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In winter, when good conditions are created, chickens can lay eggs in the same way as in summer. It will be enough to insulate the chicken coop well. Under optimal conditions, laying hens should be fairly comfortable. To do this, you need to give them enough space and create good lighting. It is better if the room temperature is from -2 to +20 degrees. In addition, chickens need adequate nutrition. It is better to insulate a frame chicken coop at the stage of its construction. In this case, you don’t have to worry about the quantity and quality of the eggs you receive.
Features of warm chicken coops
There are certain standards according to which chickens should be placed in a chicken coop. From 2 to 5 heads must be placed per square meter. If the room is small, the birds can be housed more densely. However, such conditions can affect the hens' ability to lay eggs regularly.
In cramped spaces, more perches and nests should be installed. If you make a multi-tiered chicken coop, the chickens will feel more comfortable. It is also necessary to equip a winter walking area. When the temperature outside is down to -15, laying hens can be released for a walk. However, this can only be done on calm days.To figure out how to build a chicken coop, you need to decide on the necessary materials.
Selection of materials
You can build a chicken coop at low cost from foam concrete or cinder block. To build a budget insulated chicken coop, it will be equipped as a dugout. The walls are usually built to a height of about half a meter above the ground. Insulated windows are installed on the south side. They must be equipped with double or triple glass. It is necessary to start insulating the part of the chicken coop that protrudes above the ground. To increase the thermal insulation of the walls, you can fill 3 sides (except the south) with soil.
If you plan to breed poultry on a large scale for yourself or for sale, you should build a solid chicken coop made of foam concrete. Such designs are quite warm and reliable.
Another good option is to create frame barn for chickens Since it is not large in size, the beam may have a small cross-section. The frame can be sheathed with boards, as well as plywood or other sheet materials. Insulation is laid between the racks. The frame is also sewn up on the inside. To prevent mice from appearing in the insulation, you should cover it with a metal mesh on the outside and inside. Its cells should be quite small so that rodents cannot get through it. Such work will require additional costs, but the fight against mice will be more expensive.
If the chicken coop is not insulated, in the middle zone you can build it from thick beams or logs. The seams should be caulked. This will protect the chicken coop from drafts. The tow must be covered with slats so that laying hens They couldn't peck it out.
Base
When building a heavy chicken coop, the walls of which will be quite massive, you should take a closer look at the construction of a shallow strip foundation. There are other options for creating foundations. A columnar foundation is quite easy to install. It is suitable for medium sized chicken coops. If the construction is light, you can simply install ready-made foundation blocks under it.
If the foundation is made of piles or columns, supports must be installed in the corners and every 3 m. With this arrangement of pillars, optimal distribution of the load on the foundation can be ensured.
Insulating the chicken coop
Heating and insulation of a chicken coop are the main tasks associated with the construction of such a structure. In a warm room, even in severe frosts, you can not install heating devices. In any case, when creating a heating system, it will cost a penny.
Modern materials are used for the insulation layer. They are stuffed onto the frame of the chicken coop both from the outside and from the inside. The main indicator when choosing a material is its price. Foam panels have the optimal cost. They cope well with thermal insulation tasks and are easy to install with special glue.
There are several more common options for insulating a chicken coop - mineral wool and polystyrene foam. In the first case, it is necessary to protect the insulation with membranes. From the outside of the chicken coop, the mineral wool is covered with hydro- and wind insulation, and from the inside - with a vapor-proof membrane.
Expanded polystyrene also has quite a lot of positive properties. It has better insulation properties than polystyrene foam, however, it has a high price.Mice do not like this material, which is undoubtedly its main advantage.
As insulation for chicken coop Natural materials can also be used. The space between the two planes is filled with sawdust. The walls can be coated with clay. Such insulation methods are inferior in quality to many modern building materials, however, the costs are minimal.
If building a barn for do-it-yourself chickens in the southern region, “folk” insulation will be the best choice. However, in the central zone it will not be enough.
Ceiling insulation
The ceiling of the chicken coop must be insulated. Warm air masses always accumulate underneath it. If the ceiling insulation is insufficient winter in the chicken coop It will always be cold. From below, the ceiling is lined with slab panels. Hay is placed from the attic onto the ceiling. This allows you to reliably insulate the room. If the insulating layer is properly created, the hens will feel as comfortable as possible.
Chicken coop floors
Insulation of floors is carried out according to the same principle as for any residential building. First, the logs are laid, then the insulation is installed and covered with boards on top. To keep the chicken coop as warm as possible, the floors should be insulated as efficiently as possible.
Floors are not always made of wood. It may be made of adobe. In this case, straw and clay are mixed and then left to dry. In addition, you can choose the option of having a chicken coop with a concrete floor.
When planning a chicken coop, you need to take care of creating a vestibule. The presence of such an extension allows you to reduce heat loss from the chicken coop and reduce the cost of heating the room.
Heating
To figure out how to build DIY chicken coop, it is necessary to think about other aspects of creating such a design. If the region experiences severe frosts, reliable heating of the chicken coop should be created. Every poultry house owner is familiar with this rule. The positive temperature in the chicken coop ensures the comfortable well-being of laying hens.
Electricity
If it is possible to supply electricity to the chicken coop, the air in the poultry house can be warmed using fan heaters or infrared lamps. The first option is cheaper. Their price can be quite high, however, they require little electricity during operation.
There are two types of automatic systems - programmable by time or by air temperature. Naturally, for heating the chicken coop It is better to use the option that adjusts to the temperature. When the room temperature drops to a certain value, for example, to 0 degrees, the heater turns on until the reading on the thermometer reaches +3 degrees.
Infrared devices are often used to heat chicken coops. They heat not the air masses, but the objects in the room. Typically, such devices are installed under the ceiling of the chicken coop. When the birds get cold, they huddle under the heater. The main thing is that the inhabitants of the chicken coop should be warm.
The disadvantage of infrared emitters is that they burn out when turned on/off frequently. For this reason, it is better to turn them off quite rarely. Such products consume little electricity.
In addition, it is important to know other features of using IR lamps in chicken coops. Their surface heats up when the design of the lighting device is not intended for such loads.Plastic cartridges usually do a pretty poor job of holding their shape. Ceramic items are quite rare. To increase fire safety, you should make a wire cage for the lamp. This will avoid burns to the chickens and excessive heating of various objects in the chicken coop.
Oil-type heaters for placing in a chicken coop are ineffective. They consume quite a lot of electricity, have a fire hazard and create little heat. Making homemade devices is even more dangerous.
Potbelly stove and boiler
Another common option for heating a chicken house is to install a boiler and radiators. However, this option is very expensive and will require a lot of effort. The chicken coop is also heated with a potbelly stove. You can fold the stove into a small size. The pipe is usually routed through the chicken coop. It should provide maximum warmth.
After heating, this material is able to retain heat for a long time. If the room is well insulated, one heating of the stove will last for several days.
Sawdust
There is another way to heat a chicken coop. It is associated with the decomposition of sawdust and the associated heat release. However, this method only works if the insulation is sufficient. Sawdust must be poured onto the floor. The first layer should be done in the fall. It should have a height of 15 cm. After filling, the sawdust should lie for about a month.
Thanks to this bedding, better insulation is achieved than when using hay. In this case, chickens do not get sick, since sawdust can effectively regulate the level of humidity. In addition, laying hens love to rummage in the litter.This will help them stay in shape during the winter when there is limited walking.
After a month and a half it is necessary to fill in a fresh layer of sawdust. It should also have a height of 10-15 cm. After the same period of time, it is necessary to fill in new sawdust again. This operation is repeated throughout the winter. By the end of the cold period, up to half a meter of sawdust accumulates on the floor. When creating such a substrate, even in severe frosts, the temperature in the chicken coop is maintained at 0 degrees.
When buried in the litter, you can find that the temperature in it fluctuates within +20 degrees. Therefore, some laying hens dig holes and sit in them. In spring, sawdust should be taken to the compost pit. Carrying out these steps step by step will help keep the chicken coop warm.
Ventilation device
To maintain a normal microclimate in the chicken house, you should properly equip the ventilation system. Usually it is necessary to find a plastic pipe of the required cross-section. It is located under the ceiling. It is carried out through the roof and brought out to a certain height - about a meter. If installed correctly, natural draft should be enough to get rid of rotten air masses.
Fresh air usually leaks through cracks in the walls. However, with careful insulation and repair of all design flaws, you will need to install a plastic pipe. It is mounted slightly above floor level. The pipe is covered with a metal mesh. In addition, it is necessary to make dampers in it. Thanks to them, you can regulate the intensity of air flow movement.
Another option for creating ventilation is to install a small fan directly into the wall. It will effectively pull stale air out of the coop.However, such a structure will require electricity.
The optimal humidity level in the chicken coop is considered to be 60-70%. If deviations are observed in both directions, the situation should be corrected. Increasing humidity is quite simple - you should place more containers of water in the room. We will have to work to reduce this indicator. For this task, you should install an infrared lamp in the chicken coop.
To understand how to build a chicken coop with your own hands, you will need to read the step-by-step instructions. You can compose it yourself. First, the base is made, then a wooden frame is installed, which is sheathed with boards or plywood. It is necessary to take care of the correct installation of insulation in the walls. After erecting the roof, it is necessary to equip the chicken coop from the inside.
Lighting
Windows are installed in each chicken coop. Despite the fact that more heat is lost through such structures, they are necessary for the comfortable life of laying hens. For a bird to feel normal, it needs sunlight. The frames of such windows are made with 2-3 glasses. They should be sewn up from the inside with metal mesh. This is necessary for the safety of the chickens.
In order for chickens to lay eggs well in winter, they should increase their daylight hours. It should last about 12 hours. For such a task, it is necessary to turn on the lighting in the chicken coop. It is better if a controller is installed in the room. This will allow you to turn the light on and off automatically.
At first, some hens will sleep on the floor, however, if it is warm enough, there is nothing to worry about. Gradually, the chickens will get used to the mode of turning the light on and off. Another option that can be chosen is to make the bird rise early.In this case, the light will only be on in the morning.
