If you decide to have laying hens, take care of where you place them. A good and practical poultry house should be warm, bright, easy to clean and equipped for chickens. First you need to decide what type of bird houses you need, then choose a chicken coop of a suitable size, develop drawings, look at step-by-step construction instructions with photos, and also figure out how you will finish the building outside and inside so that it does not spoil the appearance of the site .

All existing types of chicken coop

A barn for chickens can be summer, that is, seasonal, and winter, in which they can spend time all year round. At a dacha, it doesn’t always make sense to build a permanent building. To understand which type of shed is right for you, you need to know the features of both types, their advantages and disadvantages.

Chicken barn with run

Winter chicken coop

In summer, chickens can spend most of their time outside, but in winter they generally have nothing to do there. Some people force their pets into an unsuitable barn or other outbuildings. Poultry requires full care, and only a specially equipped room can provide comfort. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of arranging a warm chicken coop before the onset of cold weather.

It should be warm and dry inside

Since the outside temperature is low in winter, you need to make sure that the chickens do not freeze. The optimal temperature at which they feel good and lay eggs regularly is 15-25 degrees. Chicken coops for winter should be designed in such a way that they can maintain this temperature throughout the day.

To keep the temperature at the same level and not drop, they build an insulated chicken coop. Insulating materials are used to insulate the walls and roof, seal the slightest cracks and eliminate cold bridges - this way there will be no drafts in the barn and the necessary microclimate will be created.

Wall insulation is mandatory

Since chickens will spend almost all their time in the winter barn, and the days are short in winter, you need to take care of the lighting. In addition to the mandatory presence of a window for access to natural sunlight, you will also need a light bulb under the ceiling. But you don’t need to leave it on around the clock; in everything you need to strive for natural conditions. At night the lights are turned off.

A chandelier is too much, but you need a light bulb

You can’t do without walking at all either. Keeping a bird in confinement for several months is harmful and will immediately affect its health and performance. Winter walking should be covered, protected on all sides from the wind. You can let them go outside even at sub-zero temperatures, the main thing is that there is no gusty cold wind.

Summer chicken coop

A summer barn for chickens is not such a major structure. The purpose of the building is to provide the bird with a roof over its head from spring to autumn. It is often practiced to buy young chickens in the spring, they produce eggs all summer, and in the fall they go into soup. If you do not plan to keep poultry in the winter and breed it, a simple summer chicken coop is what you need.

The chicken housing includes:

• barn;
• fenced area for walking;
• feeder and drinker;
• nests;
• perch.

Summer pen for three chickens

The configuration can be very diverse. The simplest chicken coop for the summer can be made in a few hours from boards and mesh. The house can be low and compact, or it can be raised, and the space underneath can be used for walking. The paddock should be located so that it is not in deep shade or dampness. It is ideal to place it in partial shade, under trees or under a special canopy.

For large chicken breeders, they offer prefabricated chicken coops made of sandwich panels. Modular structures come in all shapes and sizes, so you can easily choose the appropriate option. They are lightweight, easy to assemble, and, if necessary, enlarged and extended. Such a shed is easy to care for, since such materials do not corrode or rot.

Chicken coop project

For households, they sell prefabricated chicken coops made of wood of any model. It’s very convenient, just choose the house you like from the catalog. The shed is sold unassembled. All fasteners are included for assembly; you will have to take care of the tool yourself. The price of such structures is quite high, but the speed of installation and the aesthetic side of the issue are a significant advantage.

If you have a small flock, you can use a portable chicken coop. This design is made of lightweight materials and has wheels for movement. To prevent chickens from marking time in one place, they can be moved from time to time. Often only the walk is made portable, and the bird goes to a permanent house to spend the night.

Mobile poultry house on wheels

Chicken coop dimensions

Of course, the size of a chicken shed is subjective. But there are certain standards regulating the area of ​​the poultry house depending on the number of chickens living in it. Laying hens spend a lot of time in nests, and they are not as large as broilers. Therefore, the standards for the housing density of these types of chickens are different.

House for 5-10 birds

Mini chicken coop for 5-10 chickens

A small chicken coop that is too densely populated will be difficult to clean, the chickens will be crowded, they will start to get sick and their productivity will decrease. The normal “population” density for laying breeds is 4 individuals per square meter of building. If you are a chicken raiser and have young chicks, make sure you have a free square meter for every 14 chicks.

But, in addition to the internal space of the barn, the area allocated for walking is also taken into account. A 3x3m chicken coop can accommodate 5-10 chickens. Such a compact barn can provide eggs for a family of 4 people throughout the year. There is enough space for a brood of new chicks, but then you need to be even more careful when designing heating and lighting.

Shed for 20-30 chickens

A small chicken coop for laying hens for 20 heads should be more spacious. In addition to the same norm - 3-4 laying hens per 1 square meter, it is necessary to provide each hen with a place to roost.

Housing plan for 20 heads

All birds have a natural desire to climb onto a tree branch to protect themselves. Ideally, the length of the perch will correspond to the following proportion: 1 m for each chicken. To place 20-30 meters of perch in a 6x3 chicken coop, it is installed in several rows on the same level. Normal height is about 120 cm.

The height of the room should be about 1.8-2 m. This is due to the fact that the bird needs to be cleaned regularly, and with a low ceiling it is inconvenient for a person to do this. The layout of a chicken coop for 20 chickens assumes the presence of a spacious insulated barn and a fenced paddock of approximately the same area.

Drawing with dimensions

Barn for 50-100 chickens

50-100 chickens is already a fairly large population. The area of ​​the chicken coop for such a farm should be 15-25 square meters. m. In winter, much less space is needed, since the birds stay together, huddle and warm themselves. In summer, when it's hot, you will need more space.

The design of a chicken coop for 50 chickens with free range has approximately the following proportions:

• barn length – 4 m;
• width – 2.5 m;
• height – 2 m;
• walking area – 50 m2 (4x12.5).

Dimensions of a house for 50 chickens

A detailed plan of a chicken coop for 100 chickens will help you correctly calculate the materials needed for construction, as well as rationally position the shed in the yard. For 100 chickens, the poultry house should be about 20 square meters with a decent run so that the birds have room.

Large chicken coop for 200-500 birds

Large chicken coops for 200-500 chickens are built for rearing on an industrial scale. Such buildings are never made in one section. Experienced farmers must divide their livestock into at least 2 groups.

In a large group, infectious diseases spread easily, which can cause the death of all birds. Dividing pets into several parts will allow you to keep healthy chickens by limiting contact with sick ones.

A chicken coop drawing usually shows several rectangular sections. All the doors of the barn face one side, making it easier to control and care for the birds. Walking can be shared or separate.

For mass breeding

We build a chicken coop with our own hands

Building a chicken coop correctly with your own hands is not so easy. There are too many nuances to consider. Below are detailed instructions on each of the construction processes: construction of the foundation, walls, roof, floor and paddock.

Chicken barn foundation

Building a chicken shed should start with the foundation. Depending on the design of the poultry house, the foundation can be:

• tape;
• columnar;
• pile

Drawing of a small poultry house

A strip foundation is suitable for a barn with brick walls, when the entire load is evenly distributed along the perimeter of the building. In accordance with the location of the load-bearing walls, they dig a trench about 50 cm deep. The bottom is leveled, compacted, and sprinkled with sand.

Then permanent or collapsible formwork is constructed. A reinforcement frame is installed, the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement are connected with knitting wire or by welding. Pour the concrete mixture. When the concrete gains sufficient strength, the foundation for the chicken coop is waterproofed with several layers of roofing material and bitumen coating.

A columnar foundation for a chicken coop is suitable for a frame-type barn. At the points where, according to the design, load-bearing columns are located (they can be wooden, brick, etc.), you need to dig holes measuring 50x50 cm and about 30 cm deep.

The supports are made from large concrete foundation blocks or bricks. The size of such a block is usually 40x20x20 cm. At least two rows of two blocks are laid. You will get a kind of square pedestal, slightly rising above the ground. The blocks then need to be waterproofed where they come into contact with the ground.

Columnar foundation

The most labor-intensive type of foundation is the foundation for a chicken coop on stilts. This method is used when the bearing capacity of the soil is insufficient or the groundwater is shallow. Driving piles requires special equipment, which is usually rented. Concrete piles are placed strictly vertically, to avoid eccentric compression, and driven along the entire length of the pile without preliminary excavation.

For a pile foundation, you need a grillage - a strapping to distribute the load using concrete monolithic beams. The grillage can be made from a wooden beam if the size of the chicken shed is not very large.

How to make wooden walls

There are a lot of options for what to make the walls of a chicken coop out of. The easiest material to install yourself is wood. Wood is inexpensive, does not require expensive equipment and tools for processing, and is a natural, breathable material.

Wooden chicken coops are good for everyone, their only drawback is the fragility of the material if not properly cared for. If the walls of the poultry house are treated promptly and efficiently with substances that prevent rot and mold, as well as protected from moisture, the wooden building will last for several decades.

Frame for a wooden poultry house

The most affordable method is a chicken coop made of timber. Powerful and reliable walls are made from rectangular timber from coniferous trees. The main problem when building such a shed is choosing the right material. Insufficiently dry timber will begin to deform and dry out after some time, which will certainly lead to the formation of cracks and even skewing of the poultry house.

A simpler option is a panel chicken coop. Here they also use wooden beams, but only for the frame. Enclosing elements - walls - are made of other materials: OSB sheets or plank boards. This technology is characterized by speed of installation and reliability of the design.

Capital building made of wood

Making a beautiful chicken coop from logs is not so easy. Log buildings are built using special technology. Since the logs are very heavy, the walls have a decent weight of their own, not to mention the weight of the higher elements: rafters, coverings.

You won’t be able to make a chicken coop from a log house in a month with your own hands. After installing the walls, you need to let the building stand for several months. This way the soil will settle sufficiently under the weight, the logs will dry out a little and take their final position.

The log house looks solid

Instead of timber or logs, railway sleepers are often used in the country. They are large, quickly installed, and treated with impregnation, which prevents the wood from deteriorating. A chicken coop made from sleepers is very strong, reliable and durable.

Capital walls made of blocks

Another option is a block chicken coop. The following block materials are used:

• bricks;
• cinder block;
• foam and aerated concrete;
• shell rock

Brick wall in a bird house

Building a chicken coop out of brick will take a little longer than building a wooden model, since the masonry is carried out piece by piece, and it is not allowed to lay out the entire height of the wall in one day. Brick is a very heat-intensive material. Even with minimal wall insulation, the poultry house remains warm in winter, and in summer it will not be so hot.

A popular analogue of brick is cinder block. A cinder block chicken coop is quicker to build due to the larger size of each element. If desired, cinder blocks can be made right in the yard if you have the form. Then construction will also be economical.

Light, warm and affordable - a chicken coop made of shell rock. If you have a lot of this stone in your area, you can use it to build a chicken shed. Shell rock is a natural material. Work with it the same way as with a cinder block. Shell rock is highly valued in construction for its low thermal conductivity.

Aerated concrete blocks are a popular building material. In terms of its thermal conductivity and hygroscopicity parameters, aerated concrete is close to wood. It is better to secure a chicken coop made of aerated concrete with reinforcement. A groove is cut in the blocks along the entire perimeter of the poultry house and steel reinforcement is placed there for strength.

Big barn of their block

A chicken coop made of foam block is a great alternative. The material is non-toxic, which is important for keeping poultry. The D400 brand is suitable for walls. The size of one element is usually 200x300x600 mm, the weight of a 400 grade block is 15.6 kg.

The thickness of the walls for the chicken coop may vary. If you live in a temperate climate, walls of one foam block will be enough. If your winters are very cold, it is better to play it safe and do the masonry in two blocks.

Other wall materials

In the construction of a barn for chickens in the country, materials other than wood or blocks are often used. For example, an old, time-tested method is a clay chicken coop. Our ancestors used this material, the technology has survived to this day and is often used by lovers of everything natural and environmentally friendly.

The wall is reinforced with a mesh so that it does not collapse

For the chicken coop, a wooden frame is built from clay, which will take on the entire load. Then they begin to gradually lay the walls. A mixture of wet clay, straw and binding material (people often used cow dung) is used to make a kind of bricks, dry them in the sun and lay them out in offset rows. Then the walls are covered with the same composition to seal the cracks and level the surface.

Drawing of a bird's house made of panels

In contrast to ancient great-grandmother technologies, modern methods are used, for example, a chicken coop made of sandwich panels. Such panels can be different, but they have the same principle: between two layers of finishing material there is a layer of insulation. This wall is thin, but surprisingly warm.

A frame chicken coop made of sandwich panels is calculated individually in each specific case. The number of layers, material and thickness of the insulation varies depending on the climate zone.

The area under the house is free for walking

How to make a floor in a poultry house

When the question arises, what is the best material to make the floors of a chicken coop from, the builder has several options:

• wood;
• concrete;
• clay.

The warmest and most comfortable is a wooden floor in a chicken coop. As a rule, it is raised several cm above the ground so that the resulting air gap serves as additional thermal insulation. The plank floor is easy to clean. For construction, a wooden frame is made - logs, on which polished boards are laid. Connect everything with nails. Try to avoid creating cracks in the floor.

Concrete cools quickly and does not retain heat well. If you decide to make a concrete floor, you must lay wooden flooring on top or sprinkle the floor with straw. Step-by-step instructions on how to properly fill the floor in a chicken coop:

1. Clean and level the surface.
2. Add a layer of crushed stone or gravel.
3. Prepare a cement screed (proportion of sand and cement 3:1).
4. The mixture should be quite liquid so that it can easily penetrate into the spaces between the stones.
5. Fill the floor, level the screed using a rule or a long lath.
6. After the first layer has set, prepare another portion of screed of less thickness.
7. Distribute the mixture on the floor, level with the rule.
8. Wet the floor regularly with water until the concrete gains strength - about 7 days.
9. Decide what to put on the floor of the coop.

Hay for warmth on the floor

To keep the chickens in the barn cool on the concrete floor, it is often covered with a warmer material. This type of bulk floor in a chicken coop is made from hay, straw, sawdust, and shavings. Chickens like to rake grass and dig, such a floor will be comfortable and warm for them. The main thing is to change the material in time, because there is no other way to clean the poultry house.

If you want to make a clay floor in your coop, tightly compacted loam or clay will do. The disadvantage of the material is that rodents and small predators can easily overcome it. Choose an earthen or clay floor only when using a strip foundation, then no rat will dig under.

What kind of roof to make in a poultry barn

Before you make a roof in the chicken coop, you should decide on the scheme. The roof can be pitched or gable; flat roofs are almost never used, since in this case the outflow of rainwater is difficult.

If your chicken barn is small, a pitched roof will do. The tilt angle should be up to 30 degrees. The main advantages of a single-pitch design:

• ease of construction (do-it-yourself without special skills);
• the roof is light;
• Fewer building materials are used – savings;
• sediment removal is carried out in full;
• ease of installation of the ebb.

Gable roof scheme

The slope is best done backwards - in the opposite direction from the facade and front door. This way you won’t be faced with constant puddles in front of the entrance and an endless stream of water when it rains. And the snow that will slide off the roof will not block the door.

If you want to use the space under the roof for an attic, a gable scheme is more suitable. To do this, the angle between the slopes must be at least 40 degrees. The gable roof for the chicken coop rests on the Mauerlat from below, and on the purlin from above. The rafters cut into the supporting elements. They are supported from below by a rafter leg, each board fits tightly into the corresponding groove.

Start of roof construction

Then a sheathing is made from transverse boards. A vapor barrier material is attached to it to prevent condensation and moisturize the insulation from the inside. Then insulation is laid, usually mineral wool. It is covered with waterproofing to protect it from moisture from the outside. Then they begin laying the roofing material.

Wooden frame with rafters

The roof of the chicken coop can be made of slate, corrugated sheets, metal tiles or soft tiles, roofing felt.

Corrugated roofing

Doors to the poultry house

An important detail is the door to the chicken coop. It should be the same as the door to any other outbuilding, that is, match your height. Most often, a wooden door is made from boards, but any option will do.

The door in the chicken coop should open inward, this makes it easier to control the bird so that it does not run outside when you enter. A lock or deadbolt is a must. This way no stranger will get into the barn.

How to make a door frame with your own hands from boards in a chicken coop:

1. Take a board that is equal in width to or slightly larger than the thickness of the wall, the thickness of the board is about 50 mm.
2. Cut one board equal to the width of the opening - it will be at the top of the box.
3. The length of the vertical elements is 50 mm less than the length of the opening.
4. The lower part is the threshold, 100 mm less than the opening width.
5. Connect the elements using furniture dowels.
6. Secure the fastening with wood glue.
7. Keep an eye on the level. The entire structure must be strictly in one plane.

Door height depends on height

To keep the cold out when opening the entrance door to the chicken coop, you can provide a vestibule. A small room literally 1 square meter in size. m is a kind of transition zone where the temperature is maintained.

The question of whether a chicken coop needs a window arises only for those who raise poultry exclusively in the summer. Then the chickens spend all their time outside and do not suffer from a lack of sunlight. In winter, the presence of a window in the barn is mandatory.

The size of the windows in the chicken coop depends on the height of the room. The larger the area and height of the poultry house, the larger the window that needs to be provided. To prevent blowing from them, make several layers of glazing, seal the cracks or install ready-made double-glazed windows.

Comfortable perches

Arranging a bird's home

Once the outside of the house is ready, all that remains is to make it habitable. First you need to make a hole for the chickens in the chicken coop. This is a hole in the wall through which the chickens go outside and come back.

The entrance for chickens in a chicken coop raised above the ground should be accompanied by a special ladder or ladder along which the birds climb up. The same ladder should be placed inside the barn for the passage of chickens to roost.

For large flocks, you need an automatic door in the chicken coop. Such a door can open and close on a timer. The chickens will go out for a walk at the allotted time without your participation. You can also make the feeder automatic.

Box nests

The feeder can be simply indoors or retractable. This scheme allows you to pour feed without going inside the poultry house. This is very convenient, especially for those farmers who have a large number of livestock and poultry on their farm; it saves a lot of time.

Nests must be provided for laying hens. In individual houses, the chicken will rest and hatch eggs. It is convenient to bring a tray to each nest, along which the egg will roll down. From here the owner can regularly collect new eggs without disturbing the birds.

Interior arrangement option

Walking poultry

The exit for chickens from the chicken coop leads to a specially fenced paddock. It is calculated according to the standards, depending on the number of pets. The walk can be open or under a canopy.

A chicken coop with a run completely solves the problem of a damaged lawn or trampled flower bed. This solution is optimal for both chickens and their breeders. The walk should be bright, spacious and safe, grass grows in it and the birds have free access to it.

The question immediately arises: how to fence the chicken coop. There are several options:

• Rabitz;
• fence.

Multi-storey project with walking area

The mesh for the chicken coop is selected depending on the size of the holes. To prevent rats or other pests from getting into the poultry house, and to prevent chickens and chickens from escaping, the mesh cells should not be larger than 1.5 cm.

The fence for the chicken coop is made only along the perimeter of the run or fenced off from above as well - to protect against birds of prey, if such are found in your area. The walk should also have a door for the owner so that he can clean the area or pour water for the birds.

Choose a thick wire mesh

How to fence a chicken coop using mesh:

1. Identical rectangular sections are knocked together from the timber.
2. Stretch the mesh over the beam.
3. Vertical support posts made of the same timber or metal profile are installed in the ground.
4. Sections of the fence are attached to the posts.
5. One of the sections is hung on hinges and serves as a door.

In summer there is no need for a large shelter

Exterior decoration of the chicken coop

A beautiful chicken coop can be a decoration for yours. You can make a poultry house of an unusual shape or simply approach the exterior or interior decoration with taste. The simplest option is original painting.

How to paint the outside of a chicken coop - wood paint. Choose one that is labeled “for outdoor use.” It does not fade and is not washed off by rain. Therefore, you will have to repaint less frequently.

Option for chickens

Painting the chicken coop should be done in the warm season; the boards should be cleaned of old paint or varnish, degreased and well primed with a special compound. The choice of paint color depends entirely on your preferences.

If you are deciding how to paint the inside walls of the chicken coop, then the issue of beauty is not so pressing. It is better to opt for practicality. Diluted lime, if used to paint walls, will become both a fungicide and antibacterial protection.

Non-standard approach

The construction of a permanent barn for keeping chickens is not too different from the construction of other similar outbuildings, but there are some nuances that cannot be ignored. If everything is done correctly, it will be a wonderful home for poultry. It will be good for laying hens, which will immediately affect their productivity.

Sheds for animals and poultry are a necessity, because it is best to keep farm animals and birds in specially designated premises. It is not very convenient to adapt existing buildings, for example, former warehouses or industrial workshops, to the needs of pets. Sometimes remodeling takes as much time as new construction. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately begin building a separate poultry house or barn, which will initially meet all the necessary requirements. This is what our article is about today.

The location for the poultry house or barn should be chosen so that it is located on a slight hill. There should be a flat area for walking nearby. The outbuilding should be separated from the residential premises by at least 15 m. It is advisable that the windows of the future barn face south - this way they will receive more sunlight. The building for animals and poultry should be kept away from wells and wells with drinking water, because waste can get into them. Also, there should be no cesspools or toilets nearby - pets will probably not like their smell, and such objects can become sources of infectious diseases.

Sheds for animals and poultry should be placed so that it is convenient to approach them and bring loads. And also so that manure and garbage can be quickly and easily removed from utility rooms. Above the main buildings it is worth equipping a dry attic for storing hay and other feed - this is an excellent solution for saving space.

Planning nuances

For construction, you can use ready-made drawings, although their presence is not mandatory. The design of any barn for domestic animals is not particularly complicated; the main thing is to choose the right dimensions and outline the location inside the necessary devices: stalls for livestock, perches for birds, feeders, drinking bowls, etc. You can draw a roughly approximate plan by hand, but be sure to mark on it the necessary requirements officially imposed on such buildings.

Table 1. Basic requirements for sheds for livestock

Dimensions	They are determined individually, depending on the number of individuals. For 10 chickens you will need an area of ​​3-4 square meters. One goat needs approximately 2-4 sq. m., per cow - 7-9 sq. m. You also need to consider space for feeders and other equipment. The height of the premises can also be different: for a barn - at least 2 m, for a goat barn and pigsty - 1.5 m.
Availability of walking space	For chickens and rabbits, a walking area is not necessary if they are kept in cages. Otherwise, it can be made very small. For goats, sheep and cows, you need to fence at least 10 square meters. Pigs most often do not need a pasture either, but a very small area can be fenced off near their barn to expand their living space - physical activity helps increase appetite, and the piglets grow faster.
Windows and doors	There should be enough windows to keep the room light. It is advisable to make them glazed, with detachable transoms. Most of the window openings should be located on the south side. Doors can be made on the opposite side. The openings should be wide so that waste can be easily carried out through them and food can be brought inside. It makes sense to have bi-fold doors in the barn.
Ventilation and insulation	All cracks in the walls are carefully sealed - there should be no drafts in the room. But at the same time, the barn must have good ventilation. The barn and poultry house must be additionally insulated; if we are talking about regions with harsh winters, then it makes sense to also install heating. Even in the most extreme cold, the indoor temperature cannot drop below 8-10 degrees.
Internal layout	A sufficient number of drinking bowls and feeders must be installed for all animals and birds. In the goat shed and barn, it is advisable to make separate stalls for each individual, and in addition, fence off corners for keeping females with cubs. The same must be done for sows with piglets. Low perches must be made for chickens, nests must be built for laying hens, as well as for ducks and geese laying eggs.

What materials and tools to use

For utility rooms, remnants of building materials that have been in stock for a long time and are waiting in the wings are suitable. You can buy the missing parts and it will be inexpensive. You will also need the most standard tools, which are usually found on any farm: saws, hammers, nail pullers, containers for mixing mortars, brushes and rollers for painting, tape measure and slopes for measurements, etc.

Most often, sheds for domestic animals are made of wood or brick/cinder blocks. Lightweight frame-and-plank structures are an excellent option for southern regions where severe frosts do not occur. You can use this type of building in the middle zone, but then you will need to provide insulation. For areas with a more severe climate, permanent sheds made of brick and similar materials are optimal.

Wooden structures are erected faster, but do not last as long as stone-brick structures. A wooden shed must be well strengthened, the walls must be primed and painted. It can be insulated from the outside and inside using a suspended profile, shingles, etc. Capital buildings for animals are erected on a columnar foundation, for which it is most convenient to use aerated foam concrete blocks, held together not with concrete, but with a special construction adhesive.

How to build a poultry barn

The farm may contain chickens, quails, turkeys, geese and ducks. Premises for different types of birds generally differ only in size. Turkeys and waterfowl, as well as broilers, will need larger sheds. Although there are a number of other nuances. For example, turkeys are thermophilic, so it is necessary to maintain a high temperature in the poultry house for them. Chickens need roosts, but ducks and geese do not need such an interior detail.

It is better to make the foundation for the poultry house a strip type - from concrete, so that mice, rats and small predators such as ferrets cannot penetrate under the floor. The depth of the base may not be too large - 25 cm is enough.

Important point! It is permissible to make the floor earthen or clay, but you can fill it with concrete and make a boardwalk on top.

Wooden beams are erected at the corners of the future building, and horizontal partitions made of narrow boards are made between them. Then the building is sheathed with plywood. On the south side, two or three windows should be cut under the ceiling. The door is not made too wide and high. For the birds themselves, you can arrange a separate hole. The roof is made in one slope; it can be covered with reeds or straw, and roofing material or slate can be placed on top. Be sure to take the pipes outside for ventilation.

How to insulate a poultry house?

A poultry barn is usually built without capital construction and without heating. But the temperature inside should be quite high even in winter cold. This is achieved through additional insulation. First of all, all cracks in the walls are carefully sealed: drafts are the most common cause of heat loss.

For the winter, window frames are sealed with sealant or usually with plastic film on sealant. Doorways are also carefully insulated. A layer of straw, hay or large wood shavings is placed on the floor (small sawdust will not work). Ceilings can be insulated for the season with foam plastic or film.

But it is better to treat plank walls immediately during construction. They can be insulated with different materials. One of the most economical and simplest is the “old-fashioned method” - clay shingles on a sheathing. This is an environmentally friendly material that is not harmful to poultry and creates an optimal microclimate in the room. It is easy to install shingles, it does not last very long, but it is easy to replace it with a new one without high costs.

Instructions for installing shingles on walls

Step 1

Thin slats are used for the frame, which can be purchased at any building materials store.

Step 2

Thin slats are nailed from the inside to the walls of the barn in a diagonal order.

Step 4

The solution is applied in a thick layer to the sheathing using a trowel. You need to start from the bottom of the wall, gradually moving up and carefully leveling the surface.

Step 5

After drying, the wall is rubbed down and painted with diluted lime. Whitewashing is necessary because it serves as a sanitary measure.

Interior arrangement

To provide the feathered residents with normal comfort, it is necessary to make perches and nests inside the barn, install drinking bowls and feeders. In this case, a number of rules should be observed:

How to build a rabbitry

Housing for long-eared pets can be created using a frame-and-plank structure. Such a barn is not large in size, but inside it should be divided into zones or separate cages for furry animals should be installed. It is better to keep rabbits one at a time to control the breeding process. For females with cubs and ungrown young animals, a more spacious corner with insulation and artificial light is allocated.

Video - Construction of a rabbitry

In general, the construction of a wooden rabbitry resembles the process of constructing a poultry house described above. But in this case the room should be larger and higher. It is more convenient to arrange the cages inside in two rows to save space. Therefore, for 10 animals you need a barn with dimensions of 3x5 m and a height of 2-2.5 m. The building needs a stable foundation on a reinforced frame filled with concrete. A timber structure covered with edged boards is installed on it.

Shred cages are installed inside the rabbitry: adjacent cells with a front mesh wall. Most often they are installed in several tiers - two or three. Feeders and drinking bowls are hung on the front part.

How to build a barn for pigs, large and small livestock

For larger pets, a permanent building made of brick, concrete or gas-foam concrete blocks is better suited. The barn should be made spacious so that it is comfortable for the livestock and the people caring for them. Cows, goats and sheep are milked regularly, so there must be enough space inside to carry out such a procedure. Six square meters are provided for one cow, two to four square meters for goats and sheep. m. The room should have wide passages and large doors to make it convenient to remove manure and bring in feed every day.

Video - Animal barn

First, a foundation is made from bricks or blocks, lined with concrete. The base is laid in a pre-dug trench about 0.6 m deep. Next, corners are made from the blocks, they are aligned using a level and plumb line. After that, guides are installed - vertical bars that are attached to the blocks using brackets. A cord is stretched between them in order to see how to make even laying. Now you need to build walls - approximately 2-2.5 m high. It is then recommended to putty the seams on the inside to avoid drafts.

The roof is made gable. The floor is poured with concrete; grooves must be made to drain urine and liquid waste. A boardwalk made of individual panels, which can be replaced, is laid on top. The internal space is delimited by separate stalls, each with a personal feeder and drinking bowl. It is worth installing electricity into the barn, and running water into the large barn and pigsty. Running water works well for daily cleaning.

Conclusion

For the proper maintenance of farm animals and poultry, separate premises are required. Building a shed with your own hands is not that difficult; you can use leftover building materials and the most common tools. The main thing is to choose the right place for the building, determine the type and size of the structure.

For feathered pets and small animals, in particular rabbits, a small wooden frame shed is suitable, which will need to be well insulated. For larger livestock, it is worth erecting a spacious, solid brick or block building with separate stalls inside.

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Many village residents, as well as farmers, breed poultry for eggs and meat. Chickens are not demanding creatures, however, keeping the birds warm will help increase the productivity of laying in cold weather and increase the number of birds. Anyone who knows how to use construction tools can build a winter chicken coop for 20 chickens with their own hands. This design has its own characteristics, providing household utensils with comfortable conditions even in severe frosts.

Warmth and comfort for feathered nurses

DIY winter chicken coop for 20 chickens: necessary conditions for keeping birds

Unprofessional poultry farmers, who only need 10 to 20 chickens to constantly produce domestic eggs, often violate the necessary conditions for keeping birds in cold weather. As a result, egg production drops, and the laying hens themselves begin to get sick. Therefore, it is important to build a winter chicken coop for 20 chickens with your own hands on time, observing the requirements for ventilation and the level of heat inside.

In addition to warmth, there are several other features of keeping chickens in winter that are worth considering when choosing a drawing for construction.

Optimal conditions for laying hens in winter

All conditions for keeping poultry in winter come down to several points:

• balanced diet;
• maintaining the temperature above 10 ⁰C;
• artificial increase in daylight hours;
• maximum insulation of nests;
• density of chickens is no more than 1 pc. per 1 m².

To prevent the productivity of chickens from falling, they should be provided with proper nutrition. In winter, the birds' diet includes four feedings per day. In this case, mash is given in the mornings and afternoons, grain - in the evening, and it must be crushed. Whole grains can be given at night, as digestion of the high-calorie product will provide internal warmth to the chickens.

Note! In winter, laying hens need to make up for the lack of fresh grass by adding zucchini pulp, chopped carrots or frozen potatoes to their diet.

The temperature in the room where birds are kept should not fall below 7-10 ⁰C. If you have not yet finished building a winter chicken coop for 20 chickens with your own hands, you can use heat guns, electric heaters, potbelly stoves and other means of increasing the temperature.

It is important to provide adequate lighting to the birds. In winter, the length of daylight hours is significantly reduced, which reduces the level of masonry. Professional poultry farmers recommend turning on the lamps from 6 to 9 am and pm, but not making the day too long, as laying hens need rest. If all conditions are met, the chickens will continue to actively lay eggs even in severe frosts.

We choose drawings for a warm chicken coop for 20 chickens with our own hands

When choosing among designs for a chicken coop for 20 chickens, you should take into account the number of chickens and the required area. The absence of dampness and drafts is mandatory. The lighting requirement is uniformity with good wiring.

In addition to the house itself, consider a grazing area that is adjacent to the chicken coop. It should be fenced so that the hens do not go far from the heat. When designing, take into account all dimensions and humidity levels that the ventilation system can control.

When preparing the drawing, do not forget that 1 chicken should have at least 1 m² of area. If there is a pen nearby, then you can place 5-7 chickens in the same area. The schematic drawing must be detailed and clear, indicating all dimensions.

If you are not used to drawing drawings yourself, here are a few photo examples that may be useful in your work:

If you wish, you can buy a ready-made project from a construction company, where all dimensions, lighting and ventilation systems will be taken into account, and an estimate for the purchase of building materials will be prepared.

Related article:

How to build a chicken coop with your own hands for 10 chickens. We will talk about this in the article, and consider not only the diagrams and materials, stages of construction, but also the needs of the bird and the optimal conditions for its maintenance.

Required dimensions of a chicken coop for 20 chickens and installation location

If you are wondering how to build a chicken coop correctly with your own hands and without extra costs, then when drawing a drawing, take into account the dimensions, which will help you calculate the amount of building material for the work.

Before making calculations, answer a few questions:

• why do you need to raise chickens;
• how many laying hens do you want to get;
• what size house do you want?

Helpful information! 10 chickens provide eggs for a family of 3 people.

The optimal size of a chicken coop is considered to be 2 by 5 m with a height of 1.9 m for 20 chickens, since such a room even retains a small amount of space for increasing the number of birds. In this case, the paddock should be 2 m wide and at least 7 m long.

Given these features, it is important to decide on the location of the house. Choose a site with a slight slope, dry and on a hill. The walk should remain on the south side.

Having selected a site, think about the foundation. A ribbon version is suitable, but a columnar one can also be used. All this is taken into account in a properly prepared project. Here are a few secrets for building and preparing the project in the video:

How to make a do-it-yourself chicken coop for 20 chickens with photo examples

To get a really good and warm chicken coop, purchase building materials and equipment for the job. Some people equip ready-made rooms for birds, for example, they supply greenhouses or barns with heaters. Really comfortable conditions that ensure high productivity in laying hens will be in a real house with a place for walking.

Prepare the required amount of bricks, boards, metal rods, sand and sawdust, glass and mesh, cement mixture for the foundation and mineral wool for insulation. And also don’t forget about the tools:

• concrete mixer (if available) or container for mixing the solution;
• hammer and nails;
• door hinges and locks;
• other tools for installing ventilation and lighting systems.

At hand should be a cable for wiring, a socket with a light bulb and a drawing of the entire structure. Only after this can you start working.

Here is an example of interesting chicken houses made by your own chickens:

If you do not know how to build and work with tools yourself, turn to the experts for help.

The cost of a finished warm chicken coop

If you decide to buy a winter chicken coop, the cost of construction will depend on the area, selected materials and additional components. Prices may vary in different regions. Here is an example of several options:

Title and image	Technical data		price, rub.
Thomas	Number of chickens	15-20	125000
	Dimensions (H*W*D)	250*150*250 cm
		Pipe with a cross section of 80*80*3 mm	7000
	Heater installation	Infrared	3500
Chernushka	Number of chickens	15-20	140000
	Dimensions (H*W*D)	250*150*320+180 cm
	Additionally, pile foundation	Pile	7000
	Heater installation	Infrared	3500
Dodonova double	Number of chickens	20	225000 with assembly
	Dimensions (H*W*D)	235*380*375 cm
	Heater installation	2 IR included

Mikhail, St. Petersburg:“My father lives in a private house in the region and raises chickens. So far there are only 10 laying hens, but he plans to expand, so he bought “Thomas” “for growth.” I ordered the whole kit with assembly and foundation, I’m happy with the work.”

Maria, Bryansk:“I bought the Chernushka model for 15 laying hens for my mother. It’s been there for 2 winters already, and it’s really warm and cozy.”

Pavel, Moscow:“In the region, my mother raises poultry, I don’t have time for construction, I ordered a Dodonova double.” They made it quickly, it’s warm and has good walking.”

Dodonov double winter chicken coop

You can choose other options with or without insulation, for a flock of 5 chickens and above. When choosing a suitable chicken coop, consider the location on the site and the desired area for walking.

Description: how to build a warm chicken coop for 20 chickens

To build a chicken coop for laying hens with your own hands, you need to complete the preparatory stage in advance with the collection of building materials, and also thoroughly think through the drawing. The work itself will be carried out in several stages:

• Pouring the foundation with all preparatory work
• Construction of the frame
• Insulation of buildings
• Ventilation system installation
• Interior arrangement with feeders, nests and lighting
• Preparing for a walk.

Each point has its own nuances that must be taken into account to make the bird house truly warm, light and spacious.

Working with the foundation

The foundation is the basis of any building. It must be durable and not shrink. You can choose a strip or column base for a winter chicken coop. The second option is less expensive, but the first is more reliable, so let’s consider it.

Work stage	Photo example
After choosing a location, you need to clear the area of ​​grass and bushes and mark the perimeter using pegs and rope. Then, you should mark the inside of the base, stepping back from the first 40 cm and pulling the ropes. According to the markings, dig a trench 30-40 cm deep.
Sand (100 mm) is poured into the bottom and compacted. The evenness of the bottom should be checked with a water level. Then, build a formwork from boards, which will be 30 cm above the ground surface. Make a frame from reinforcement, tying it with wire. And mark the level of the concrete mixture with a rope.
Fill everything with the prepared concrete mixture, which is diluted from cement, sand and water. It is advisable to use a concrete mixer. Leave everything to dry for 4 days.
Two layers of roofing material are spread onto the finished base, which serves as thermal insulation and protects the wood from rotting. To complete the base, create a frame from timber, connected by sawing out the halves at the corners so that they fit under each other.

If you decide to choose the first option and make the foundation columnar, then after marking you should do several steps:

• Dig holes up to half a meter deep under the pillars located at a distance of 1 m from each other. In this case, the supports themselves should rise above the ground by 20 - 30 cm.
• Pour sand into the prepared holes, as in the first option, then make a frame and pour the mixture.

The difference in the two methods is only in the area of ​​the foundation. If you are planning to build on loose soil, which is often washed away by water, then it is better to choose a strip option, which provides greater stability to the chicken coop. If weather conditions do not affect the selected area, you can save money and make a columnar version of the base.

The timber frame is made the same way in all cases. And do not forget to lay roofing felt to protect against freezing and destruction of the base.

Assembly of the structure

The next stage is no less important than the first. Construction of the frame. The work must be carried out slowly, avoiding drafts due to cracks. To create a reliable chicken coop for 20 chickens, do the following:

There are quite a few design options, the simplest option is presented above, which all that remains is to insulate, install light and arrange feeders with nests.

Video: how to build a comfortable chicken coop with your own hands

How to insulate a chicken coop for the winter with your own hands

In addition to laying insulation during the construction of the chicken coop, there are additional measures to maintain a comfortable temperature for the chickens: installing heaters and additional bedding.

If you have a chicken coop that was not intended to be used in winter, it should be insulated. To do this, use felt, sawdust or straw; a good option is polystyrene foam.

To insulate the floor, it is enough to lay a dense layer of straw or sawdust. If you built the chicken coop correctly, then there will be no large gaps and such natural heating will be sufficient.

The inside of the roof can be sealed with felt, and the walls can be additionally sealed with polystyrene foam. If there are very severe frosts in winter, consider small heaters that should be placed in places inaccessible to birds. IR ceiling models are preferred.

Such insulation for the winter will be enough to maintain the productivity of chickens. The hens will feel comfortable, and with additional lighting, egg production will remain at the same level.

Ventilation in the chicken coop in winter

How to make ventilation in a chicken coop with your own hands so that the bird is comfortable in winter and summer? Quite simple if you follow all the recommendations. There are two types of room ventilation:

• natural;
• supply and exhaust.

The first is obtained automatically by arranging windows and an exit for chickens during the construction process. Moreover, it is better to place window openings opposite each other, ensuring maximum ventilation.

Helpful information! Mount a hole under the ceiling with the diameter of the pipe, which will provide air flow without drafts.

You can create artificial ventilation of the room, which will take a little more time, but in winter the heat will be better retained. To do this, you can make two pipes or install a fan in the wall.

If you choose the option with pipes, then place one pipe vertically, with the edge above the floor (no more than 25-30 cm) and in an arc leading out onto the street just above the roof. The second pipe is at the other end of the chicken coop and its upper part is high above the building itself.

Any of the chosen methods will provide sufficient fresh air to the birds, which is necessary for the health of the laying hens.

Arranging a chicken coop inside with your own hands: photos of interesting and correct options

How to arrange a chicken coop inside for laying hens so that the chickens feel comfortable? You should follow the rules for the location of the poles, the height and width of the nests, and also create a sufficient amount of artificial lighting.

The hen spends a lot of time on a perch, on the floor or in the nest. Perches are poles made of 5 by 6 cm beams. This is a necessary condition for the chickens’ paws so that they do not get injured.

They must be mounted at a distance of 40-50 cm from the floor, and between them a length of 35 cm must be maintained. Beams cannot be fastened close to the wall; a distance of 25 cm is required from it.

Note! You should not organize a roost in several levels; in this situation, chickens fight because of the desire to occupy the upper shelves.

The arrangement inside the chicken coop should be comfortable and practical. There are requirements for the total number of poles. Each hen needs 25 cm of free space. For laying, 1 nest is installed for 5-6 chickens, this quantity is enough, since birds do not lay eggs around the clock.

Baskets or wooden boxes are used for the nest. The optimal depth is 40 cm, and the height and width are 30 cm. Be sure to lay sawdust or straw on the bottom to make the chicken comfortable. One or two llamas are sufficient as lighting for a small house. Distribute them at different ends of the chicken coop and do not forget about turning the lights on and off in a timely manner.

Here are some photo examples of interesting and neat interior design of a homemade chicken house:

Heating a chicken coop in winter: how to choose the right heater

With proper construction of a winter chicken coop, you can do without an auxiliary electric heater. This factor is also influenced by the climate zone. If in winter frosts often drop below -30 ⁰С, then the installation of an additional heat source will be required.

The safest and most suitable are infrared electric heaters. Their operating principle is to scatter IR rays, which are similar to solar rays. There are panels on sale that warm up rooms quite well without taking up much space.

Electric heating is safer than gas heating, but due to interruptions in the current supply, frequent outages can occur. But there are no harmful emissions from combustion products and the fire hazard with proper connection is much lower.

Advantages of an infrared lamp for heating a chicken coop

Infrared lamps for a chicken coop are considered the simplest and most convenient heating method. They do not burn the air, maintaining the necessary humidity. At the same time they serve as a source of heat and light, so there is no need to do additional wiring.

IR lamps can be red or transparent. The first option produces more heat, but the second is used as a light source.

According to professional poultry farmers, such equipment has high efficiency, increasing the productivity of laying hens and the growth of young animals. At the same time, the range of lamps on the market is wide, the most popular and trusted manufacturers are the following:

• Philips: high cost, but also reliable;
• Osram: similar to the first option;
• IKZ: more affordable.

Note! One 250 W lamp heats a space of 12 m².

It is enough to use one lamp to heat the chicken coop in winter, which is profitable and effective. The cost varies, for example, the IKZK 220-250 mirror lamp costs only 180 rubles.

DIY heating for a chicken coop in winter without electricity

If the laid layer of thermal insulation for severe frosts is not enough to insulate the finished chicken coop, choose a suitable material for insulation. They can cover walls and ceilings. The process is no different from finishing a regular residential space.

Do not forget about the need to insulate the windows and the entrance for chickens, since cold air will flow through the cracks. For window openings, you can use standard insulation methods using masking tape, and door cracks can be filled with polyurethane foam and the process of insulating the canvas itself can be carried out.

Note! Creating a floor bedding is necessary for a comfortable living environment for laying hens.

For deep bedding, apply a layer of slaked lime to the floor at a rate of 1 kg per 1 m², then you can lay a layer of straw or sawdust with shavings. We can also use natural thermal insulation material: fallen leaves, peat or a mixture of straw and manure.

During use, the litter will be compacted, so it must be turned periodically with the addition of new material. If the chicken coop is located in a mild climate without severe frosts, the listed insulation methods are quite sufficient.

To understand all the nuances of self-insulation, watch the video.

Every farmer knows that a chicken that lives in comfort lays the best eggs. These birds are very sensitive to living conditions, so the slightest disturbance can worsen not only egg production, but also health in general. It is necessary that there is a chicken coop on the territory, and if there is none, you can make a barn for chickens with your own hands.

How to build a barn for chickens?

Most often, a do-it-yourself chicken shed is made from wood or brick. This is explained by the fact that the environmental material will not create harmful fumes and will also retain warm air. The safety of the chickens is very important, because they need to be protected from pests - a solid foundation and cladding the structure with metal sheets are suitable for this. You can also use an elevation, which will also save you in case of flooding.

The place for the shed should be chosen so that it has a grassy surface around it, which will provide comfortable walking. To ensure that the chicken barn does not cause discomfort to the owners, it needs to be built a little far away so that the smell does not reach residential buildings. For the same reason, the future barn is provided with ventilation. The shed area itself is defined as 1 sq.m. for 4 chickens (for 10-15 chickens, a barn 2 m wide and 3 m long is perfect).

Inside the barn there should be nests and perches, drinking bowls and feeders. Perches should be placed a little further from the barn doors. The poles should be angled to prevent droppings from the upper tiers falling onto the birds below. In addition to the usual door, there should also be a hole for chickens 0.3 meters high. These birds love light, so you need to make windows to the east and south.

If the barn is being built to last all year round, then it will need additional sources of individual lighting (after all, the days will be shorter). The foundation must be made of concrete. To prevent various diseases from occurring in the chicken coop, its walls must be covered with lime mortar. It is also worth providing several rooms: for feeding, sleeping or different breeds of poultry, if they conflict.

How to build a barn for chickens must be judged after choosing a location. It should be level or slightly inclined so as not to collect rainwater. You also need to take care of humidity - it should not be higher than 60%, as this affects the health of the livestock. It is also necessary to ensure that the walking area is fenced. You can see this in more detail in the video.

Tools and materials

For the construction option, we will choose a chicken barn with a columnar foundation. It will provide stability and protection from predators and rain. The DIY construction process can be seen in the photo. For the entire structure you will need:

• concrete blocks/bricks;
• sand;
• cement mortar;
• bitumen;
• beams and boards;
• rope and rods;
• shovel;
• coarse gravel;
• nails and hammer;
• expanded clay or coal slag;
• roofing material.

Step-by-step instruction

1. Using a do-it-yourself construction plan, you need to mark the future columnar foundation using metal rods, which are installed around the perimeter and covered with rope. Their evenness is checked with a tape measure. You need to remove 20 cm of fertile soil, digging it with a shovel around the perimeter of the building (it will be useful in the garden).
2. In the corners and area of ​​the future barn, holes are dug for future pedestals. Between them you need to maintain a distance of 0.9 m. The holes for them are dug 60 cm deep and 50 cm wide. 25 cm above the ground are marked with ropes - this is a guideline for the pedestals.
3. Sand and gravel 10 cm thick are poured onto the bottom of the hole. The first two bricks are placed on the bottom, and cement mortar is placed on top of them (its calculation should be 1: 3). The next bricks are placed on top and also covered with cement. This sequence continues until the previously planned level is reached. It is necessary to withstand a period of 5 days for the solution to completely harden.
4. After this, the finished pedestals are treated with bitumen.
5. The entire perimeter of the building and the distance between the pedestals is covered with coarse gravel.
6. To build the frame of a chicken coop with your own hands, take beams that are fastened into the base. It is then covered with the remaining beams. It is necessary to provide space for doors (standard sizes and smaller ones for chickens, this is noticeable in the video) and windows.
7. For the windows themselves, two wooden boxes are knocked together. They are fixed in opposite places of the building. It is better to provide a damper for the holes in the form of a window or a tin damper.
8. The roof can be either single-pitched or gable (the second is clearly better). You can make an extension in the form of an attic - it will serve as a storage place for feed.
9. Ceiling beams are strengthened at sharp angles (more details can be seen in the photo). The structure is covered with a roof, which is fixed using its own individual technology (most often, layers of tiles are attached to the bedding with a nail or adhesive tape).
10. For the floor, a board is used, the thickness of which is 25 mm, which is knocked together into a flat area.

Thus, we get a finished building with our own hands. In the photo you can see the result, and in the video you can see the whole process. There should be a fenced area for walking near the chicken coop.

How to insulate a shed?

For the cold winter season, it is important to provide insulation. This can be done with your own hands at the construction stage, using foam blocks or gas blocks. Wooden walls are often plastered, but this material should not be thicker than 5 cm. The walls can also be insulated using polystyrene foam or mineral wool. To do this, special slats are laid on the wall for fastening materials, and the top is covered with another layer of boards.

If polystyrene foam is chosen, it is installed outside - the material is quite fragile, so chickens can peck at it. The insulation is plastered and covered with lime. To insulate a shed, you can use regular sawdust, which is placed between the skins.

If the frosts are very severe, then you can additionally heat the room using light and a heater. It would also be a good option to install a stove. It can be made from scrap materials and will also serve to heat water and feed.

Making your own chicken barn is quite simple. To do this, just follow simple instructions or tips with photos. With proper construction, not forgetting to insulate the barn, the chickens will lay eggs with pleasure at any time and feel comfortable.

Photo gallery

Video “Homemade chicken coop for chickens”

In this video you can see how to make a shed with your own hands.

Why do they keep laying hens? Of course, for the sake of a daily serving of fresh eggs with a bright yellow-orange delicious yolk. In addition to the fact that a person always has fresh eggs on his table, this product is always in demand on the market. In any case, keeping chickens is not at all troublesome, and the benefits from such birds are obvious.
In order for the chickens to feel good and lay eggs every day not only in the summer, but also in the cold season, you will need to know how to build a winter chicken coop with your own hands. For 20 chickens, 10 or 50, the construction scheme will be identical, with the exception of the size of the poultry house. The article talks about how to build a poultry house with your own hands and where you can buy a ready-made version.

A chicken coop is a real home

We create optimal conditions for laying hens in winter

The winter period brings with it frosts, snowfalls and decreased daylight hours, which can greatly affect egg production. The optimal conditions for winter housing of laying hens are:

1. Temperature allows values ​​from + 12 to + 18°C. Any fluctuations in it reduce egg production. Depending on the region, heating is used.
2. Suitable air humidity and (60−80%) is constantly maintained due to ventilation. Drafts are not allowed.
3. In order for eggs to appear regularly, you need to take into account lighting. In winter it gets dark early, so you need to add additional lighting to the chicken coop so that the total daylight hours is 14-15 hours.
4. No gaps in the walls are allowed. Poultry house windows should be tightly closed.
5. At placement of heating elements You need to take into account that chickens are curious creatures and can get injured or ruin the heating.
6. Before placing chickens in the poultry house, it is necessary to completely disinfect the room with lime.. To obtain an aqueous solution, take 2 kg of lime and 10 liters of water.

Why do chickens need a chicken coop?

A chicken coop is an integral part of keeping birds on the site. This building serves to protect the chickens from external adverse conditions: weather conditions, other animals, people. Every bird needs a place where it can safely lay an egg. Nests are installed in the chicken coop where the chicken feels protected. The poultry house not only protects the laying hens from the sharp claws and teeth of cats or foxes, but also serves as a comfortable sleeping place: the chickens sleep on a perch, often huddled together.

Chickens happily roost

Main types of chicken coop construction

Determining the type of DIY winter chicken coop to build for 10 chickens or more is necessary in order to decide what materials will be needed. If chickens are kept only in the summer, then the structure will be light and uninsulated. For winter, it is necessary to include wall insulation and room heating in the plan.

The vestibule in the chicken coop will not require a large consumption of materials, but will serve as an additional shield from frost.

Chicken coop with vestibule: less heat loss

When choosing the type of building for a dacha, the space for it is taken into account. It is important for laying hens to have a run, so a yard is included in the plan. Typically, a poultry house consists of a courtyard, a vestibule, and a roosting area, which is divided into a nesting and feeding area.

The roof is made of corrugated sheets, slate, and metal tiles. Moisture should not get inside the room. The inside of the roof can also be insulated with straw.

Choosing the right location for the chicken coop on the site

When making a winter chicken coop with your own hands, especially if you are building it for 50 chickens, take into account the place where the poultry house will be located. You should not build a building in a low area. Spring waters and summer puddles are not considered the most suitable place for keeping birds.

Chickens do not like noise: if you want fewer eggs, build a poultry house near outdoor activities or a road. You need to understand that egg production depends on light, so the windows face south, but do not forget about shading in the heat. The soil should also be prepared: the swampy area should be drained. Since drafts are poorly tolerated by laying hens, the place should be protected from winds.

We found out what the location of the chicken house should be before we started construction and arrangement. The photo below shows how well laying hens feel in the right place.

Calculation of the size and area of ​​a chicken coop for 20 chickens

To make a chicken coop with your own hands, you need to know how to calculate the required room dimensions. The formula is: 2 chickens = 1 m² + water bowl, feeder, perch, nests. Therefore, the project includes at least 15-20 m². The height of the room is not lower than 180-200 cm.

ADVICE!

If the site allows, make the house larger, because a larger room will increase the number of eggs from laying hens.

Building a chicken coop with your own hands, drawings, instructions

How many birds would you need to build a chicken coop with your own hands, 10 chickens or 50, but you definitely need drawings. It is best not to be lazy and make a drawing in three projections indicating all dimensions.

Light inside the house is necessary in winter

How to heat a chicken coop in winter

We have covered the issue of maintaining heat using insulation, and now we are explaining the importance of heating a winter poultry house. Chickens- laying hens very sensitive to temperature conditions, since in case of heat or cold the number of eggs is reduced. Even if today you allowed the temperature to drop and tomorrow you solved the problem, the chicken will not immediately begin to lay eggs at the same level. Therefore, the issue of winter heating must be studied carefully.

The lamps are hung out of the bird's reach; a wire mesh frame will do for protection. If both options seem unacceptable to you, then you can use an oil cooler. Such a device will be more energy-consuming. Homemade spiral heaters are a fire hazard, so we do not consider this option and do not give advice on their installation.

Example of heating arrangement

How to heat a chicken coop in winter without electricity

Anyone who finds heating with electricity unsuitable will be interested in learning about methods of heating without electricity:

1. Potbelly stove, heating boiler: although this is convenient, it is, however, quite massive. It is not difficult to install a boiler or stove, but it is better to take this into account at the stage of drawing the chicken coop. A heating pipe is laid around the perimeter, and the stove is lined with brick. This measure will help retain heat longer after the boiler is turned off.
2. Sawdust. This wood product generates some heat as it decomposes. A 10-15 cm layer of sawdust is poured onto the floor in two stages: in the fall and before the first severe cold weather. The humidity with sawdust will be optimal. Chickens always dig into such flooring with interest. The layer is added every 1.5 months, the total thickness of the embankment by the beginning of spring is about half a meter. Chicken droppings, when mixed with sawdust, do not emit any odor and serve as an additional catalyst for decomposition.

After the end of the winter season, the sawdust is placed in a compost heap, along with chicken droppings; this will be humus of excellent quality.

Heating the chicken coop

Where can you buy a ready-made winter chicken coop for 20 chickens - prices, stores

Despite the fact that a home-made poultry house will be cheaper and will meet the owner’s needs, you can buy a ready-made version. As a result, both time and effort are saved. In the absence of construction experience, it is problematic to immediately build a poultry house, and it is not always clear the first time how to properly equip a chicken coop for laying hens inside with your own hands.

You can make a mini-chicken coop for 10 chickens with your own hands or purchase it in well-known and reputable stores via the Internet. If there are stores specializing in outbuildings in the city, this will be even easier. The cost of a winter chicken coop for 10-15 chickens, depending on the materials, is high: on average 120,000-165,000 rubles. The project and drawing will cost less: 20-25 thousand rubles.