Comparing Chicken Coops For Sale Online

As part of the growing trend toward locally grown food and self-sufficiency, people living in towns and suburbs are choosing to keep chickens in their backyards. This hobby combines the enjoyment of caring for lively birds with the satisfaction of producing fresh, healthy eggs. If you’ve decided to keep poultry, you may wish purchase one of the many flat-packed chicken coops for sale online. These vary in terms of design, size and materials with some models providing better ventilation and lighting.

Certain design features can help keep your chickens happy and healthy. Look for coops with a hen house that is raised off the ground with an attached ramp to allow the birds access. This will help keep the nesting area dry and free of vermin. A pull-out tray beneath the hen house will make it easy to keep clean. A nesting box that can be accessed from outside the coop via a pull-up lid will allow you to collect eggs without disturbing the hens.

The size of coop you will need depends on how many chickens you intend to keep in it. In a coop consisting of an enclosed nesting area and a covered run, each laying hen requires about 6 square feet of space. A coop that is 6 foot long by 4 foot wide is 24 square feet and can comfortably house 4 chickens.

A coop made from top quality materials will be sturdy enough to protect the chickens from wind and weather as well as predators. The wood panels should be at least half an inch thick and treated with a water-repellent wood preserver. The sides of the run should be made of galvanized steel wire.

Adequate ventilation is very important for the health of your chickens. It allows moisture to evaporate and gases and odors to dissipate. Vents located near the roof of the nesting area will allow air to circulate without subjecting the birds to drafts.

Exposing the nesting area to light will encourage the hens to lay more and better eggs. The coop should have at least one glass or Perspex window which will provide the chickens with sunlight all year round. Ideally this should be on hinges so that it can be opened in summer for extra ventilation.

When comparing prices of chicken coops for sale, the general rule is that you get what you pay for. More expensive coops tend to be made of better materials and incorporate more features. A cheap coop that will put the health of your chickens at risk, be damaged by the weather or be invaded by vermin and predators is not a bargain. Remember that you will have to clean your coop, care for your chickens and collect eggs on a regular basis, so a coop designed with your convenience in mind is generally worth its price in the long run.