Hi The type of coop you pick for your chickens depends on whether you're raising chickens for meat, eggs, or both. It also depends on how large a flock you're planning to keep.
Steps: 1. Build a barn or shed for a permanent structure that will house larger flocks and laying hens. It needs to be large enough for you to walk into and gather eggs. 2. Include an adjacent, outdoor, fenced-in run for hens that reside in a permanent structure. 3. Provide nests for laying hens. (See Related eHow "How to Care for Chickens.") 4. Build a small chicken tractor or a large, fenced-in, portable cage to be moved to different areas of your yard and garden for a smaller flock. 5. Use a chicken tractor for chickens you're raising for meat. 6. Clean the barn, run, tractor, or cage of waste every day. Tips: Start out small and increase the size of your flock after you see whether this is a project your family would like to continue. How to calculate square feet needed per chicken Allow 6 square feet per small chicken. 8 square feet is needed per large or laying hen. The same square footage is needed for large-breed cocks. The coop roosting area needed for each is 8 to 10 inches by 12 inches. Do not place roosting perches on top of each other. If roosting above the nesting boxes, supply a droppings board. Allow 6 inches below each perch. To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The New Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following Address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blindhandyman/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
