Choosing the Right Chicken Coops for Your Chickens

Getting the right chicken coop is vitally important for your chickens and size is probably the most important thing when thinking about what type of chicken coop you will purchase. First deciding how many chickens you are going to have will be the a priority and then you will need to decide whether you want a standalone chicken coop or a chicken coop that has an enclosed fence which means that when your chickens leave the coop they are within their own enclosed area. Many people prefer this because it means whilst the chickens have enough space they will not be roaming completely free in the garden and digging up any expensive plants. Chickens are known to like digging and foraging about and it is certain that if they are completely free in the garden they will make a mess.
The next thing to think about is how many chickens you are going to keep. A small chicken coop will hold a few chickens (3 or 4) comfortably but if you are planning on adding to your flock, you might want to start off with a larger coop to save on expense later on. Most chicken coops are raised above ground level but don't be tempted to buy the ones that aren't, if you did you may run the risk of infestation of rats or mice who will be lurking around anyway because of the chickens food source.
Chicken coops come in all shapes and sizes, many are single storey coops and some have two or three floors, generally the larger ones. Coops will two or three floors are probably the better ones to opt for simply because chickens, especially cockerels like to roost high and in the event of a fox visit, having floors will reduce the risk of the chickens being caught.
Chicken coops should be kept clean at all times and cleaned out at least once a week to avoid the bedding becoming too damp. Straw or sawdust is the best bedding to use; hay is generally not recommended because once it gets wet it can give off harmful bacteria which in some circumstances can harm the chickens.
Nest boxes are generally incorporated within the coops and these especially should be kept clean and free of any mess. Hens generally don't like to lay on soiled bedding in nest boxes and will lay elsewhere if they are too soiled, this means you are more likely to have broken eggs and even eggs laid outside of the coop.
ukchickens offer a wide range of chicken eggs from a wide variety of chicken breeds, we also offer advice and information on keeping chickens.