Ask Danny | Ep. 27: Constructing & Sustaining a Yard Rooster Coop

Elevating yard chickens is usually a enjoyable and rewarding expertise, offering recent eggs and even a supply of companionship. Nonetheless, earlier than you begin your yard rooster journey, it’s vital to grasp the fundamentals of constructing and sustaining a rooster coop.

Right now’s Home-owner Manufacturing Supervisor Corey Wilson is becoming a member of me to talk rooster.

Coop Dimension

In terms of constructing or shopping for a rooster coop, measurement is a crucial consideration. The quantity of area wanted for every hen will range relying on the variety of birds you intend to maintain, however a normal rule of thumb is to offer 2-3 sq. toes of coop area per hen and 5-10 sq. toes of run area per hen.

Bear in mind —chickens sleep within the air, perched on a limb, so be sure that to incorporate sufficient area for them to sleep comfortably.

Coop Elements

A rooster coop usually contains a number of key elements: nesting bins, roosts, runs, and an enclosed space for sleeping and safety.

Nesting bins present a protected and safe place for chickens to put their eggs, whereas roosts give the birds a spot to sleep.

Runs are important for train and foraging. The enclosed space serves as a protected area for the birds to sleep, relaxation and take shelter.

In terms of flooring, use supplies like sand, hay or pine shavings. These supplies are snug for the chickens and simple to wash. Additionally they take in moisture, which helps preserve the coop dry and smelling recent.

A well-built and maintained coop is essential for the well being and well-being of your chickens. Offering sufficient area, perches, and appropriate supplies for the birds, will be sure that they’re snug and wholesome and might produce eggs effectively.

Egg Manufacturing

A wholesome hen will usually lay one egg per day, along with her reproductive cycle lasting between 24-27 hours. Nonetheless, the precise egg manufacturing can range relying on various elements similar to the quantity of daylight, consolation, predators, and vitamin.

• Daylight: Chickens want at the very least 14 hours of daylight with a view to lay eggs. Within the winter, when daytime are shorter, egg manufacturing will naturally lower. You should utilize synthetic mild to complement the daytime, but it surely’s vital to make use of the correct kind of sunshine and the correct amount to keep away from stressing the birds.
• Consolation: Chickens want a clear, dry and protected place to put their eggs. A well-maintained rooster coop with nest bins will present the consolation and safety that chickens want to put eggs.
• Predators: Chickens that really feel threatened by predators won’t lay eggs. It’s vital to guard your chickens from predators by securing the coop and the encompassing space.
• Diet: Chickens want a balanced weight-reduction plan that gives the required vitamins for egg manufacturing. Feed particularly formulated for laying hens will present the correct stability of protein, calcium, and different important vitamins.

Apparently sufficient, a rooster just isn’t mandatory for a hen to put eggs. Hens will lay eggs whether or not or not there’s a rooster current. Nonetheless, if you wish to breed chickens, you will want a rooster.

Rooster Meals

There are a number of sorts of rooster meals accessible available on the market, every designed to satisfy the particular dietary wants of chickens at totally different levels of their life.

• Starter feed: The sort of meals is formulated for chicks throughout their first six weeks of life. It accommodates a excessive degree of protein, round 20-24 p.c, to assist them develop and develop shortly.
• Grower feed: Because the chicks develop, they want totally different meals. Designed for chickens between 6-20 weeks previous, grower feed accommodates a decrease protein degree round 16-18 p.c as they don’t want as a lot protein as once they have been chicks however nonetheless want sufficient to assist their progress.
• Layer feed: Chickens are adults as soon as they attain 20 weeks previous, in order that they now want a special kind of meals. Layer feed is formulated for egg-laying hens, so it accommodates the next degree of calcium to assist the formation of eggshells.
• Pellets: These small, easy-to-eat items are handy to make use of and retailer, and are sometimes used as a whole feed for chickens.
• Crumbles: Just like pellets, crumbles are additionally compressed, however they’re smaller in measurement and are typically extra palatable for chickens.
• Mash: Mash is made by mixing collectively totally different grains and protein sources. It’s often moist and simple for chickens to eat.
• Scratch: Scratch is a kind of feed that’s made up of entire grains similar to corn and barley. Chickens are inspired to forage, so this kind of meals is can used as a deal with.

Value to Feed Chickens

In terms of feeding your chickens, a very good rule of thumb is to plan for about one bag of meals each three weeks for a flock of 10 hens.

On common, a bag of rooster feed can value anyplace from $40 to $50. This will likely appear to be quite a bit, however when you think about the truth that chickens will lay eggs nearly day by day, it’s a small worth to pay for the scrumptious, recent eggs they supply.

Along with common rooster feed, present your birds with oyster shells for calcium. That is important for sustaining the energy of their eggshells. You should purchase oyster shells in a bag they usually often value round $10-15.

Additional Studying