In recent years, raising chickens has become more widespread, since even a small flock can daily supply a family with fresh eggs, homemade meat and possible income. In order for laying hens to be more efficient, they need to be provided with comfortable living conditions throughout the year. Close attention must be paid to the period of winter cold.

Articles about poultry farming: breeds, raising and keeping birds on the farm, on the website - https://ferma.expert/pticy/.

Chickens need a specially equipped room at this time of year. Building a chicken coop for ten chickens with your own hands for the winter is a task that any summer resident can cope with. The main thing is to follow the instructions, which we will discuss in this article.

Features of the room

The condition for comfortable living for chickens is a room that meets the following conditions:

Facility location

The location of the chicken coop is a very important point in construction:

1. The room is located so that the smell from it does not penetrate into the house.
2. Some breeds of chickens are very shy and do not like strangers on their territory - this reduces their productivity.

An excellent place for arranging a chicken house would be the far corner of the site. It is necessary to install the building so that it has access to a walking area. It is best to isolate the territory of the chicken coop with an aviary and place it on a hill so that meltwater does not flood this place during the thaw. The windows in the chicken coop should be large and on the south side. Build close to the fence, which will protect the chicken coop from the winds. An important point is the source of drinking water. If you use a well or well, the distance from them to the chicken coop should be no more than forty meters.

The area for the chicken coop is carefully leveled before construction. The area of ​​this place depends on the size of the chicken house. A chicken coop for ten chickens - 100x200x150 cm. The internal space will be about 15 square meters. m. The soil is removed at a depth of 30–35 cm to prevent the area from becoming overgrown with grass in the future. Next, make a pillow out of gravel (height 10 cm).

Drawing

Drawing- the basis for the construction of an object, needed to calculate the amount of material and understand what the structure will look like in the final version.

The drawing of the chicken house should be clear and precise, with detailed indications of the details of the external and internal arrangement. Instead of copying ready-made building options, you can create a room that will meet your construction and design requirements. If you have little experience, then it is better, of course, to use ready-made drawings from experienced farmers, since you need to take into account many details.

The drawing begins by drawing the contours of the chicken coop, indicating the dimensions. Then they plan the interior arrangement of the chicken house.

Materials

Wood is considered the most popular and optimal material for building a chicken coop. The strength and durability of a structure depends on the correctly selected material. Nowadays, oriented strand board (OSB) is the choice. Due to the fact that the cost of this material is low, you can work with it easily even without experience. The walls of the chicken coop are also made of brick, expanded clay and concrete blocks. Sheet iron is not suitable because it does not hold heat well and condensation forms on the walls due to temperature changes. Chickens in such a house will be cold and damp.

Regardless of the choice of building material for the walls of the chicken coop, there are basic materials:

Step-by-step instruction

The construction of a winter chicken coop begins with the construction of a foundation. An excellent option would be to use a columnar or pile foundation. They create additional ventilation, and this prevents rotting of the floor wood in winter and protects the chicken house from flooding during the spring flood. This option is more economically profitable, given the light weight of the structure, since construction incurs lower material costs and the help of specialists is not required. You can build it yourself.

Construction of the foundation

Pile foundation.

This foundation is installed on damp plots of land. Screw piles are screwed into the ground. The blades of the piles can be deepened into any soil. A screw pile foundation is more expensive than a columnar one, and the structure as a whole is stronger. Installation of this foundation takes about 1 hour. Markings are made according to the size of the building using pegs on which a rope is pulled, and the locations for installing the piles are marked. First, they are screwed into the corners, and then along the entire perimeter of the building at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other.

Columnar foundation.

Such a foundation is placed on sandy and loose soils. This is the simplest foundation to install and does not require large financial costs or special knowledge. Installation can be completed by 1 person. First you need to make markings using a rope. Dig holes around the perimeter of the building (depth 70 cm, width 50 by 50). The distance from each other is 1 m. Place a mixture of gravel and sand on the bottom in a layer of 10 cm, compact well. Next, the brick is laid and concrete is poured. Columns are installed on the bases (height 20-30 cm above the hydraulic level) and covered with gravel.

Strip foundation.

This type is used most often. A trench is dug, formwork is made from boards, and concrete is poured. In the case of using a strip foundation, construction time increases, since it is necessary to wait until the concrete dries.

Installation requires compliance with technology - in this regard, it is better to get advice from specialists. A wooden chicken coop is usually erected three weeks after pouring concrete, and a brick one - 4-5 weeks.

Floor installation

For installation, a support frame is made from timber and sheathed with boards from below. The logs are made of timber with a cross section of 100 by 150. The distance between them should be 50 cm. This base is attached to the foundation pillars, on which a layer of roofing material is first placed. A layer of expanded clay is poured into the cells. It will act as insulation. Boards are installed on top or concrete is poured.

Walls and roof

After installing the floor, you can proceed to the next stage. The walls can be made of timber. Be sure to close all the cracks.

When building walls from OSB, a frame of beams is attached from below, which is sheathed on the outside with slabs. Inside, insulation is placed in the cells, which is again covered with OSB. This will reliably protect the birds from frost. The ventilation pipe is installed on the south side. Be sure to make a damper.

Window frames are made from beams and glass is inserted. It is better to make the frame on hinges, which will allow the room to be ventilated. The door is also made of timber, then sheathed with particle boards. It is recommended to install it so that it opens into the chicken coop.

The roof is made of one or two slopes. It is better to install a gable roof with an attic where you can store food. First, a frame is made of beams, then the flooring, waterproofing (for example, roofing felt) are installed, and finally the roofing material.

To maintain optimal temperature, the roof, walls and door need to be insulated. You cannot leave the insulation inside the chicken coop without covering, because the birds will peck at it, which will negatively affect their health.

Interior arrangement

Comfortable living for chickens in winter will be ensured by proper equipment:

Building a chicken coop for ten chickens yourself is much more profitable than buying a ready-made one. The project of a room built with your own hands is compiled individually for each site. It must meet all the necessary conditions for comfortable living of chickens. Nowadays, DIY construction is becoming less and less accepted. It is considered easier to purchase a ready-made mini-chicken coop than to understand its construction. Everyone decides for themselves what to save - time or money.

On the Internet you can find detailed information on arranging the inside of a chicken coop with your own hands, photos, many videos that show how to choose the best size for a chicken coop, what distance to use when installing perches and nests, as well as many other construction secrets.

Poultry breeding is a common and affordable type of subsidiary farming. Fresh, environmentally friendly products are always in demand. In addition, building a chicken coop with your own hands is not difficult. All you need is some theoretical knowledge and construction skills.

Domestic chicken is quite unpretentious. It has been observed that poultry productivity increases in conditions where they feel safe. In order for the flock to wait out bad weather, keep warm in winter and lay eggs, chicken coops of various types are built.

Portable

Mobile chicken coops are used in warm weather. They can be transferred from one place to another as the birds eat green grass. Designed to hold 10-20 individuals. The design combines a chicken house and a run covered with mesh.

Stationary

A permanent chicken coop is built with your own hands from different materials - wood, cinder blocks, aerated concrete and even earth. Poultry is raised in such buildings all year round. In a stationary room there are favorable conditions both in winter cold and in summer heat.

Multi-tiered

It is convenient to raise poultry in structures consisting of several tiers. At the same time, it is possible to avoid crowding of the herd in a small area. Each level houses hens or chicks of the same age. In addition to saving space, this makes maintenance easier.

Features of chicken coops

Walking

The ability to move, be in the sun and rummage in the ground is beneficial to the health and fertility of the chicken. Eggs contain the most vitamins and nutrients. It is especially important to have a range for breeding breeds and producing chickens.

Seasonality

An uninsulated seasonal chicken coop is the best option if it is not possible to raise poultry all year round. Over the summer, it is possible to raise 1-2 broilers, characterized by rapid weight gain. They are often kept in cages without free range.

Capacity

Overconsolidation has a negative impact on herd productivity. Veterinary standards recommend allocating at least 0.2 m² of space per chicken when kept on deep litter, 0.08 m² in a cage or on a mesh floor.

Chicken coop location

Chickens develop active life functions only during daylight hours. The most favorable orientation of the chicken coop is with windows facing south or southeast.

The site must have a slope to drain rain or melt water and not be blown by strong winds. In the aviary you need to organize a shady area where the birds could hide during the heat. These are trees, shrubs or canopies.

Important. At high air temperatures, laying hens stop laying eggs, and broilers are reluctant to eat feed. To protect the poultry house from excessive heat from the sun, it is located in light shade.

The structure must have easy access to bring food and water.

Poultry house dimensions

The dimensions of the chicken coop are chosen taking into account the optimal placement of the livestock and ease of maintenance. Based on the minimum standards, the area of ​​a poultry house for 10-20 chickens when kept on deep litter is at least 2-4 m².

Chickens love to sleep on a perch - a horizontal bar raised and secured above the floor. For an adult bird you will need 20-25 cm, for a chicken - 15 cm. If the perch is too long, it is divided into parts and placed parallel to each other at a distance of at least 30-35 cm.

In the barn there is sometimes a bath for bathing in ash. Each “swimmer” will require 0.12 m² of pool area.

To obtain eggs, laying hens are provided with nests at the rate of 2-3 pieces per 10 hens 2-3. The size of one “seat” is 35x35 cm.

Drawings and diagrams ready

To build a chicken coop with your own hands for 10-20 chickens, ready-made projects are offered. They are designed according to standards and facilitate the independent construction of a poultry house.

For 10 laying hens kept on deep litter in a chicken coop with walking, the following parameters are optimal:

• warm room - 1.2x1.7 = 2.04 m²;
• along one long wall there is a perch 1.7 m long;
• nests are placed along any other side - 3 pieces measuring 0.3x0.3 m;
• open range - 1.2x3 m = 3.6 m².

Important. When breeding different breeds, it is recommended to arrange a separate room and walking area for each species. Birds have different feeding and waking patterns, so it is advisable that the chickens do not interfere with each other.

Broilers do not need nests or perches. The birds are too heavy and sleep on a horizontal surface. As a rule, they are not kept longer than 3 months, so there is no question about obtaining eggs. Often meat breeds are raised without walking. When movement is limited, they gain weight faster.

Sometimes cages with chickens or broilers are placed on the top tier of the chicken coop, and the free space below is used for laying hens. This option is used if the area of ​​the room is limited. The advantage is that it is cost-effective; the disadvantage is that infections are transmitted at lightning speed and more frequent sanitization is required.

Drawings and photos of chicken coops for 10-20 chickens

SNIP standards 30-02-97 room parameters

When building a stationary chicken coop with your own hands, you are guided by SNiP 30-02-97 standards, which limit the location of livestock sheds relative to neighboring objects:

• retreat at least 4 m from the fence or boundary;
• from a residential building (your own and a neighbor’s) - 12 m;
• from a water intake well or well - 20 m;
• in case of blocking, arrange a separate entrance no closer than 7 m from the entrance to the residential building.

If standards are not followed, neighbors have the right to go to court. As a rule, a decision is made to demolish the building. There are no clear regulations for portable structures.

DIY chicken coop general instructions

The simplest and most affordable poultry house is a frame house. It is constructed from boards or timber, insulated, sheathed on the outside and inside. This design provides reliable protection from the cold, does not require a massive foundation, and the materials are inexpensive.

Construction is carried out according to the scheme:

1. Excavation.
2. Construction of the foundation.
3. Installation of wall, ceiling and roof frames.
4. Insulation of walls, installation of roofing.
5. Installation of windows, doors.
6. Internal arrangement, laying of communications.
7. Finishing.

For outdoor keeping, an additional enclosure is provided.

Nuances of foundation construction

The best option for a frame winter chicken coop for 10-20 chickens is a prefabricated columnar or monolithic foundation. In the first case, you will need concrete blocks or clay bricks, in the second - reinforcement and concrete. Asbestos-cement pipes, boards and even car tires are used for formwork.

In the corners of the structure and every 1.5-2 meters along the perimeter, holes are dug 0.5-0.7 m deep. A mixture of crushed stone and sand is poured onto the bottom. The supports are laid out from blocks or formwork is installed and poured with concrete.

An anchor or pin is placed in the base in advance to secure the strapping beam. The surface of the foundation is coated with liquid waterproofing in 2 layers.

Arranging the walls of the chicken coop

A lower frame beam with a cross-section of 100x100 mm (can be made of 2 boards per edge), treated to prevent rotting with mining or other antiseptic, is placed on the supports. They fasten it in the corners “in the paw” or with metal plates.

Install racks from 100x50 mm boards in increments of 1-1.2 m. Mount the top trim along the top. The corners are reinforced with jibs.

The walls are sheathed on both sides with OSB, slabs of polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam 100 mm thick are laid inside (preferably in 2 layers of 50 mm each with bandaging of the joints). To protect against rodents, the insulation is covered with a fine-mesh mesh.

Roof, ceiling and floor of the chicken coop

Floor beams are attached to the top frame with overlays, and rafters are cut into place. The connection in the ridge is reinforced with a metal plate.

A sheathing of edged boards is installed along the rafters. Roofing material is laid. In most cases, these are inexpensive asbestos-cement sheets.

Hem the ceiling with a board. On top there is insulation. You can pour a layer of expanded clay or lime-treated sawdust, lay mineral wool, wrapping it with a vapor barrier, or polystyrene foam boards.

Floors

The most inexpensive solution is insulated floors on the ground:

1. The top layer of soil with plant residues is removed and the surface is compacted.
2. Add sand and compact it.
3. Lay polystyrene foam 50 mm thick.
4. Spread waterproofing from a thick film.
5. The reinforcing mesh is installed, concrete is laid, and leveled.

Sawdust, straw, moss, sunflower husks, pine needles, and dry leaves are poured onto the finished floors. To accelerate the disposal of poultry waste products, the litter is treated with special bacterial preparations.

Concrete floors are easy to maintain. Twice a year, the litter is removed and the surface is washed with disinfectant solutions.

Ventilation in the chicken coop in winter

To equip a chicken coop with your own hands for 10-20 chickens, the simplest ventilation system is sufficient. In summer, when the doors are open, air exchange occurs constantly. In winter, accumulated excess moisture and harmful gases must be removed in time.

Ventilation is arranged from two vertical pipes. The supply air is located at a height of 15-30 cm from the floor. The bottom of the exhaust is fixed near the ceiling.

Pipes are placed in different parts of the room to increase the volume of moving air. The holes are protected with nets from rodents, and rain caps are installed on top.

Arrangement of the chicken coop inside

To feed the birds you will need feeders. You can make them yourself or buy ready-made ones. Bunker and feed dosing devices are convenient. Mounted or tray options are also popular.

A mandatory attribute of the poultry house is a drinking bowl. On sale are simple bowls, containers for an inverted jar or bottle, float, siphon and nipple drinkers.

Nests can be made from ordinary boxes or boxes. Straw and sawdust are placed inside. Place them in a quiet corner, away from feeders.

The perch is made from a wooden block with a cross-section of 50x70 mm. For meat-egg breeds it is fixed at a height of 60 cm from the litter, for laying hens - 90 cm. To prevent the perch from sagging under the weight of the bird, a support is installed in the middle.

Lighting the chicken coop in winter

In winter, chickens lay eggs worse due to the short daylight hours. You can increase productivity by using lighting during dark hours.

For every 6 m² of room, a power of 60 W is required. The most favorable spectrum is emitted by fluorescent lamps.

Important. According to the observations of poultry farmers, the egg production of chickens increases under orange light; under green light, chickens grow faster. Blue has a calming effect and reduces aggression.

Heating a chicken coop in winter with and without electricity

Warmth increases bird productivity in winter. For heating use:

• oil radiators;
• infrared emitters;
• air convectors.

The devices are economical and allow you to maintain optimal temperature in the poultry house.

Along with electric heating, other methods are common:

• heating with a wood stove or stove;
• connection to the house heating network if the chicken coop is connected to the house;
• using the heat generated by permanent bedding.

These methods are used if there is no electricity nearby or heating with it is uneconomical.

Do-it-yourself heating of a chicken coop in winter using sawdust

The old method is still used in villages. It is based on an increase in temperature in the litter during the decomposition of organic matter. The energy released as a result of the exothermic process is sufficient to heat a small chicken coop.

The technology is simple. The floors are first sprinkled with slaked lime to prevent the breeding of harmful insects. On top is bedding material with a thickness of at least 8-10 cm. As the bedding compacts, fresh bedding is added, loosening the previous layer with a rake.

Poultry breeding is a profitable and uncomplicated activity. If the chicken coop is set up correctly, it will bring not only benefits, but also pleasure.

Winter chicken coop for 10-20 chickens, the work of our reader with step-by-step instructions for completing the work.

The construction of the building took a total of 3 months by one person.

The chicken coop is designed to keep birds in summer and winter.

Dimensions of a chicken coop for 10-20 chickens with walking - length 6 m, width 4 m, height 3.5 m.

Size: 1st floor – 2x2x0.8, 2nd floor – 2x3x1.7, 1st floor paddock – 2x2, 2nd floor paddock – 4x4.

Material used: gas silicate blocks, cement, iron pipes, waterproofing material, expanded clay, wooden beams 100x100 and 50x50, boards: 25x100 and 25x50, unedged board 25, sand, insulation: foam plastic and mineral wool, glassine, roofing material (Bikrost 4.0), chipboards, chain-link mesh 50x50.

Tools used: screwdriver, chainsaw, square, hacksaw, hammer, axe, shovel, level, tape measure.

Additional material: old windows, curtains, bolts, handles, screws, sewer pipes d110 (for ventilation), cable, lamps, nails, paint, antiseptic.

Beginning of work:

Once we have decided on the location of the chicken coop, we mark out the area of ​​the building (6 x 4 m)

Along the marking circle at a shallow depth, we align the blocks according to the level. Blocks and inside markings, because We will have 2 walks. One paddock for laying hens, the second for broilers. Iron pipes were placed at the joints (there were 9 pieces), and they were filled with cement (to prevent subsidence of the structure).

We lay waterproofing material on the blocks - the first layer of bikrost, then wooden beams prepared to size (100x100). To prevent wood rotting, we treat it with an antiseptic.

Level the area of ​​the chicken coop with sand.

Assembling the frame of the first floor. For this you need wooden beams (100x100).

We also see in the photo that the beams are longer than the chicken coop itself - this is a place for nests.

To insulate the floor of the first floor, we fill in expanded clay.

Cover the floor. Boards measuring 50x150. We lay linoleum on the boards. We will also lay the floor of the second floor.

We install the rafters.

We cover the walls of the first floor with 25x100 boards.

We cut a window in the wall the size that is available. We had an old window that was not particularly restored, the main thing was that it was not broken.

The wall is on the second floor, but they also prepared a place for a window on the second floor and an exit for the chickens. The window around it was given a beautiful finish, so that there would be fewer cracks.

View from the large chicken run.

Wall cladding.

Assembling the nest frame.

Work on the roof: we lay the roof with unedged boards, and also make a canopy.

Sew up the visor.

We cover the roof with bicrost 4.0 with sprinkles.

We line the inside walls with glassine.

We insulate the walls with mineral wool insulation. Then we cover it with chipboards.

Since our “Chain-link” mesh is smaller in size than the height of the walls of the chicken coop run, additional boards were nailed down so that the mesh could be secured. Of course, it was possible to immediately make the height smaller, but at the very beginning they somehow didn’t calculate it, and given the fact that there are 2 other people’s vegetable gardens next door, the nimble chickens could have escaped.

The doors for the chicken coop were made in advance, using improvised materials: chipboard, plywood, small blocks and insulation were used.

Next is painting the chicken coop. Ventilation - they also made it themselves from sewer pipes. The doors for the paddocks were made as they were invented, nothing complicated. Lighting in the chicken coop - 2 lamps (night and day). Also, the staircase from the house to the street is the largest board with small bars that we nailed ourselves. There were 5 nests, which were separated from each other by chipboard slabs.

The doors of the chicken coop open like in the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” - pull the string and the door will open.

Eggs are one of the foundations of a healthy diet, as well as a potential source of income. This is why breeding laying hens is so profitable: you get fresh eggs, dietary meat for your table and for sale, and chicken droppings are good to use to fertilize the area. In order for the chickens to feel great and lay eggs properly, you should create comfortable living conditions for them by building a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens: drawings and instructions will help you cope with this task.

To correctly determine the scale of construction, first of all, highlight for yourself:

1. Your goal for raising laying hens: It is one thing if you need fresh eggs for your daily nutrition, but quite another if you decide to turn poultry farming into a source of income.
2. The number of birds you can keep on your farm.
3. The size of the poultry house that is appropriate for your site.

Helpful advice! The inhabitants of a chicken coop for 10 chickens will provide fresh eggs for 3 people. For a large family it is worth keeping twice as many birds. And if you plan to turn keeping chickens into a source of income, immediately expect to build a chicken coop with your own hands for 50-100 birds.

Don't let the big scale scare you. If you have no experience in construction, you can buy a chicken coop inexpensively or try your hand at small buildings. If, when building a mini chicken coop for 10 chickens with your own hands, you provide in advance a place for expanding the farm, over time, if necessary, you can easily increase the area of ​​​​the room by completing the chicken coop.

Do-it-yourself chicken coop for 10 chickens: drawings for calculating sizes

Any construction begins with the creation of a drawing. Do not neglect this stage - regardless of the scale of the undertaking, your drawing should be as detailed and clear as possible. This way you will have a clear picture of what you want to achieve as a result and a developed action plan.

When creating a drawing, it is not necessary to exactly copy ready-made diagrams. This is the beauty of the decision to build a chicken coop with your own hands: you can design a home for the birds at your own discretion, in accordance with the characteristics of your site and your own ideas about convenience.

However, with little experience in building chicken coops for chickens, it is worth turning to ready-made drawings and calculations in order to get your bearings and not miss important details. Particular attention should be paid to calculating the size of a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens, because if the birds live in cramped conditions, there can be no question of any comfort for them.

For example, 3 laying hens need 1 m² of space. This means that for 10 chickens and a rooster, a chicken coop with parameters of 2x2 m will be a sufficient size of home. Accordingly, if you have 20 birds on your farm, the chicken coop should be 3x3 m. And so on - the size of the chicken coop is directly proportional to the number of birds.

If you are building a poultry house designed for year-round poultry, keep in mind that in winter the chickens crowd together and require less living space. At this time, 1 m² of space is enough for 4 chickens. Thus, for 10 birds in winter you will need 2.5 m².

In your do-it-yourself chicken coop drawings, don’t forget to take into account the outdoor aviary. Its proportions are directly related to the size of the poultry house itself: with a coop width of 2 m, the minimum parameters of the aviary are 2x6 m.

Choosing materials for building a chicken coop

The reliability and durability of a poultry house largely depends on the quality and correctness of the materials and tools chosen for construction. The basic necessities include:

• cement;
• sand;
• hammer;
• nails;
• Rabitz;
• mineral wool or other insulation material;
• roofing felt;
• boards, beams;
• slate or other material that can be used for the roof;
• door hinges, lock;
• brick;
• electrical cable;
• bulb.

Choosing a place to build a chicken coop for laying hens with your own hands

Having decided on the size of the future poultry house and the materials and tools necessary for construction, you can begin to choose a place for construction. Regardless of whether you decide to buy a ready-made chicken coop or build a mini chicken coop with your own hands, it is important to choose a suitable location. After all, the birds will spend all their time in this place: sleeping, laying eggs and walking, so it is important that it does not become a source of discomfort for the chickens.

Observe the following rules:

• the place should be dry - excessive humidity can have a detrimental effect on the health of the birds;
• choose a surface with a slight slope so that in case of heavy rainfall, the water drains quickly without spoiling the soil near the chicken coop;
• make sure that the chosen place is well lit;
• Ideally, the enclosure where the chickens will roam should be on the south side, so that it is warmed by the sun’s rays at any time of the year.

The main advice on how to properly build a chicken coop prohibits placing it on the ground. The building requires a good foundation - a foundation.

How to build a chicken coop correctly: choosing a foundation

There are two optimal types of foundation:

1. Columnar.

DIY mini chicken coop plans usually include a columnar foundation, as it is best suited for a lightweight structure. In addition, it has a number of other important advantages:

• the construction of this type of foundation does not require a long wait for the concrete to harden;
• columnar foundation is easy to pour;
• with a columnar foundation, underground ventilation is formed, which protects the chicken coop from mice, and also allows you to save money by extending the life of the wooden floor covering.

It is not difficult to build such a foundation:

1. Drill holes along the perimeter of the future chicken coop to a depth of 1 m. The diameter of each should be approximately 15-20 cm. The distance between the posts should be 1 m.
2. Next you need round formwork. It can be constructed from any available materials - asbestos-cement pipes are an ideal option.
3. Insert the pipes into the hole.
4. Before pouring concrete, insert threaded reinforcement into the holes.
5. As a result, the support beam is attached to the concrete pillars using a nut.

Helpful advice! If this process seems too complicated, you can watch numerous thematic videos on how to build a chicken coop or choose a simpler option for installing a chicken coop. For example, you can take 4 blocks of concrete or any other suitable material. The space between the supports is filled with stone or brick, ensuring the structure's stability and integrity. Please note that the height of the pillars above the ground must be at least 20 cm, then the space under the house can be used for walking chickens.

According to the drawings and photos of do-it-yourself chicken coops, it is clear that a frame structure is being erected on the basis of a columnar foundation. Its peculiarity lies in the simplicity and high speed of construction, which makes building a chicken coop not much more difficult than buying a ready-made chicken coop for 10 chickens.

Stages of construction of a frame structure:

1. Take bars with parameters 70x70 mm.
2. To construct the frame, nail the vertical posts to the support beam.
3. Add horizontal crossbars to the structure for the base of the roof and floor.

In this case, you should also carefully calculate the parameters. For example, for a poultry house for 20 chickens, the parameters of low and high walls with a pitched roof are calculated based on the dimensions. From the photo of do-it-yourself chicken coops for 10 chickens, you can see that they can be low, but, in any case, the distance between the floor and the ground should be at least 35-45 cm.

Make sure there is a window, as well as two doors: for the owner and directly for the birds. Please note that the nests do not have to be in the coop itself, as in most photos of chicken coops inside. A convenient option is to attach the nests to the house: in this case, you can make special doors in the nests, as well as a lifting lid for easy cleaning of the nest and collection of eggs. If you decide to build nests according to this model, you should also consider adding them at this stage.

DIY winter chicken coops for 10 chickens: insulation of poultry houses

In addition, at the stage of wall construction, you should think about ensuring a comfortable temperature for the birds. First of all, it matters whether you are going to keep chickens in the house all year round or whether it is a seasonal building.

If the chicken coop is intended to be used during the cold season, after you have lined the walls with boards on the outside, you need to take care of the thermal insulation of the structure. This is an important point, since when the microclimate is disturbed, chickens begin to experience discomfort, get sick and, as a result, become inactive and lay less eggs.

If you are planning to build a chicken coop with your own hands, photos and diagrams will become indispensable assistants in this matter. Well-drawn drawings show that the winter poultry house is provided with thermal insulation. One of the following options is suitable as a material for these purposes:

• Styrofoam;
• mineral wool;
• ecowool.

After the insulation has been installed, the entire structure must be covered with boards from the inside.

Helpful advice! It is not necessary to use boards to cover the walls. Plastic, chipboard, etc. can easily be used as a suitable material.

But, of course, laying insulation is not enough to provide the bird with comfortable conditions in winter frosts. Therefore, if you intend to keep chickens in a poultry house all year round, it makes sense to buy a ready-made winter chicken coop for 10 chickens or study in more detail the information on how to build it yourself.

How to properly build a chicken coop for laying hens: construction of the floor and roof

To make the chickens feel comfortable in any weather, a double floor would be useful - it will provide additional insulation of the room. The layout of such a floor is simple: hem the boards underneath the lumber sheathing, and then lay the insulation and lay the floor.

However, you can do without special floor insulation. Sawdust or straw can be used as insulation. A thick layer of these materials is an excellent heat insulator that does not require much expense or effort on your part.

The best material for a warm chicken coop is timber or logs. They are especially well suited for the construction of gazebo poultry houses.

The simplest roof option is a pitched roof. To construct it, it is necessary to fill boards or beams, maintaining a distance of 50 cm between them. To ensure waterproofing, it is enough to put roofing felt on this base.

If you want to provide additional insulation to the poultry house, you can line the roof with chipboard or boards from the inside. There are many options available as a material for the outer covering of the roof: slate, corrugated sheeting, reeds, etc.

Related article:

Description of the construction process step by step. Types and features of designs, advantages of different materials. Cellar waterproofing. Manufacturing of floors, shelves and hatches.

Arranging a chicken coop inside with your own hands: photos and recommendations

In the photos of beautiful chicken coops, they look neat and comfortable both inside and outside. The internal structure of the poultry house is especially important, because this is where the chickens will spend most of their time. The space should also be convenient for the owner so that he can easily take care of the birds. It is in your power to make it so. To better understand the process, check out the information below on how to decorate the inside of a chicken coop with your own hands.

How to arrange chicken coops inside for laying hens: main aspects

Features of the internal structure of the chicken coop:

Part of a chicken coop	Useful tips	Calculations
Ventilation	It is necessary to equip the chicken coop with ventilation: the flow of fresh air is vital for birds; do not forget to close the ventilation when using the poultry house in the winter season so that the chickens do not catch cold	to ensure air outflow, an exhaust pipe must be provided at the top of the wall; the supply pipe must be placed on the wall opposite at a height of 50 cm from the floor
Window	To allow sunlight to enter the room, there must be windows	if you make several windows, they can be small (or one, but large)
Perch	a perch is necessary for birds to rest; The simplest option is to use them as perch poles	if poles are used, their diameter should be 3-4 cm; you can also take planed round beams with parameters 4x4 cm and fix them at a height of 50 cm from the floor at the same level - when calculating the distance from the floor, take into account the height of the litter; the distance between the poles should be 35 cm, and the wall should be separated from the nearest block by at least 25 cm
Nests	There are many options for arranging nests, and it is easy to use available materials: wicker baskets, wooden boxes, boxes	for the comfort of the birds, it is important that the nest meets the minimum size requirements: 30 cm wide, 30 cm high, 40 cm deep; one hen lays one egg on the first day before lunch, the second egg on the second day after lunch, on the third day the bird rests, so there should be 1 nest for 3-4 laying hens

Helpful advice! The perch length calculation should be based on the number of birds you have. One hen requires a perch space of 17-20 cm long. Thus, you can easily calculate the sufficient length of the perch. If possible, it is better to take a stick that is longer than the minimum required.

In addition, even at the construction stage, you should think about the place where you will feed the birds. Make sure it is as comfortable as possible for your chickens and easy to maintain for you. The length of the feeder depends on the number of birds on the farm. For example, one chicken should have 10-15 cm of feeder space. If possible, it is worth making feeders with a reserve.

Don't forget to make a couple of additional feeders in the form of boxes and place them above the floor at a height of 15 cm. Make sure that these boxes always contain gravel, chalk and shells - these materials are necessary for chickens to form eggs.

In the above photos of chicken coops in the country with your own hands, you can see how best to arrange feeders inside the poultry house.

Another useful addition to a chicken coop is homemade dust baths for birds. Setting them up is quite simple: you will need any containers that can be filled with sand, wood ash or garden soil. Bathing in them is extremely beneficial for chickens: it improves the condition of their plumage and also helps to destroy pests.

The final stage of constructing a chicken coop for laying hens

After completion of construction of the structure, finishing work is necessary. They concern little things, but are extremely important for the comfortable use of the house by the owners and the well-being of the birds. Thanks to them, a do-it-yourself chicken coop for laying hens (photos demonstrate this) will become functional and will not spoil the appearance of the local area.

• After completing the construction of the house, cover the enclosure with mesh for walking. Do not cover the roof: if it rains, the chickens will easily hide in the poultry house or under it;
• A convenient solution would be to combine the front door with a bird hole. For it you need to make a hole at the bottom of the door; if you wish, you can cut it separately. The main thing is that the hole dimensions are at least 35x35 cm;

In summary, it is important to emphasize that various nuances may arise during construction. The situation is influenced by many factors: the availability of space on the site, the need for subsequent expansion of the poultry house, and even the climatic conditions of the area. However, a number of patterns can be identified, following which you can build a poultry house no worse than in the video of chicken coops for laying hens with your own hands, given at the end of the article. You will also be confident in the comfort of your pets.

A number of nuances if you decide to build a chicken coop (both at the dacha and at your place of permanent residence):

• The more spacious the birds’ home, the better. Therefore, if space on the site and building materials allow, do not make a drawing based on minimum calculations, but build with a reserve;
• make sure there is easy access to all feeders and drinkers in the room;
• all perches for chickens should be located at different heights;
• carefully choose a place for the nests of laying hens: they should be located in a dark, quiet and warm corner where the chickens will feel safe;
• there should be enough light in the room, so make sure there are windows, as well as the presence of artificial lighting sources.

Helpful advice! A sedentary lifestyle negatively affects the health of laying hens. In addition, low activity leads to decreased immunity, loss of appetite and, as a consequence, low egg production. The solution to all these problems is very simple: it is enough to add bird food not only to the feeder, but also to the laid straw or sawdust. Searching for food keeps the chickens in good shape, stimulates their appetite and makes them move.

Is it worth buying an inexpensive chicken coop for 10 chickens?

Today it is less and less common to build something with your own hands. It is much easier to buy a ready-made mini-chicken coop and not have to figure out how to build one yourself. In some cases this decision is justified. If you do not have experience in the construction of farm buildings, you are unconfident in your abilities or do not have enough time, it is better to buy a good chicken coop and provide the chickens with comfortable living conditions.

In addition, it is appropriate to buy a chicken coop if your plans include commercial chicken breeding and you need a large-scale poultry house for a hundred chickens. Or, on the contrary, if you need a very small chicken coop and do not plan to breed birds.

However, building a poultry house yourself will cost less, and you will be able to equip it entirely in accordance with your own desires and ideas about the ideal chicken coop. After watching the video on how to properly build chicken coops with your own hands, you can easily expand and complete the poultry house in the future if necessary.

Today, there are many drawings and videos of building a chicken coop with your own hands available on the Internet that will help you understand and master this skill yourself.

If you are reading this article, then most likely you have decided to start breeding and keeping chickens. This idea has many positive aspects. For example, you will always eat fresh eggs and be able to prepare nutritious meals from them. In addition, domestic chickens also provide fresh meat. And if you keep a lot of chickens, then the eggs can be sold, i.e. sell, which will serve as an additional source of income for your family’s budget. However, first you need to make a reliable and durable chicken coop, which will create ideal living conditions for poultry.

The construction process consists of several important stages. Don’t assume that everything is simple, especially if you want to keep chickens in the winter. After all, you need to worry about high-quality ventilation, reliable roofing, walls, heating and other important components. This article will provide complete material about all construction processes and equipment. Interesting video materials, collections of photographs and diagrams will make the process of learning information fun. Step-by-step instructions will help you figure out how to build a chicken coop.

What should a house for chickens be like?

Birds, just like humans, need a comfortable habitat, so before starting construction it is worth highlighting several important factors that will allow you to create a warm and cozy chicken coop. There are a number of requirements for this room:

• Temperature. If you plan to keep a bird in the winter, it is important to take care of the proper temperature. So, in winter the temperature should not be lower than 12°C. There should be no drafts inside the room; they pose a threat to the health of the bird. In summer, the indoor temperature should not exceed 25°C. If these temperature conditions are not observed, the chicken will stop laying eggs.
• Lack of moisture. To prevent chickens from getting sick, there should not be high humidity inside. Ventilation can solve this problem. There are several ways to organize it; it can be forced or natural.
• Lighting. Light is life. As a result, the egg production of chickens depends on the availability of light. There should be light bulbs inside the coop that diffuse warm yellow light. To ensure lighting mode, some home craftsmen use automatic timers and relays that turn the light on/off at a given time. When conducting electrical wiring, you need to do everything so that all cables are inaccessible to chickens.

• Calm. For a normal and quiet life for chickens, there should not be a lot of noise around. Therefore, the chosen location must be isolated from a busy country house.
• Safety. This is another important criterion that ensures the bird’s peace of mind. The chicken coop must be protected from rodents and other predatory animals entering it. Considering this, many decide to build on a columnar foundation.

Video: features of keeping chickens in a chicken coop

Where is the best place to place a chicken coop?

The location of the poultry house is an important stage of the preparatory work. You need to think not only about yourself, so that no unpleasant odor penetrates into your residential building, but also about the comfort of the chickens. For example, some breeds do not like their territory to be frequently invaded. Because of this, they begin to lay eggs worse.

A suitable location would be a remote corner of your summer cottage. If you have a barnyard, it is important to remember that extraneous noise also negatively affects their egg production. Often many people decide to attach a chicken coop to an existing barn. But here take into account what kind of pet the chickens will be neighbors with - calm or mostly noisy.

When choosing a place, it is important to worry about a place for them to walk. You can often see chickens roaming throughout the yard. This does not add beauty, in addition, on the threshold of your home you may stumble upon a “gift” they left behind. The space for walking chickens should be limited. As a rule, up to 2 m2 is allocated per head. So, when keeping 20 chickens, the area should have dimensions of 4x10 m. And this is only for their walking.

If you cannot afford such an area, keep in mind that some summer residents resort to an original solution, making walking tunnels around the perimeter of the territory from a metal mesh.

The selected location should have both shaded and sunny areas. The shade will protect the birds from overheating on hot days, but at the same time they will be able to bask in the sun in cool weather.

Video: The Best Place for a Chicken Coop in a Barnyard

It is recommended to choose an elevated place to build a chicken coop. This will prevent flooding of the area during the rainy season or when snow melts. If this is not possible, then dig a drainage ditch to remove excess moisture. Although a hill can be made artificially by pouring crushed stone, gravel or earth.

It is advisable to place the windows of the chicken coop on the south side for better and longer sunlight entering the room. It is also recommended to install a hole, a door and build an enclosure on the south side. The south side is most protected from cold winds.

What size should the poultry house be?

Having decided on the construction site, it is necessary to decide what dimensions the poultry house will have. This parameter is influenced by several factors. It is necessary to start from the maximum number of chickens and accurately calculate the usable area:

1. If you plan to keep meat breeds, 3 heads should have at least 1 m2;
2. For keeping egg breeds for 4 heads - from 1 m2;
3. For breeding and keeping chickens for 15 pieces - from 1 m2.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about chickens. They must have individual quarters, separated from adults. This will allow them to have free access to food. However, you should not allocate too much space for them. As a rule, a small box is enough for an overnight stay. On the other hand, one should not create conditions for their crush.

So, a poultry house intended for keeping 10 chickens can have dimensions of 2x5 m. As for the height, it should be comfortable for you when you have to go there. A ceiling that is too low will create discomfort when cleaning and cleaning the chicken coop. The optimal height is 2.2 m.

Taking this into account, it would be practical to equip a gable roof, raising the ridge to 2.2 m, and leaving the walls at a height of 1.5 m. Such a chicken coop will be convenient both for chickens and for its maintenance. On the other hand, it is much easier to implement a pitched roof. Nests can be installed in the low, dark part.

We have prepared several suitable diagrams and drawings. Based on them, you can make an individual project or build a poultry house from a ready-made one. We invite you to look at some interesting options in the next section.

Drawings and diagrams: ready-made projects for building a poultry house

So, to summarize everything, for the construction of a chicken coop for 10 chickens, the drawings should be calculated based on the following parameters:

• The area is more than 4 m2.
• Availability of up to 4 slots.
• Feeders should be along the wall and opposite the perch.
• There must be access to the cleaning and feeding system from outside.
• The drinker and feeder should rise at least 50–100 mm from the floor level.
• The floor should be smooth, but not slippery.
• Perch at a height of about 600 mm.
• The area of ​​all windows should not exceed 10% of the floor area.
• It is recommended to have an enclosure for walking.
• Be sure to have a ladder to the chicken coop.

Plus, the area and layout of the future poultry house will depend on what you want to place inside it. To save and optimize internal space, a perch pole is installed. An ordinary piece of driftwood usually performs this role. Chickens can sleep on it.

When organizing a roost, it is important to consider that one bird will lay one egg every 1-2 days. Therefore, one place will be enough for 4 chickens. The perches should be high as this will prevent damage to the eggs. Moreover, they should be located in a clean, dry place and away from their overnight stay. Otherwise, chicken droppings may end up on the eggs.

As for the standards, there is SNIP 30-02-97, which indicates the following parameters of the room:

1. On a summer cottage you can keep and raise no more than 40 chickens.
2. There should be at least 4 m from the chicken coop to the border of your territory.
3. If there is an adjoining residential building, then there must be at least 7 meters from the front door to the house.
4. When making an extension to a house, it is recommended to coordinate the project with the architectural commission.

If chickens are kept for personal use outside the city, there are no rules or restrictions.

Types of chicken coops based on needs

There are several types that can be built:

Build a new or reconstruct an existing premises

If you have a shed or garage that is no longer needed, you may want to consider remodeling it. You can save a lot on the purchase of building materials. You will only need to arrange the premises inside for normal living of chickens.

On the other hand, such a room is not always suitable. For example, inconvenient location, small area, etc. Today there are many ready-made schemes that will help you quickly develop a finished project. In this matter, you should not think only about saving money. As mentioned above, the egg production of birds and their health depend on how comfortable the conditions inside the chicken coop are.

If you still prefer the old premises, then make sure that there are no lumber inside it that was coated with lead paint or that was previously used to store various chemicals. All of this can have a detrimental effect on the health of chickens.

Stages of poultry house construction

Having familiarized ourselves with all the requirements and regulations for the construction of a chicken coop, we will highlight the main stages of construction:

Stage 1– design.

Stage 2- making the foundation.

Stage 3– construction of walls and partitions.

Stage 4- construction of the roof.

Stage 5– production of flooring.

Stage 6- “furnishing”.

Stage 7– insulation.

Stage 8– heating production.

These are perhaps the main construction processes that you should tune in to. We will go through all these processes and also give some step-by-step instructions.

The foundation is the basis of any structure

Installing a chicken coop directly on the ground is a bad option, so a foundation must be built. For a poultry house, the base can be made using different technologies:

• columnar;
• slab;
• tape

When making a slab foundation, the working technology is as follows:

Stages	Description of the work process
Step 1 – marking	To begin with, using a cord and pegs, the perimeter of the future building is indicated.
Step 2 – digging	At this stage, the top fertile soil layer to a depth of 350 mm should be removed.
Step 3 - filling the pillow	Now the bottom of the base is filled with sand and small gravel. Everything is carefully compacted.
Step 4 - formwork	Before pouring concrete, plank formwork is installed around the perimeter of the foundation.
Step 5 - concrete work	Finally, a layer of concrete should be poured onto the manufactured cushion. A woven reinforcing mesh with cells up to 100×100 mm is first laid on the bottom. For concrete, M200 cement is used.

As you can see, the process of making a foundation is not that complicated. Although it requires a lot of effort. This kind of foundation is ideal for a chicken coop built from blocks or bricks.

It is much easier to build a chicken coop on a columnar base. We have prepared for you step-by-step instructions for building a poultry house on a columnar foundation, so you can find out all the details of this process in the next subsection. The only thing worth saying is that steel pipes, bricks, blocks and similar material can be used as support pillars.

Video: features of laying out the foundation

Wall construction technology

The walls must be windproof and warm. The choice of material for building walls depends on the foundation made. If you made a strip or slab, you can use cinder block, foam block and even brick. However, these materials have a high level of thermal conductivity, so they must be insulated from the outside and inside.

If a columnar foundation is chosen, then it is better to give preference to a light frame structure made of wooden blocks. A wooden frame is laid on top of the support posts, onto which the entire frame of the future chicken coop is fixed. It is recommended to use metal mesh to construct the walls of the walking area. It can be attached to a metal corner.

Another option for wall construction is polycarbonate. This building material is practical. For example, it is easy to wash, it is beautiful, strong and reliable. However, such a chicken coop will be problematic to use in the winter season. Some summer residents use logs for construction.

Adobe is often used. You can make your own adobe bricks using clay and chopped straw. Such walls will provide a sufficient degree of heat retention and comfort. The only problem when working with this material will be leveling the surface.

As you can see, there are many construction technologies and materials that can be used to make a reliable and beautiful poultry house. In any case, regardless of the material chosen, it is important to ensure that the walls are disinfected to avoid the appearance of fungus, bacteria and the like.

Video: building walls from OSB boards

Wall insulation - winter option

So, if you decide to insulate the walls with mineral wool, then on the walls you should make a frame of 50x50 mm beams. The beam is fixed strictly vertically. The pitch of laying the timber is adjusted based on the width of the insulation. So, if the width of the mineral wool is 600 mm, then the pitch of the timber should be 590 mm. This will allow the mineral wool to be tightly packed without leaving any possible gaps.

The beams are secured to the wall with self-tapping screws (if the frame is made of wood) or dowels. It is also recommended to make a vapor barrier layer. To do this, before laying mineral wool, a polyethylene film is fixed to the wall. Its installation should be carried out with an overlap of up to 150 mm.

The thickness of the thermal insulation layer must be at least 50 mm. If after installing the insulation you find gaps, they can be filled with polyurethane foam.

As for external wall insulation, it is better to use polystyrene foam or penoplex. For fastening, a special plastic dowel with a cap is used. This method of fastening is used when walls are built from bricks, blocks and the like. The thermal insulation layer must be covered with protective plaster using a façade mesh.

In some cases, external insulation should not be performed, especially if you live in a warm region. The outside of the chicken coop can simply be covered with plywood and painted with moisture-resistant paint.

Roof – reliable protection from precipitation

The best option is a gable roof for the poultry house. Due to this, the ceiling height inside the room increases. If the roof is well insulated, then you won’t even need to fill the ceiling. For covering, the best option would be metal tiles or slate.

The technology for manufacturing a gable roof is as follows:

• Rafters are installed on top of the wall frame.
• A waterproofing sheet is laid and nailed onto the rafters. This is necessary to prevent the thermal insulation layer from getting wet. The film thickness can be 200 microns. Each waterproofing strip should be overlapped by up to 200 mm. It is advisable to glue them together with tape. Due to this, the coating will be completely sealed.
• After this, it is necessary to fill the sheathing for the roof deck. It is stuffed on top of the waterproofing. The spacing of the sheathing will depend on the type of flooring chosen.
• When the sheathing is ready, you can begin installing the roofing.

Video: making a poultry house roof

Ceiling insulation – additional protection from the cold

The procedure for insulating the ceiling of a poultry house is necessary if you live in a cold region. In this case, floor beams are additionally secured to the rafter system. On top of the beams, that is, from the attic side, you can fasten plywood, which is fastened with ordinary self-tapping screws.

A thermal insulation material, such as mineral wool, is placed in the space between the beams. Additionally, you can attach a vapor barrier film. It is attached using a stapler. The ceiling is hemmed with the same plywood or you can use wooden lining, plasterboard and the like.

Chicken coop floors

Finishing the floor is one of the main activities in the interior arrangement of the chicken coop. The finishing method depends on your goals. If you want to breed and keep broilers for meat, then it will be enough to make a light, non-insulated floor. However, the floor must still have a double structure. It’s not difficult to implement, especially if you have a columnar foundation:

• Beams acting as joists are attached to the supporting frame.
• The bottom needs to be hemmed with boards.
• Insulation, such as mineral wool, is placed on top of the boards.
• Next, the finished floor is laid from boards.

In the case of making a shallow strip foundation, the floors can be made of earthen or adobe. To do this, prepare a mixture of finely chopped straw and clay. The clay mixture is applied in layers. Each layer is carefully compacted. In this case, before laying the next layer, the previous one must dry. The process is quite lengthy, but the foundation will be reliable.

If the foundation is made using slab technology, then it is enough to make a wooden flooring on top of the concrete. However, it is better to use other insulation or lay waterproofing. Mineral wool absorbs moisture. The further process of making the floor is as follows:

1. The base must be protected from penetrating moisture, so the top can be covered with roofing felt. The canvases must be glued together with a special bitumen mastic. Due to this, reliable waterproofing of the wooden flooring will be created, which will be completely protected from the penetration of waste from chickens.
2. A mound of sand, straw, hay or sawdust is placed on top of the flooring. However, hay and straw absorb moisture and dry out poorly. Because of this, the flooring will rot and provoke the appearance of fungi and bacteria.

To eliminate this possibility, the layer of straw or hay must be made thin, and it is recommended to change it regularly. Therefore, as practice shows, it is better to use sawdust for flooring, especially since they can be easily purchased at a carpentry shop, sometimes even for free.

Poultry house interior design

One of the main places inside the chicken coop is the roost. A perch refers to a wooden pole. This is where the chicken spends most of its time. An important rule is not to place perches one above the other. For one chicken you need to calculate about 30 cm. The distance between the poles should be about 50 cm.

As for the location of feeders and drinkers, they should be higher. Considering that chickens often have “showdowns” on the territory, dust may rise inside the chicken coop. To protect the drinker from dust getting into it, a small canopy should be made on top.

Nests should also be built. These places should be dark and secluded. This will ensure good egg production. There should also be bedding inside the nest. The nests themselves are made in the form of boxes, which are closed on top with a removable lid. As practice shows, nests should be equipped with a separate lid. This will allow you to remove the eggs and change the litter.

The location of the feeders should be done at the height of the bird's back. Due to this, the chicken will not scatter the food with its paws, but will reach it by slightly stretching its neck. The number of drinkers and feeders should be sufficient so that all chickens have enough of them.

Video: arrangement of the interior and exterior of the poultry house

Heating – comfort and coziness

Chickens can't handle the cold very well. Cold and drafts have a particularly strong negative effect on the legs of chickens, which freeze due to the lack of feathers on them. As already mentioned in this article, the indoor temperature should not fall below 12°C. If you live in the northern regions, then in addition to insulating the walls, floors and ceilings, it is recommended to install heating devices.

In the absence of heating, the bird eats more food, gets fat and becomes lethargic. These are additional costs. If you are raising chicks in an incubator, the chicken itself may not be warm enough. For these and other reasons, heating the chicken coop is necessary.

Video: chicken coop - winter version

Two heating methods: natural and artificial

Heating a chicken coop can be done using two methods. Natural heating means maintaining a comfortable temperature without the use of heaters. The bottom line is to use the bedding mentioned above.

In October, the floor is sprinkled with slaked lime 1 kg/m2. The thickness of the bedding made of peat, sawdust, hay or straw reaches 7 cm in thickness. As the chickens move in, the bedding gets trampled down and needs to be replenished. The flooring must first be turned with a pitchfork. By spring, the thickness of the litter can reach 25 cm.

The peculiarity of the litter is that during the composting process it generates heat. Accordingly, the temperature in the poultry house is stably maintained at about 12°C. The available heat slows down the decomposition of droppings and disinfects pathogens. But with all this, it is necessary to organize high-quality ventilation. Otherwise, harmful ammonia will accumulate in the chicken coop. In addition, in winter, the ventilation pipe should be covered for a short time to prevent warm air from escaping quickly.

However, if the outside temperature drops below -10°C, then all these methods are ineffective. Another heating method should be used - artificial. We invite you to consider several options presented in the table:

Heating method	Features of heating organization
Electric heater	This is one of the available and inexpensive heating methods. You can use different heaters, for example, convectors, air heaters, fan heaters, oil radiators, etc. It is necessary to select the power based on the area of ​​the chicken coop and the number of chickens. The presence of automation will allow you to set the off/on mode.
Gas heater	Using gas to heat a poultry house is also no less effective, but only for large poultry houses. It is not profitable to purchase an expensive gas boiler for a poultry house for 30 or 50 chickens. Moreover, gas equipment must be constantly monitored.
Stove heating	This category includes an ordinary potbelly stove. However, its use involves a number of difficulties. The problem is that due to high humidity, the metal is susceptible to corrosion. In addition, it is always necessary to have a supply of coal/wood. You should also constantly maintain combustion, build a separate chimney, insulate the heating elements of the stove, and strictly observe fire safety. All this requires a lot of labor.
Diesel stove	This oven is safe to use. It does not smoke and has low power.
Buleryan	This is a special air-convection stove that works effectively on different types of fuel.
Infrared heaters	As you know, an infrared heater heats objects, not air. This method has its advantages, as objects will retain heat longer than the heated air escaping through the ventilation ducts. Such heaters with a power of no more than 500 W can be mounted on the ceiling.
Water heating	If the chicken coop is attached to a residential building, then water heating can be installed in it. Given that the heat inside the house is maintained regularly, the poultry house will always be maintained at the proper temperature.

As you can see, there are many ways to create heating for a poultry house. You should choose the one that you can organize and that will fit the family budget.

Video: features of heating organization

Insulation without energy consumption - an innovative solution

We have discussed with you the traditional solution regarding how to organize heating inside the chicken coop. When installing artificial heating, a lot of money is spent, and if you use the natural heating technology described above, you have to make a lot of effort to control the level of humidity, otherwise there is a risk of mold and mildew.

Considering all the pros and cons, some summer residents resort to an original solution, using the Netto-plast mixture used for spaceships. Net plastic is bacteria that should settle on the floor of the poultry house, namely in the prepared litter. The composition is packaged in packages of 0.5 and 1 kg. According to some calculations, 1 kg of this mixture will be enough to heat 20 m2. Moreover, these bacteria will live for about three years.

To begin with, sawdust is poured into the chicken coop; you can also add oat husks and dry straw. All components are thoroughly mixed together. Next, Netto-Plast bacteria should be evenly sprinkled onto the resulting mixture and mixed again.

In this case, heat will appear as follows:

• The chicken's feces fall onto the litter.
• When they come into contact with these bacteria, heat begins to be generated. At the same time, unpleasant odor is completely eliminated.

This is otherwise called fermentation mat. From time to time, it is enough to lightly loosen the litter and, if necessary, add sawdust or straw. However, you won't have to clean the coop.

When the outside temperature is -20°C, inside the poultry house it can be +15°C. If the frosts are stronger, then you can additionally connect temporary electric heating.

This decision has a lot of positive aspects. For example, there are large cost savings due to the fact that electricity and fuel are not consumed at all. After a while, there is no need to clean the chicken coop, since the composition of bacteria can lie with the litter for about 3 years. And after this time, you will be able to get high-quality fertilizer for the garden.

Indoor ventilation: several common methods

With the onset of winter, ventilation plays an important role in keeping birds, although in the summer it is not the least important. It’s just that in the summer everything is simpler, because you can open doors, windows and organize an influx of fresh air. Decaying chicken droppings release a harmful substance - ammonia. If you do not establish good ventilation, then there is a serious risk of illness for the chickens and even the person who will serve the chicken coop. The worst thing is that due to the lack of ventilation, the walls and all interior decoration will begin to rot and become unusable. For this reason, even at the project development stage, it is important to consider the manufacture of ventilation.

When developing a ventilation project, it is worth considering some nuances. For example, in winter, the flow of fresh air must be strictly regulated. Otherwise, there is a chance that the temperature will drop quickly and the chickens will feel cold. You should also minimize the presence of drafts, which also negatively affects the health of the bird.

So, there are 3 most common ways to organize ventilation in a chicken coop:

• mechanical or forced;
• natural;
• supply and exhaust (a type of natural).

Let's look at the features of each of them separately.

Mechanical ventilation

Forced ventilation is beneficial if you have a lot of chickens and the chicken coop has a large area. Under such circumstances, it is important to organize a stable air change. It's not difficult to implement. We will provide you with a short guide to this process. Additionally, you can watch videos:

Stages of work	Manufacturing process
	First, determine the location where the fan will be installed. Some decide to install it in the wall, instead of a window, or even in a pipe. In the latter case, the diameter of the fan must match the internal diameter of the pipe. You can learn how to make such ventilation from the prepared video material.
	Having decided on a place, for example, in our case it will be a window or window, if there are any, the glass is removed. Plywood will be installed in its place, so the size of the plywood must match the size of the window opening.
	Using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, plywood is fixed into the opening. First, a hole should be made in the plywood to the diameter of the fan.
	Now you can install the fan, also securing it with self-tapping screws.
	After installing the fan, you need to connect the electrical cable to it. Here you can use a wire with a cross section of 2x2.5. A switch is also installed to control the fan.
	Make sure that all cable terminals and connections are thoroughly insulated. In addition, it is better to place the wire in a protective corrugation.

Additionally, the system can be equipped with temperature sensors to control the ventilation operation. You can also purchase equipment to automatically turn the fan on/off. You can learn how to do this from the video.

Video: organizing forced ventilation

Natural ventilation

This type of ventilation is the easiest to organize. There are 2 interesting solutions that we offer you to choose from. Let's compare them and note the pros and cons:

2 ways	Features of the technology
Open vent/window	This is perhaps the most primitive way of organizing ventilation. But this method is only relevant for summer chicken coops. In the winter season, warm air will cool down very quickly due to open windows and vents. Plus, you will have to constantly run to open/close the window in time. This method is used in exceptional cases.
Installation of pipes for air inlet and outlet	In this case, the ventilation process is automated. Let us immediately note that this method is also relevant if you keep 100 chickens or more, and the room has an area of ​​up to 20 m2. So, you will need 2 pieces of pipe Ø200 mm. Accordingly, one pipe will be installed for air inlet and the other for air outlet. The pipe is installed in different corners of the chicken coop, or rather, in opposite corners. The exhaust pipe can be installed near the bird's perch at a distance from the ceiling of up to 200 mm. It is recommended to organize the outlet of the exhaust pipe at a height of 1.5 m from the roof level. To prevent cold air from blowing on the chickens, the supply pipe should be placed in the opposite corner from the chickens' roost. The lower end of the pipe should be at a height of 200 mm from the floor, and at a height of up to 300 mm from the roof level. A special umbrella is placed on the upper end of the pipe, which will prevent rain, snow, birds and other things from entering the ventilation duct. The ventilation pipe must be insulated to prevent condensation. To ensure efficient operation of the system in winter, it is recommended to install dampers in the duct, which will prevent the rapid escape of warm air. Although in severe frosts there is a high probability of pipe freezing.

We invite you to watch a video that describes the manufacturing technology of such a ventilation system.

Video: making natural ventilation in a poultry house

Construction of a frame chicken coop: step-by-step instructions

To secure all the material, we suggest you read the step-by-step instructions for construction at home. In addition, you can watch the following videos:

Instructions with photos and explanations for building a simple chicken coop from a wooden frame on a columnar foundation
Work stage	Technological process
	First you need to make support pillars. Considering the weight of the entire structure of the chicken coop, steel pipes Ø100–150 mm should be used as the base of the posts. You will also need a sheet of metal cut into squares. Metal thickness is not less than 4 mm. The cut squares should be welded to the support posts. It’s immediately worth noting that the pillars should all be the same size.
	The next step is to select a suitable location for development. Using wooden pegs and rope, the territory is marked. This is an important stage of work, because the final result largely depends on the quality of the preparatory work.
	After marking, it is necessary to remove the fertile layer of soil by one shovel up to 250 mm. Support poles for the future poultry house are installed at the corners of the dug hole. It is important to pay special attention to their installation. They must be installed strictly vertically. Moreover, the upper sole of all 4 supports must be strictly at the same level with each other. The soil under the base of the post must be compacted. If the soil in your area is unstable, then a sand cushion must be made. A layer of sand and crushed stone is poured onto the bottom. The pillow is compacted, after which the support pillars are mounted. Even if there is a slight horizontal difference, it can be leveled by attaching the lower trim.
	Installed support pillars must be treated with an anti-corrosion compound and also painted over with moisture-repellent paint. This will serve as additional protection. Afterwards, the top trim from the board is installed. For this purpose, you can use a 150x50 mm board. First, a beam is attached to the metal sole on two short sides. For this purpose, a hole is drilled in the metal, just like in a beam. Fastened with steel bolts. Then two boards are laid on top on the long sides and fastened in the same way. The fastening must be strong and reliable, because the quality of the future construction will depend on this.
	When the base is ready, we begin making the wooden frame. However, before this, the dug hole is filled with soil (or crushed stone), which is compacted. Support posts are installed in the corners, which can be fixed using metal corners and self-tapping screws to the previously laid wooden frame. An opening is immediately formed to enter the chicken coop. For greater strength, stiffening ribs are created in the middle of the height of the building. The timber can be 600×500 mm.
	Now it’s time to arrange the roof; in this case, the roof has 2 slopes. The rafters are installed and secured to the top frame frame.
	The rafters are additionally fixed with spacers to give the roof the necessary rigidity. The formed attic can be used to store hay, sawdust and other things.
	When the frame is completely ready, you should begin covering it. The outside of such a chicken coop can be lined with plywood. The walls of the frame must be insulated with mineral wool. The inside of the wall can also be covered with plywood, as well as other sheet material. As for the roof, metal tiles are used for it. The roof must be insulated. The inside of the ceiling is lined with plywood or similar material. Some people use drywall.
	Here you can see that there is an additional area for poultry walking. Timber and metal mesh were used as a frame. In addition, the perimeter of the foundation is lined with mesh. This will prevent predatory animals from entering the bird. Doors must be installed in the enclosure so that cleaning can be done inside. A ladder is also made for the chickens to exit from the house to the street. The ladder is constructed from boards, the transverse boards simultaneously impart rigidity to the structure and serve as steps.

Many owners of their personal plots are not averse to acquiring a miniature poultry farm. In order not to take up a lot of space on your private territory, but to provide eggs for the whole family, it is enough to build a poultry house for 10 birds. Any farmer can carry out all the work on the construction of the building himself without calling professionals. This will significantly save money and improve the owner’s construction skills.

Drawing up a drawing

The initial stage in the construction of a homemade mini chicken coop is the creation of its sketch and drawing. The clearer and more accurate the diagram, the easier it will be to build a chicken coop for 10 chickens. On the drawing, it is necessary to draw each “room” of the future poultry house: a closed house, a vestibule, an area for open walking, as well as places for nests and perches. The exact dimensions of all parts of the chicken coop must be transferred to paper.

The most comfortable living area for 1 productive chicken is 3 square meters. meters, but if you save space, it is permissible to reduce the living space per 1 sq. meter for 2 chickens. That's why The area of ​​the poultry house for 10 chickens will be 5 square meters. meters. The walking area will be larger - 1 square. meter per 1 individual. The drawing also needs to indicate where feeders for different types of food, containers for mineral supplements, drinking bowls, a ventilation pipe and a corridor will be located.

Frame installation

The best place for a future poultry house for 10 chickens is a well-lit area, which is located as far as possible from residential buildings and main roads. Groundwater must flow deep from the surface of the earth. It is very important to lay a good, high-quality foundation that will become a strong barrier for rodents. The most economical and popular type of foundation is a columnar foundation, which is made from old brick pipes, gravel and a trowel. The frame of the poultry house should be installed on this foundation.

The wooden frame should be located at an elevation from the ground- it is raised using a cinder block (or stone). To do this, the selected material is laid on the corners of the future poultry house for 10 chickens. The lifting height should not exceed 18-20 cm. Next, a rectangular frame is erected from wooden blocks (with a cross-section of 1x1 cm). Be sure to use a building level so that the future chicken coop does not turn out skewed. All cavities that appear between the frame building and the cinder block (stone) must be filled with coarse gravel.

Then we take bars with a cross section of 5x5 cm and make vertical guides from them, which are installed on the frame. They are connected to the horizontal frame guides using nails.

Wall cladding

The walls of a homemade chicken coop are usually lined with wood - this is a strong and environmentally friendly material that, with proper care, can serve for a long time and faithfully. Wooden boards are sewn onto the entire “skeleton” of the poultry house using self-tapping screws.

The walls of the chicken coop must be insulated. But the material chosen for thermal insulation must have good vapor-proof properties, otherwise there is a high risk that the chicken coop will be damp and unsafe for chickens. Polystyrene foam is not suitable for this purpose; it is better to choose mineral wool. From above everything is sewn up with thin wood or plywood in several layers. This is enough to provide the poultry house with the necessary heat and not worry about purchasing other heat sources.

On the south side of the poultry house you need to place a window of 0.5x0.5 meters. The door should be located on the east side. The floor is constructed according to the same principle as the walls: two floorings, between which insulation material is placed. The roof is also insulated and provided with waterproofing. The roof can be either single or gable. The latter option is preferable, as it allows you to equip an attic inside the roof for tools and feed.

Video "For 10 chickens"

Interior design of the chicken coop

Properly decorating the inside of a bird house is no less important for the normal functioning and productivity of laying hens.

First of all, the ventilation system is designed. Domestic chicken needs to be completely dry. The better the air exchange, the more productive the birds are. Any dampness is detrimental to laying hens; the birds begin to get sick and lay fewer eggs.

Any pipes and technological openings will do for ventilation. They, like the window for ventilation, go through the roof. One of the pipes is located above the perches and acts as an exhaust hood. The second provides an influx of fresh air and is located further away, at a half-meter level.

Electrical wiring must be hidden in special boxes and placed only outside. This standard requirement applies to any wooden structure.

Perches should be comfortable for chickens, without knots or splinters. The slats must be well sanded and placed at a height of at least 75 cm from the day of the chicken coop. In a house for 10 chickens, one perch will not be enough; at least three of them need to be installed. All of them should be located at an identical level, and so that the chickens do not interfere with each other, do not place the perches close. The distance should be at least half a meter.

For 10 chickens, 3-4 nests with a width and height of at least 35 cm and a depth of up to half a meter are enough. Bedding (straw, peat, sawdust) serves as an additional source of heat; they are placed not only in the nests, but also on the floor of the poultry house. They will need to be changed promptly to maintain optimal cleanliness in the chicken coop. Along with normal humidity, this will be the key to the comfort and productivity of your laying hens.

Video "DIY chicken coop"

Video "Insulated chicken coop for ten chickens"