Fresh Air Chicken Coop Designs

When we bring home those cute fuzzy day old chicks from the local feed store, we need to keep them out of drafts and have a heat light on them so they are kept nice and toasty. As they get older, however, they really don't need the extra heat or worry too much about drafts. What is really important to adult chickens is good ventilation. It is easy for them to get ill if they are shut up in an air tight coop during damp weather. Chickens have sensitive lungs and they need fresh air to remain healthy.

Adult chickens are covered by a dense covering of feathers. These feathers are remarkably warm. Old style chicken coop designs often had areas open to the air during all seasons of the year, even in cold areas like Canada. The birds did fine. A coop that is fully enclosed can cause problems for your chickens more often than not during cold weather.

Amazingly, fresh air chicken coop designs also cost less to build than fully enclosed designs. Budget is always something to keep in mind when building a coop, and most coops that use the fresh air concept are only a fraction of the cost of the more complicated coops. Fresh air coops are fairly plain, and if you need to please your neighborhood association they probably won't like them as well as they might like an expensive fancy coop. You can always hide your coop behind a planting or decorative fence.

Chickens thrive in an outdoor lifestyle. If they get to free range or at least use a chicken tractor to graze for greens and insects, they are healthier, happier and their eggs are more nutritious. Fresh air chicken coop designs help your chickens to thrive. Chickens exposed to sunshine, fresh greens and insects are rarely ill. If they get to range freely, they don't suffer from overcrowding, parasites or behavior problems that may arise in more confined spaces.

A simple fresh air chicken coop design utilizes a base frame of wood. A large cattle panel is hooped over it, forming a type of Quonset hut look. Tarps can be placed over it for protection from wind, rain and sun. The front and back are wire. A people-sized door is put on one end so you can care for your birds and gather eggs. The coop is lightweight enough to move it around, offering the birds fresh forage and spreading out their useful fertilizer. A string of electric wire can be placed around the exterior frame to protect against predators. The coop is floorless to allow the birds to forage freely. This saves you a lot of money in materials and bedding. While this isn't the prettiest coop around, it is functional and can be made large enough to house several birds in a healthy manner. This coop can be used year round in most climates.

Sturdier fresh air chicken coop designs may feature more framing and a solid roof. Some of these can also be moved around if you have access to a tractor or other large vehicle. If you choose to add a floor, it can make it easier to move the coop with the birds inside of it. It is also easier to keep out burrowing predators such as rats. A raised floor can prevent wet floors during heavy rain.