicate the size - this will help to avoid mistakes during construction

The drawing should show the structure on a reduced scale. It is taken into account that the size of the structure depends on the number of chickens that are planned to be kept.

Opposite each structural element, its size should be indicated. This will help you quickly navigate the project without wasting time on calculating this or that part of the structure. Additionally, you should depict the chicken coop in a projection from above. On this part of the diagram you need to locate the entrance to the room, perches, nests, feeding area, etc.

As an example, consider the two diagrams located above. Both options are designed for keeping 10-12 chickens. The first diagram shows a chicken coop on a columnar foundation 200x400 cm with a pitched roof. To make a chicken coop, edged boards with a thickness of 10 to 20 mm are used. If desired, this diagram can be taken as a model on the basis of which the chicken coop you need will be built.

The second diagram shows a chicken coop with an aviary for walking. The dimensions of the structure, including the vestibule, are 425x525 cm. To build the chicken coop, as in the previous version, a wooden board and beam are used.

Materials for building a chicken coop

Materials for building an insulated chicken coop are selected based on personal preferences and the funds you are willing to spend on building the structure. For example, to build a chicken coop from the first example described above, the following material is needed:


It is advisable to use galvanized wood screws or galvanized nails as fasteners. To ensure reinforcement of the frame, you can use a steel angle of a suitable size.

Tool for work

To build a chicken coop you need the following tools:


Technology for making a chicken coop with perches

The technology for manufacturing chicken coops of various sizes is largely similar. The main thing is to follow the sequence of actions and adhere to the drawing that was drawn up earlier. The construction of an insulated chicken coop begins with marking, preparing the site and pouring the load-bearing foundation.

Making the foundation and floor

The size of the chicken coop directly affects the overall weight of the structure, so when choosing the type of foundation, take into account the size of the structure being built. For a chicken coop for 15–20 chickens, it is recommended to build a pile or columnar foundation. The second option is the most popular, since the supports can be poured yourself using a concrete mixture.

To pour the foundation and build the floor of the chicken coop, you will need to do the following:

  1. According to the drawing, it is necessary to mark the place where the chicken coop is planned to be built. To do this, you will need to level the ground with a shovel. After this, wooden pegs are driven into the ground, and a rope is pulled between them.

    Marking the foundation using pegs and rope is the easiest and fastest option.

  2. In the corners of the marked area, it is necessary to dig holes for concrete supports with a depth of 50–60 cm. For this, a hand drill and a shovel are used. The dimensions of the wells are 30x30 cm. Wells of similar size and depth are installed along the perimeter of the future structure in increments of 2 m.
  3. For chicken coops longer than 6 m, it is advisable to construct a concrete grillage. To do this, you will need to dig a trench 20 cm deep around the perimeter of the marked area. At the bottom of the trench it is necessary to fill 10 cm of sand and 10 cm of gravel of fraction 20–40. Each layer is carefully leveled and compacted.

    To assemble the formwork box for support, it is best to use plywood or flat slate

  4. Formwork for supports and grillage is made and installed from edged boards. To do this, the boards are knocked together into panels up to 70 cm high. Supports made of bars and bricks are used for installation. For reinforcement, reinforcement is used, which is knitted into a frame consisting of two lower and two upper rods.
  5. To fill the foundation, a concrete mixture based on M500 cement and fine-grained sand, taken in a ratio of 1:3, respectively, is used. For mixing, use a concrete mixer or electric drill with a mixer attachment. Pouring the supports and grillage begins from any convenient angle.
  6. After pouring the foundation, you will need to wait for the minimum strength to reach. To do this, the foundation is covered with plastic film and left to dry for 7–10 days.

    The piping of the columnar foundation is made of 20×20 cm timber

  7. After 10 days, the surface of the foundation is covered with roofing felt, on which a wooden frame made of 20x20 cm timber is laid. The frame is a box of 4 blanks, which are connected at the corners using self-tapping screws and a steel angle. Before installation, the harness is treated with a wood antiseptic. The harness is attached directly to the grillage with anchor bolts.
  8. Logs made of 20×200 mm boards are mounted to the laid harness. To do this, you need to prepare several blanks from the board. The number of logs depends on the length of the chicken coop. The installation step is 1 m. After this, the board is placed on its edge and attached to the harness using self-tapping screws and a corner.

    The logs are attached directly to the timber frame in 1 m increments

  9. The resulting floor structure is hemmed with a rough board, which is fixed to the joists and trim. After covering, the entire floor structure is treated with a wood antiseptic.

It is better to insulate the floor after assembling the load-bearing walls (see below). To do this, the floor is covered with a vapor barrier membrane, which is fixed with a construction stapler. Then the space between the lags is filled with expanded clay of fraction 20–40. Finally, floorboards from edged boards are laid on the joists.

Erection of chicken coop walls and insulation of the structure

The walls of wooden chicken coops are best erected using frame technology. This will allow the insulation to be placed in the space between the outer and inner lining, which will prevent its damage during operation of the poultry house.

The technology of insulation and construction of walls consists of the following:

  1. An edged board is mounted at the corners of the trim, which is fixed using a 50x50x35 mm fastening angle and 50 mm long self-tapping screws. The front posts should be 30–50 cm higher than the rear ones. This will ensure the necessary roof slope. After this, all corner posts are connected by means of an upper frame made from a board of the same section.

    Galvanized nails or self-tapping screws are used to attach the racks to the harness

  2. Next, you need to clarify the width of the insulation that will be used to insulate the walls. Taking into account its width, intermediate supports of the sheathing are installed. They are also attached to the harness using mounting angles and self-tapping screws.
  3. To strengthen the structure in the places where the entrance door, the window for the bird to go outside and the windows will be located, horizontal guides are mounted according to a similar principle. To frame the window opening, guides are installed at the top and bottom.

    The intermediate posts of the frame are mounted in increments equal to the width of the insulation used

  4. Having finished installing the frame, you can immediately move on to the roof. To do this, you will need to measure the distance from the front drain to the rear. To the obtained value you should add 25–30 cm, which will go to the roof overhang. After this, according to the calculated size, rafters are prepared from edged boards.
  5. The prepared blanks are treated with a wood antiseptic. After drying, the rafters are placed on edge and attached to the top frame frame. The pitch between the rafters should be equal to the width of the insulation. Afterwards, a 200 micron thick polyethylene film, a 10X10 mm board sheathing with a gap and roofing material are laid on the rafters.

    Sheathing the walls of the chicken coop with OSB sheets on the outside

  6. The chicken coop frame is treated with an antiseptic 2 times. Next, 20x20 mm bars are mounted on the outer side, onto which OSB sheets are attached using self-tapping screws 50 mm long. The pitch between screws is 20 cm.
  7. A tension-free vapor barrier membrane is placed in the space between the frame posts. A stapler is used for fastening. After this, mineral wool in slabs or rolls is laid between the racks. It is important that the material lies tightly and does not fall off.

    Insulation in slabs or rolls is placed in the space between the frame posts

  8. When insulating walls with polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene or stizol, there is no need to lay a vapor barrier. After laying the insulation, the walls are sheathed on the inside of the chicken coop. The place where the ventilation will be located is not sheathed.

The process of roof insulation is similar. To do this, thermal insulation material is laid in the space between the rafters. If desired, roof insulation can be done in two layers of insulation. When covering the frame, remember that there should be a small ventilation gap between the OSB sheets and the insulation.

When insulating the roof, insulation in the form of a polyethylene film must be laid on the outside. Roofing is done using a similar technology. When installing windows, the gaps between the frame and the window frame are filled with foam.

Installation of ventilation and lighting

Ventilation in a chicken coop can be represented either by a regular exhaust vent with a damper or by a full-fledged ventilation duct, which will be located under the roof.

The best option for a chicken coop built using frame technology is two ventilation holes located on opposite walls of the building. In order to install ventilation, you will need to cut a square hole in the wall of the chicken coop. This can be done with a jigsaw by first drilling a small hole in the casing for inserting the cutting blade.

The second hole is cut in a similar pattern 40 cm below the first. Supply ventilation fans of any convenient size are mounted in the holes. The average cost for similar products without additional functions does not exceed 800–1000 rubles.

Lighting in the chicken coop can be done using LED strips of varying brightness

For lighting, it is better to use 1–2 fluorescent lamps or an LED strip with a white luminous flux. To lay electrical wiring, plastic corrugation and copper cable of the appropriate cross-section are used.

If you plan to install heating equipment, it is recommended to use fan heaters with automatic temperature control. They can be turned on when the temperature inside the chicken coop at night drops below 12 o C.

Making perches and nests

To make perches, you can use a wooden block 20x20 cm or a round profile 28x2200 mm, which can be purchased at various hardware stores.

When making nests, remember that one hen requires 30–35 cm of free space

To install perches you will need to do the following:

  1. Perches are installed at a height of 50–70 cm from the floor level. The installation location is selected based on the free space in the room. It is best to use a place near the window for this.
  2. To make perches, you will need to measure the width of the chicken coop. According to this value, it is necessary to prepare 4–6 blanks from a round wooden profile or block.
  3. Boards 50 cm long will be used as supports, which are mounted on opposite walls. First, 3x3 cm recesses are sawn into the boards to install the poles.
  4. For more reliable fixation, the pole is attached to the support using self-tapping screws or nails. The step between adjacent perches is 25–30 cm. The height distance is at least 20 cm.

To make it more convenient for chickens to climb onto the roost, you will need to make a small ladder from a board. To do this, you need to measure the distance from the floor to the lower perch. Next, the workpiece is sawn off, to which short 20x20 mm blocks are attached. After which the ladder is attached to the lower perch using self-tapping screws.

For nests, it is better to use a semi-open box made of a wooden block and lined with OSB. The dimensions and manufacturing diagram can be seen in the photo above. First of all, the frame is assembled from a 20x20 mm bar. To fasten the workpieces, 30 mm long self-tapping screws and mounting angles are used. After which the frame is sheathed with OSB or edged boards. If it is necessary to install nests at a height, then legs are attached to the bottom of the box.

Features of chicken coops in the cellar

When converting a basement into a chicken coop, you should insulate the foundation walls with mineral wool or polystyrene foam

  • litter - a layer of dry sawdust 4–5 cm thick. The litter is changed as it gets dirty, but at least once a week. Sometimes you can use hay, but you will have to change it more often;
  • lighting - LED lamp power from 5 watts. Using artificial lighting, you should regulate the length of daylight hours. This will help increase the egg production of laying hens;
  • insulation - mineral wool, stizol or other rolled heat insulator. To protect the insulation, it is better to use a vapor barrier membrane or dense polyethylene. The thickness of the insulation layer is from 5 cm;
  • ventilation - vents in which you can install a supply and exhaust valve. The cellar or basement should be well ventilated periodically. For example, at the time of cleaning the litter.

Nests, as in the case of a full-fledged chicken coop, can be made from edged boards on the basis that one chicken requires 30–40 cm of space. The perch is installed 50–70 cm from the floor level. If desired, the perch can be connected to the nests using boards.

Chicken coop care after winter

Disinfection of the chicken coop is carried out for preventive purposes at least once a year. This allows you to avoid an outbreak of infection and the spread of harmful microorganisms. It is best to carry out disinfection in the spring or summer, when the chickens can safely walk in the fresh air and you can clean the chicken coop.

A set of products for disinfecting chicken coops and other objects where animals and birds can be kept

To disinfect the chicken coop you will need to do the following:

  • cleaning - the floor, walls, ceiling, perches and nests must be completely cleaned of dirt and dust. To do this, use a convenient broom and brushes with hard bristles. After this, the surfaces are washed with hot water with the addition of soda ash;
  • treatment - special means are used to disinfect the internal space in the chicken coop. For example, caustic soda in the form of a 2% solution or a 4% xylonaftha emulsion. The solution is prepared strictly according to the recipe without exceeding the norm. When processing, personal protective equipment is used: goggles, gown, respirator.

After treatment, you should wait until the product evaporates completely. The minimum holding time is 2 hours, but it is advisable to wait at least 5–6 hours and only then release the birds. And they also disinfect feeders, drinkers and other accessories that were in the poultry house.

Video: review of a winter chicken coop with walking

The construction of a chicken coop is not particularly difficult - the work can be done independently, without the help of auxiliary workers and specialists. To do this, carefully study our instructions and read the advice of other chicken breeders, which can always be found on the Internet.

Chicken- a widespread and numerous type of poultry and probably everyone, inspired by examples from life, books or other information sources, thought about the idea of ​​​​breeding these feathered creatures, pursuing their own goals, starting with the desire to receive the gifts of nature - eggs, feathers and fresh meat, and ending with aesthetic pleasure and beautification of the summer cottage with new living creatures. This article contains details, including descriptions and blueprints, talks about how to ensure maximum comfort in the life of a small group of ten winged pets, having built them worthy DIY home.

Choosing location for the planned abode of birds, you should first find out the features of the local climate. If the climate is warm and dry, as in the southern latitudes, then it would not hurt to pay special attention to methods of cooling future guests, but if the temperatures are close to negative, then it is necessary to take care of their heating, since the air temperature inside the poultry house should not fall below +15.
Abundance sunlight it also plays a very important role for the health and productive life of chickens - the building must have windows through which sunlight can penetrate into the room, and electric lamps that replace the source of natural light when there is a lack of it, which is especially noticeable during the winter.
Also, when deciding on a location, it is important to find level place, which would have slight slope. It will allow rainwater, instead of collecting around the poultry house, to go to the side and not cause damage to the building and its inhabitants.

Concerning dimensions buildings, then it is more correct to proceed from the number of planned settlers - it is recommended to place no more than two or three birds per square meter. Also, do not build the building overly large, as this will lead to increased heat loss during the January cold. A mesh enclosure is also considered a useful addition to a residential building, in which chickens could walk calmly without fear of predators - cats and dogs wanting to eat chicken, as well as rats and rodents hunting chickens. It will be a good help to have bush plantings along the place where feathered guests are kept - they will additionally protect the house from excessive sun, wind and hungry predators. It is better to place the chicken coop itself at a distance from a residential building, the reason for this is chicken droppings, the smell of which can ruin your vacation.

Interesting fact:The color and size of eggs laid by chickens directly depend on living conditions and state of mind. If you want to get a rich harvest, then make sure that the chickens are comfortable, and do not frighten the birds in vain.

Tools

Even an old one can become a ready-made hut for winged guests. barn, which only needs to be slightly re-equipped, but in this article we will look at how to build a chicken coop with our own hands. An example of this is a house measuring 2 by 2 meters, suitable for housing ten chickens.
To create it we will need the following things.
For construction foundation are used:

  • Shovel
  • Mixture of gravel and sand
  • Wooden boards for formwork
  • Reinforcing mesh (frame)
  • Concrete

For construction building are used:

  • Beams made of wood five by five centimeters.
  • Lumber used to create fencing and toppings.
  • Lumber used for finishing
  • Window frames (if available)
  • Tools (hammer, screwdriver, etc.)
  • Nails and other consumables


For lighting used (optional):

  • Fluorescent lamps (40 W)
  • Incandescent lamps (40-60 W)
  • Energy saving lamps (15 W)

(One 60 W bulb, when placed two meters from the floor, illuminates 6 square meters of area)

Embodiment

Construction begins with creation drawing future construction. By drawing up a drawing, you will be able to more accurately clarify the size and quantity of consumable resources, plan the location of the entrance and other openings for air supply, and choose the location of the aviary for walking poultry.

Foundation:

Since this text discusses the creation of a compact poultry house, the step of building a foundation can be ignored, but if you intend to build a structure for a long time, then, alas, it is impossible to do without a solid foundation.
In the first case, simply level the area for future construction with a shovel and deepen the walls; in the second case, the following is necessary:

  • Dig a hole 35 centimeters deep.
  • Fill the mixture of gravel and sand with a layer of ten centimeters.
  • Make a shape from boards and a skeleton from reinforcing mesh.
  • Fill the excavated base with concrete mixture.
  • Wait 3 weeks for the concrete material to harden.

Floor:

There are different types of device floors– you can choose earthen or lay boards on the foundation. The second method is more appropriate, but, in any case, it is necessary to lay a bedding on top of the floor, consisting of a mixture of soft materials three centimeters thick, on which the chickens will move within their abode.

Walls:

The walls of the poultry house are made of brick or wood. In the first case, you will have to tinker with insulation, upholstering the internal surfaces of the walls with wooden beams, since stone retains heat less well, but the structure will be improved from the outside. If you use wood, it is better to follow the instructions below:

  • Build a base of wooden beams with a cross-section of at least 5 centimeters.
  • Upholster the created base with lumber, not forgetting to place insulation between them.
  • Fill the voids between the outer and inner cladding with thermal insulation materials, without missing a single crack.

Roof:

Pay due attention to the top, as it is the basis of thermal insulation. During roof construction, eliminate the slightest gaps, since the presence will jeopardize the microclimate of the future home for poultry.
When choosing the appearance of the roof, it is better to choose a gable or single-pitch roof, because thanks to this shape, rainwater will not accumulate on the surface and will not flood the poultry house.

  • First, connect the ceiling beams together and attach thermal insulation to them.
  • The structure can be insulated using the same principle as walls.
  • After applying thermal insulation, cover the roof with plywood on the inside and install the roof on the outside.

Windows and ventilation:

During compilation scheme building, it should be noted that the windows are best placed on the south side, providing the house with increased sunlight and heating. What is extremely important is that they must open on ventilation to ensure air exchange. Also, don’t forget to fence off the windows. mesh so that a predator does not jump into the chicken coop during ventilation.
Also, in addition to windows, install an exhaust hood in the chicken coop - a pipe that ensures the flow of oxygen into the room. Leaving a small part under the roof, it descends into the chicken coop by 60-70 centimeters. The length of the pipe itself is about 200 centimeters. In winter, it is better to shut off this method of air supply and ventilation, otherwise the ventilation will turn into a draft, which will negatively affect the health of future chickens.

Aviary:

If you do not want to let your chickens into the outside space for any reason, then for walking poultry it is extremely necessary aviary, because mobility is the key to health. This walking yard, the size of which should be based on the planned number of chickens, is made of wooden posts buried in the ground with a mesh connection, protecting the chickens from stimuli from the outside world and preventing bird escape.

Interesting fact: Stories from poultry farm workers indicate periodic manifestations of excessive aggressiveness in chickens and even acts of cannibalism. Pay attention to how your pet birds communicate with each other, as they can easily peck at each other when conflict arises.

Interior decoration:

When preparing for construction, you should also think about the interior decoration of the bird house, as well as take stock of the costs. Living conditions are comfortable, lighting and heating are complete, the air is fresh, and thus ensure safety for residents and peace of mind for you.
For a comfortable life, chickens need:

  • Perches made of wooden beams, which must be smooth, since when moving on untreated wood, the chicken runs the risk of injuring its paws and causing infection. The length of the perch directly depends on the number of birds. So for 10 chickens you need a perch 3 meters long. It is highly not recommended to place perches on top of each other, since chickens sitting higher will definitely relieve themselves on those located below.
  • Nests made from wooden boxes and crates 40x30x30. Place them in shaded areas and use straw as a soft base.
  • Lighting. Since the day length for birds is fifteen hours, provide the feathered inhabitants with lighting in the evening and just in the dark. It is also recommended to position lighting fixtures so that the light falls on the feeders and not on the perches.
  • Feeders and drinkers, which the bird can safely reach. The number of feeders is directly affected by the number of birds, and it is better to place the feeders on the side opposite the perches.

Now you know about the intricacies of building your own poultry house. Look at pictures of chicken coops on the Internet to better imagine how you see your own chicken coop, and we wish you success in your farming endeavors.