Chicken keeping - 5 tips for beginners
Would you like to start keeping chickens, either for your own use or for commercial purposes? Here are five helpful tips for beginners.
1. housing and run
To be kept properly, chickens need enough space to move around freely. It is recommended to provide at least 0.4 square meters per chicken outdoors and about 0.1 square meters of space in the coop.
The coop should be well ventilated to ensure healthy air circulation and protection from extreme weather conditions. Ideally, the coop should be south-facing for optimal sunlight exposure.
In addition, the chicken coop should have a night closure to ensure the safety of the chickens during the night. A reliable locking mechanism ensures that no predators can enter the coop.
A secure fence is essential to protect the chickens from predators such as foxes, martens and birds of prey. The fence should be at least 1.8 meters high and dug deep enough into the ground to prevent predators from entering. Robust wire netting with tight meshes should be used to prevent predators from entering.
The outdoor enclosure can be designed with chicken-friendly plants that are not only suitable for eating but also provide protection from the weather. Suitable plants include sunflowers or shrubs such as lavender, cypress or borage. Borage is an edible plant with large, furry leaves that can serve as protection from the wind. The chickens can also eat its flowers, which are rich in nectar.
It is important to ensure that the plants selected are suitable for the environment and meet the needs of the chickens. They should also be non-toxic and easily accessible to the chickens. If you are unsure about choosing the right chicken coop, we are happy to help you on our website Sanilu.ch page.