Chicken coops are used by chickens or hens for roosting, laying eggs and general shelter.

You should allow a minimum of 1 square foot per bird (large fowl) or 8″ square for bantams but the more space you can give them the better as they will be spending quite a bit of time in the poultry house sheltering from the rain and wind.

A 9″ perch would be suitable for large fowl to roost and a 6″ perch would be fine for bantams with a width of about 2″. Make sure they are at the right height for your choice of bird as they need to be able to get on and off easily. If you have more than one perch, allow 12″ between them. Perches should always be higher than the nesting box so that the hens do not try to roost on them.

You need to make sure that the ventilation in the coop is adequate and this is vital to prevent the build-up of bacteria and condensation. The ventilation in the poultry house should be located near the roof to prevent draughts.

Remember that is more difficult keeping the house cool than warm.

A window situated near the roof that has a sliding cover so that you can adjust the ventilation is a good idea. It is better to be covered in mesh as glass can break and does not help the ventilation. Square mesh also helps to prevent foxes getting into the chicken coop. One window is better than several, so that you can place the chicken coop with its back to the wind which will offer your chickens better protection. The amount of light you can let into the chicken house increases egg laying of the chickens.

A wooden frame is ideal for the chicken coop but try and get one that is clad with tongue and groove, shiplap or good quality plyboard. If the chicken coop is pressure treated or tanalised it will last for years without rotting.

The roof of the poultry house should be sloping so that any rain can run off easily. Try to avoid using felt if this is possible, because it makes a good breeding ground for red mites. Onduline is a corrugated bitumen which is light and warm and reduces condensation.

Nestboxes are better located in the lowest, darkest part of the chicken house as hens like to lay their eggs in secret places. Fill them with shavings or straw. A large fowl will need a nesting box up to 12″ square or 8″ square for bantams. One nest box will be adequate for four hens. Communal nest boxes with no partitions can be useful as sometimes all the hens want to use the same one and eggs can be broken by hens trampling on them.

Make sure there is outside access for you to collect the eggs and make sure that the chicken coop provides protection from foxes, rats and mice.

Clean out your chicken coop weekly and replace the litter in there. Purchase a disinfectant which is not toxic to the birds and will destroy many if not all of bacteria, virus and fungus that will harm your hens.