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Do-it-yourself chicken coop for laying hens: planning a project for the winter. A warm shed for chickens How to make a chicken coop from an old shed on a budget

If you decide to have laying hens, take care of where you put them. A good and practical poultry house should be warm, light, easy to clean and equipped for chickens. First you need to decide what type of bird houses you need, then choose a chicken coop that is suitable in size, develop drawings, see step-by-step instructions for building with a photo, and also figure out how you will finish the building outside and inside so that it does not spoil the appearance of the site .

All existing types of chicken coop

A barn for chickens can be summer, that is, seasonal, and winter - in which they can spend time all year round. In the country, it does not always make sense to build a capital building. To understand which type of barn is right for you, you need to know the features of both types, their advantages and disadvantages.

Chicken barn with paddock

winter chicken coop

In summer, chickens can spend most of their time outdoors, but in winter, they basically have nothing to do there. Some drive pets into an unsuitable barn or other outbuildings. Poultry requires proper care, and only a specially equipped room can provide comfort. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of arranging a warm chicken coop even before the onset of cold weather.

Inside should be warm and dry

Since the outside temperature is cold in winter, you need to make sure that the chickens do not freeze. The optimum temperature at which they feel good and rush regularly is 15-25 degrees. Chicken coops for winter should be designed in such a way that this temperature can be maintained throughout the day.

To keep the temperature at the same level and not fall, they build an insulated chicken coop. Walls and roofs are insulated with insulating materials, the smallest cracks are sealed and cold bridges are eliminated - so there will be no drafts in the barn and the necessary microclimate will be created.

Wall insulation is essential

Since the chickens will spend almost all the time in the winter barn, and the days are short in winter, you need to take care of the lighting. In addition to the mandatory presence of a window for access to natural sunlight, you will also need a light bulb under the ceiling. But you do not need to leave it turned on around the clock, in everything you need to strive for natural conditions. The lights are turned off at night.

A chandelier is overkill, but a light bulb is needed

You can't do without walking either. Keeping a bird in captivity for several months is harmful and will immediately affect its health and performance. Winter walking should be covered, fenced on all sides from the wind. You can also let it out into the street at a negative temperature, the main thing is that there is no gusty cold wind.

summer chicken coop

Summer shed for chickens - the design is not so capital. The purpose of the building is to provide the bird with a roof over its head from spring to autumn. It is often practiced to buy young hens in the spring, they give eggs all summer, and go to the soup in the fall. If you do not plan to keep a bird in the winter season and breed it, a simple summer chicken coop is what you need.

The composition of the chicken dwelling includes:

barn;
fenced area for walking;
feeder and drinker;
nests;
perch.

Summer pen for three hens

The configuration can be very diverse. The simplest chicken coop for the summer can be made in a few hours from boards and mesh. The house can be low and compact, you can make it elevated, and use the place under it for walking. The paddock should be positioned so that it is not in deep shade or dampness. It is ideal to place it in partial shade, under trees or under a special canopy.

For large breeders of chickens, they offer prefabricated chicken coops from sandwich panels. Modular designs come in any shape and size, you can easily choose the right option. They are lightweight, easy to assemble, expand and build up as needed. It is easy to care for such a shed, since such materials do not corrode or rot.

chicken coop project

For the household, they sell prefabricated wooden chicken coops of any models. It is very convenient, just choose the house you like from the catalog. The barn is being sold unassembled. All fasteners are included for assembly, you will have to take care of the tool yourself. The price of such structures is quite high, but the speed of installation and the aesthetic side of the issue are a significant advantage.

If you have a small flock, you can use a portable chicken coop. This design is made of lightweight materials, there are wheels for movement. So that the chickens do not stagnate in one place, they can be relocated from time to time. Often only walking is made portable, and the bird goes to spend the night in a stationary house.

Mobile poultry house on wheels

Chicken coop dimensions

Of course, the size of the chicken shed is subjective. But there are certain rules that regulate the area of \u200b\u200bthe poultry house, depending on the number of chickens living in it. Laying hens spend a lot of time in nests and are not as large as broilers. Therefore, the norms for the density of placement of these types of chickens are different.

House for 5-10 birds

Mini chicken coop for 5-10 chickens

A too densely populated small chicken coop will be difficult to clean, the chickens will be crowded, they will start to get sick and their productivity will decrease. The normal density of "population" for rushing breeds is 4 individuals per square meter of construction. If you are raising chickens and you have young chickens, make sure you have a free square meter for every 14 chicks.

But, in addition to the internal space of the barn, the area allocated for walking is also taken into account. 5-10 chickens can be placed in a 3x3m chicken coop. Such a compact barn is able to provide eggs for a family of 4 throughout the year. There is enough space and a brood of new chicks, but then you need to be even more attentive to the design of heating and lighting.

Barn for 20-30 hens

A small chicken coop for 20 laying hens should be more spacious. In addition to the same norm - 3-4 layers per 1 square meter, it is imperative to provide each chicken with a place to perch.

Housing plan for 20 heads

All birds have a natural desire to climb onto a tree branch in order to protect themselves. Ideally, if the length of the perch corresponds to this proportion: 1 m for each chicken. To place 20-30 meters of perch in a 6x3 chicken coop, it is installed in several rows at the same level. Normal height is about 120 cm.

The height of the room should be about 1.8-2 m. This is due to the fact that the bird needs to be cleaned regularly, and with a low ceiling it is inconvenient for a person to do this. The scheme of a chicken coop for 20 chickens suggests the presence of a spacious insulated barn and a fenced range of approximately the same area.

Dimensional drawing

Shed for 50-100 chickens

50-100 chickens is already a fairly large population. The chicken coop area for such a farm should be 15-25 square meters. m. In winter, much less space is needed, as the birds stay together, cluster and bask. In summer, when it's hot, you need more space.

The chicken coop project for 50 chickens with a range has approximately the following proportions:

barn length - 4 m;
width - 2.5 m;
height - 2 m;
walking - 50 m2 (4x12.5).

Dimensions of the house for 50 chickens

A detailed plan for a chicken coop for 100 chickens will help you correctly calculate the materials needed for construction, as well as rationally position the barn in the yard. For 100 chickens, the poultry house should be about 20 square meters with a decent range so that the bird is spacious.

Large chicken coop for 200-500 heads

Large chicken coops for 200-500 chickens are built for industrial scale rearing. Such buildings are never made single-section. Experienced farmers must divide the livestock into at least 2 groups.

In a large team, infectious diseases are easily spread, which can cause the death of all birds. Dividing pets into several parts will keep healthy chickens, limiting contact with sick ones.

The drawing of the chicken coop, as a rule, depicts several rectangular sections. All the doors of the barn go to one side, so it is easier to control and care for the bird. Walking can be shared or separate.

For mass breeding

We build a chicken coop with our own hands

Properly building a chicken coop with your own hands is not so simple. Too many nuances to consider. Below are detailed briefings on each of the construction processes: the construction of the foundation, walls, roof, floor and paddock.

Foundation for a chicken shed

The construction of a chicken shed must begin with a foundation. Depending on what the design of the house will be, the foundation can be:

tape;
columnar;
pile.

Drawing of a small poultry house

A strip foundation is suitable for a barn with brick walls, when the entire load is evenly distributed around the perimeter of the building. In accordance with the location of the load-bearing walls, they dig a trench about 50 cm deep. The bottom is leveled, compacted, sprinkled with sand.

Then a fixed or collapsible formwork is constructed. A reinforcing cage is installed, the longitudinal and transverse reinforcement are connected with knitting wire or by welding. Pouring concrete mix. When the concrete gains sufficient strength, the foundation for the chicken coop is waterproofed with several layers of roofing material and bituminous coating.

A columnar foundation for a chicken coop is suitable for a frame-type barn. At the points where, according to the project, the supporting columns are located (they can be wooden, brick, and so on), you need to dig holes, 50x50 cm in size and about 30 cm deep.

The supports are made up of large concrete foundation blocks or bricks. The size of such a block is usually 40x20x20 cm. At least two rows of two blocks are laid. It will turn out a kind of pedestal of square section, slightly rising above the ground. Then the blocks must be waterproofed where they come into contact with the ground.

Column Foundation

The most time-consuming type of foundation is the foundation for a chicken coop on stilts. This method is used when the bearing capacity of the soil is insufficient or the groundwater is shallow. For driving piles, special equipment is needed, it is usually rented. Concrete piles are placed strictly vertically, in order to avoid eccentric compression, and they are driven to the entire length of the pile without prior excavation.

For a pile foundation, a grillage is needed - a strapping for distributing the load using concrete monolithic beams. A grillage can be made from a wooden beam if the size of the chicken shed is not very large.

How to make wooden walls

There are a lot of options for making walls in a chicken coop. The easiest material for self-assembly is wood. Wood is inexpensive, does not require expensive equipment and tools for processing, is a natural, breathable material.

Wooden chicken coops are good for everyone, their only drawback is the fragility of the material with improper care. If the walls of the house are treated in a timely and high-quality manner with substances that prevent rotting and mold formation, as well as protected from moisture, a wooden building will last for several decades.

Frame for a wooden house

The most affordable method is a chicken coop made of timber. Strong and reliable walls are made from a wooden beam of rectangular section from coniferous trees. The main problem in the construction of such a barn is to choose the right material. Insufficiently dry timber will begin to deform and dry out after a while, which will most likely lead to the formation of cracks and even a skewed house.

A simpler option is a shield chicken coop. A wooden beam is also used here, but only for the frame. Enclosing elements - walls - are made of other materials: osb sheets or plank boards. This technology is distinguished by the speed of installation and the reliability of the design.

Capital building made of wood

It is not so easy to make a beautiful log chicken coop. Log buildings are built using a special technology. Since the logs are very heavy, the walls have a decent dead weight, not to mention the weight of the higher elements: rafters, coverings.

It will not work to make a chicken coop from a log house in a month with your own hands. After installing the walls, you need to let the building stand for several months. So the soil will sit down enough under the weight, the logs will dry out a little, take their final position.

The frame looks solid

Instead of timber or logs in the country, railway sleepers are often used. They are large, quickly mounted, treated with impregnation, which prevents the wood from spoiling. The sleeper chicken coop is very strong, reliable and durable.

Block walls

Another option is a block chicken coop. The following block materials are used:

bricks;
cinder block;
foam and aerated concrete;
shell rock.

Brick wall in the bird house

It will take a little longer to build a brick chicken coop than to build a wooden model, since the masonry is carried out piece by piece, and it is not allowed to lay out a wall to its full height in one day. Brick is a very heat-intensive material. Even with minimal wall insulation, the house remains warm in winter, and in summer it will not be so hot.

A popular analogue of brick is cinder block. A cinder block chicken coop is faster to build, due to the fact that the size of each element is larger. Cinder blocks, if desired, can be made right in the yard, if there is a form. Then the construction will be more economical.

Light, warm and affordable - shell rock chicken coop. If your area has a lot of this stone, you can build a chicken shed out of it. Shell rock is a natural material. Work with it in the same way as with a cinder block. Shell rock is highly valued in construction for its low thermal conductivity.

Aerated concrete blocks are a popular building material. According to its parameters of thermal conductivity and hygroscopicity, aerated concrete is close to wood. Aerated concrete chicken coop is best secured with reinforcement. Along the entire perimeter of the house, a groove is cut in the blocks and steel reinforcement is laid there - for strength.

Big barn of their block

A foam block chicken coop is a great alternative. The material is non-toxic, which is important for poultry keeping. For walls, the D400 brand is suitable. The size of one element is usually 200x300x600 mm, the weight of a 400 brand block is 15.6 kg.

The thickness of the walls for the chicken coop can vary. If you live in a temperate climate, walls in one foam block will be enough. If your winters are very cold, it is better to play it safe and lay in two blocks.

Other wall materials

In the construction of a barn for chickens in the country, other materials are often used, in addition to wood or blocks. For example, an old method proven over the centuries is a clay chicken coop. Our ancestors used this material, the technology has been preserved to this day and is often used by lovers of everything natural and environmentally friendly.

The wall is reinforced with mesh so as not to collapse

For a chicken coop, a wooden frame is built from clay, which will take on the entire load. Then proceed to the gradual laying of the walls. From a mixture of wet clay, straw and a binder (cow dung was often used among the people), they make something like bricks, dry in the sun and lay out in rows with an offset. Then the walls are covered with the same composition to seal cracks and level the surface.

Drawing of a bird's dwelling from panels

In contrast to the ancient great-grandmother's technologies, modern methods are used, for example, a chicken coop made of sandwich panels. Such panels are different, but their principle is the same: between two layers of finishing material there is a layer of insulation. Such a wall is thin, but surprisingly warm.

A frame chicken coop made of sandwich panels is calculated individually in each case. The number of layers, material and thickness of the insulation vary depending on the climatic zone.

The place under the house is free for walking

How to make a floor in a poultry house

When the question arises of what is better to make the floors in the chicken coop, the builder has several options:

wood;
concrete;
clay.

The warmest and most comfortable is the wooden floor in the chicken coop. It, as a rule, is made raised a few cm above the ground, so that the resulting air gap serves as additional thermal insulation. Plank floors are easy to clean. For construction, a wooden frame is made - logs on which sanded boards are laid. Connect everything with nails. Try to avoid cracks in the floor.

Concrete cools quickly and does not retain heat well. If you decide to make the floor of concrete, it is necessary to lay wooden flooring on top or sprinkle the floor with straw. Step-by-step instructions on how to properly fill the floor in the chicken coop:

Clean and level the surface.
Pour a layer of crushed stone or gravel.
Prepare a cement screed (proportion of sand and cement 3:1).
The mixture should be quite liquid so that it can easily penetrate into the space between the stones.
Fill the floor, level the screed with a rule or a long rail.
After setting the first layer, prepare another portion of the screed of lesser density.
Spread the mixture on the floor, align the rule.
Moisten the floor regularly with water until the concrete has gained strength - about 7 days.
Decide what to lay on the floor in the chicken coop.

Hay for warmth on the floor

To keep the chickens in the barn from getting cold on the concrete floor, it is often sprinkled with warmer material. Such a bulk floor in a chicken coop is made from hay, straw, sawdust, shavings. Chickens like to rake grass, dig, such a floor will be comfortable and warm for them. The main thing is to change the material in time, because it will not work in a different way to clean the house.

If you want to make a clay floor in a chicken coop, tightly packed loam or clay will do. Lack of material - rodents and small predators can easily overcome it. Choose an earthen or clay floor only when using a strip foundation, then no rat will dig under.

What kind of roof to make in a bird shed

Before you make a roof in the chicken coop, you should decide on the scheme. The roof can be single-pitched or double-pitched, flat roofs are almost never used, since in this case the outflow of rainwater is difficult.

If the chicken shed is small, a shed roof will do. The angle of inclination should be up to 30 degrees. The main advantages of a single-sided design:

ease of construction (do it yourself without special skills);
the roof is light;
less building materials are used - savings;
precipitation is carried out in full;
ease of installation of the ebb.

Scheme of a gable roof

The slope is best done back - in the opposite direction from the facade and the front door. So you will not encounter constant puddles in front of the entrance and an endless stream of water in the rain. And the snow that will slide off the roof will not block the door.

If you want to use the space under the roof for an attic, a gable scheme is more suitable. For this, the angle between the slopes must be at least 40 degrees. The gable roof for the chicken coop rests on the Mauerlat from below, and on the run from above. The rafters cut into the supporting elements. From below, they are supported by a rafter leg, each board fits snugly into the corresponding groove.

The beginning of the construction of the roof

Then they make a crate of transverse boards. A vapor barrier material is attached to it - to prevent condensation and moisten the insulation from the inside. Then a heater is laid, more often mineral wool. It is covered with waterproofing to protect against moisture from the outside. Then proceed to laying the roofing material.

Wooden frame with rafters

The roof of the chicken coop can be made of slate, corrugated board, metal or soft tiles, roofing material.

Roofing from corrugated board

Doors to the poultry house

An important detail is the door to the chicken coop. It should be the same as the door to any other outbuilding, that is, it should correspond to your height. Most often they make a wooden door from boards, but any option will do.

The chicken coop door should open inward so that it is easier to control the bird so that it does not run out into the street when you enter. A lock or bolt is a must. So no stranger will enter the barn.

How to make a door frame with your own hands from boards in a chicken coop:

Take a board that is equal in width to or slightly larger than the thickness of the wall, the thickness of the board is about 50 mm.
Cut one board equal to the width of the opening - it will be at the top of the box.
Vertical elements are 50 mm less than the length of the opening.
The lower part is a threshold, less than the width of the opening by 100 mm.
Connect the elements with furniture dowels.
Secure the mount with wood glue.
Keep track of the level. The entire structure must be strictly in the same plane.

The height of the door depends on the height

In order not to start the cold while opening the front door for the chicken coop, you can provide a vestibule. A small room literally 1 sq. m is a kind of transition zone where the temperature is maintained.

The question of whether a window is needed in the chicken coop arises only for those who grow poultry exclusively in the summer. Then the chickens spend all the time outside and do not suffer from a lack of sunlight. In winter, the presence of a window in the barn is mandatory.

The dimensions of the windows in the chicken coop depend on the height of the room. The larger the area and height of the house, the more windows you need to provide. To prevent them from blowing, make several layers of glazing, close up gaps or install ready-made double-glazed windows.

Comfortable perches

Arrangement of a bird's dwelling

When the house is ready outside, it remains to make it habitable. First you need to make a hole for chickens in the chicken coop. This is a hole in the wall through which the chickens go outside and come back.

The entrance for chickens in a chicken coop raised above the ground should be accompanied by a special ladder or ladder, along which the birds climb up. The same trapik should stand inside the barn for the passage of chickens to perches.

For large flocks, you need an automatic door in the chicken coop. Such a door can be opened and closed on a timer. Chickens will go for a walk at the allotted time for this without your participation. You can also make the feeder automatic.

Nests from boxes

The feeder can be simply indoors or retractable. This scheme allows you to pour feed without going inside the house. This is very convenient, especially for those farmers who have a large number of livestock and poultry on their farm, it saves a lot of time.

Nests must be provided for laying hens. In individual houses, the chicken will rest and incubate the eggs. It is convenient to bring a tray to each nest, along which the egg will roll down. From here, the owner will be able to regularly collect new testicles without disturbing the birds.

Interior arrangement option

Poultry walking

The exit for chickens from the chicken coop leads to a specially fenced paddock. It is calculated according to the norms, depending on the number of pets. Walking can be open or under a canopy.

A chicken coop with a paddock completely solves the problem of a damaged lawn or a trampled flower bed. This solution is optimal for both chickens and their breeders. The paddock should be bright, spacious and safe, grass grows in it and the birds have free access to it.

The question immediately arises: how to enclose the chicken coop. There are several options:

Rabitz;
fence.

Multi-storey project with a range

The mesh for the chicken coop is selected depending on the size of the holes. So that rats or other pests do not get into the house, and hens and chickens cannot escape, the cells in the grid should not be larger than 1.5 cm.

A fence for a chicken coop is made only around the perimeter of the paddock or it is also fenced from above - to protect against birds of prey, if such are found in your area. The paddock should also have a door for the owner so that he can clean the territory or pour water for the birds.

Choose thick wire mesh

Mesh chicken coop fencing is done like this:

Identical rectangular sections are knocked together from a bar.
Stretch the net on the bar.
Vertical supports are installed in the ground from the same beam or metal profile.
Sections of a protection fasten to racks.
One of the sections is hung on hinges and serves as a door.

In summer, a large shelter is not needed.

Chicken coop exterior

A beautiful chicken coop can be a decoration for yours. You can make a birdhouse of an unusual shape or just approach the exterior or interior decoration with taste. The easiest option is the original painting.

How to paint a chicken coop outside - wood paint. Choose the one that is labeled "for outdoor use." It won't fade or wash off in the rain. Therefore, painting will have to be updated less often.

Chick option

The chicken coop should be painted in the warm season, the boards should be cleaned of old paint or varnish, degreased and well primed with a special compound. The choice of paint color depends solely on your preferences.

If you decide how to paint the walls of the chicken coop inside, then here the issue of beauty is not so acute. It is better to make a choice in favor of practicality. Diluted lime, if you paint the walls with it, will become both a fungicide and an antibacterial protection.

Non-standard approach

The construction of a capital shed for keeping chickens is not too different from the construction of other similar outbuildings, but there are some nuances that cannot be ignored. If everything is done correctly, a wonderful home for poultry will come out. It will be good for laying hens, which will immediately affect their performance.

Every farmer knows that a comfortable chicken lays the best eggs. These birds are very sensitive to living conditions, so their slightest violations can worsen not only egg production, but also health in general. It is necessary that a chicken coop be present on the territory, and if it is not there, you can make a shed for chickens with your own hands.

How to build a chicken barn?

Most often, a do-it-yourself chicken barn is made of wood or brick. This is due to the fact that the environmental material will not create harmful fumes, and will also retain warm air. The safety of chickens is very important, because they need to be protected from pests - a solid foundation and lining the structure with metal sheets are suitable for this. You can also use an elevation, it will also save in case of flooding.

The place for the barn should be chosen so that it has a grassy surface around it, which will provide a comfortable walking area. So that the chicken shed does not cause discomfort to the owners, you need to build it a little remotely so that the smell does not reach residential buildings. For the same reason, the future barn is provided with ventilation. The shed area itself is defined as 1 sq.m. for 4 chickens (for 10-15 chickens, a barn 2 m wide and 3 m long is perfect).

Inside the barn there should be nests and perches, drinkers and feeders. Perches should be placed a little further from the barn doors. The poles should be at an angle so that droppings from the upper tiers do not fall on the birds below. In addition to the usual door, there should also be a hole for chickens 0.3 meters high. These birds love light, so you need to make windows to the east and south.

If the barn is being built for the whole year, then it will need additional sources of piece lighting (after all, the days will be shorter). The foundation must be made of concrete. To prevent various diseases in the chicken coop, its walls must be covered with lime mortar. It is also worth providing several rooms: for eating, sleeping, or different breeds of birds, if they conflict.

How to build a chicken shed should be judged after choosing a location. It should be level or slightly sloping so as not to collect rainwater. You also need to take care of the humidity - it should not be higher than 60%, as this affects the health of the livestock. It is also necessary to provide that the walking area is fenced. More details can be seen on the video.

Tools and materials

For the construction option, we will choose a barn for chickens with a columnar foundation. It will provide stability and protection from predators and rain. The process of building with your own hands can be seen in the photo. For the whole structure you will need:

concrete blocks / bricks;
sand;
cement mortar;
bitumen;
bars and boards;
rope and rods;
shovel;
coarse gravel;
nails and hammer;
expanded clay or coal slag;
roofing material.

Step-by-step instruction

Using the do-it-yourself construction plan, you need to mark the future columnar foundation with the help of metal rods that are installed around the perimeter and are covered with a rope. Their evenness is checked with a tape measure. It is necessary to remove 20 cm of fertile soil, digging it with a shovel along the perimeter of the building (it will come in handy in the garden).
In the corners and squares of the future shed, pits are dug for future pedestals. Between them, you need to adhere to a distance of 0.9 m. Pits for them are dug 60 cm deep and 50 cm wide. Ropes are marked 25 cm above the ground - this is a guideline for pedestals.
Sand and gravel 10 cm thick are poured at the bottom of the pit. The first two bricks are placed on the bottom, and cement mortar is placed on top of them (its calculation should be 1: 3). The next bricks are placed on top and also covered with cement. This sequence continues until the target level is reached. It is necessary to withstand a period of 5 days for the solution to completely harden.
After that, the finished cabinets are treated with bitumen.
The entire perimeter of the building and the distance between the pedestals is covered with coarse gravel.
To build the frame of the chicken coop, do-it-yourself bars are taken, which are fastened to the base. She is then upholstered with the rest of the bars. It is necessary to provide a place for doors (standard sizes and reduced ones for chickens, this is noticeable in the video) and windows.
For the windows themselves, two wooden boxes are knocked together. They are fixed in opposite places of the building. For holes, it is better to provide a damper in the form of a window or a tin damper.
The roof can be both single-pitched and gable (the second one is clearly better). You can make an extension in the form of an attic - it will serve as a storage place for feed.
Ceiling beams are strengthened at sharp angles (more details can be seen in the photo). The structure is covered with a roof, which is fixed according to its own individual technology (most often, tile layers are attached to the litter with a nail or adhesive tape).
For the floor, a board is used, the thickness of which is 25 mm, which is knocked together into a flat area.

Thus, we get a finished building with our own hands. In the photo you can see the result, and in the video you can see the whole process. Near the chicken coop there should be a fenced area for walking.

How to insulate a shed?

For a cold winter season, it is important to provide insulation. This can be done with your own hands even at the construction stage, using foam blocks or gas blocks. Wooden walls are often plastered, but this material should not be thicker than 5 cm. Walls can also be insulated with foam or mineral wool. To do this, special rails are laid on the wall for fastening materials, and on top it is covered with another layer of boards.

If foam is chosen, then it is installed outside - the material is quite fragile, so chickens can peck at it. The insulation is plastered and covered with lime. To insulate the barn, you can use ordinary sawdust, which are placed between the skins.

If the frosts are very strong, then you can additionally heat the room with the help of light and a heater. Also a good option would be to install a stove. It can be made from improvised materials, it will also serve to heat water and feed.

Making a chicken shed with your own hands is quite simple. To do this, just follow the simple instructions or tips with a photo. With the right construction, not forgetting to insulate the barn, the chickens will rush with pleasure at any time and feel comfortable.

Photo gallery

Video "Homemade chicken coop"

In this video you can see how to make a barn with your own hands.

The desire to save money makes you figure out whether it is possible to build a barn for chickens with your own hands. How to do it correctly and quickly. What tool, building and fastening material for work will need to be purchased. It is important to study the sequence of creating the foundation, floor and walls of the building. Understand roof construction. At the same time, do not forget to equip the interior to provide the birds with a comfortable stay.

How to choose the right place for construction

When choosing a site for the construction of a barn for chickens, a number of factors are taken into account.

First of all - the possibility of flooding with rain or melt water. Elevated sites are suitable, located in an area open to the sun, protected from the winds.

Mandatory remoteness from residential buildings. Due to the specific smell that occurs as a result of the life of chickens, it is desirable to withstand 30 meters.

You will need to conduct electricity, heating, plumbing. Year-round breeding of birds provides for artificial lighting of the premises in the winter.

Also take into account the number of livestock. This affects the size of the building and the paddock. The latter should be 2-3 times more spacious than the barn.

The location of the barn affects the internal microclimate. The area where the soil is quickly freed from snow, dries up from moisture and warms up in the sun, allows you to organize walking chickens in early spring.

Determination of dimensions and main elements

The area of the barn depends on the productive type of birds being bred.

Meat chickens: 1 m 2 can accommodate a maximum of 2 individuals.

Laying hens: 1m 2 is enough to breed 4 individuals.

The height of the walls should not be less than 2 m. The room is provided with an entrance door, about 1.6 m high, 0.6 m wide.

Windows with a size of 200x200 mm must let in a sufficient amount of light, occupy at least 10% of the total wall area.

The manhole through which chickens can freely go outside must have dimensions of at least 300x300 mm.

The dimensions of the room, corresponding to sanitary standards, provide high egg production of chickens. As well as their rapid development and weight gain.

What is needed for construction

Tools

Building a barn using frame technology from lumber on a columnar foundation is the easiest option. You will need a standard set of tools:

shovel;
hacksaw for wood, plastic;
electric drill;
screwdriver;
construction stapler, staples;
hammer.

You can not do without a tape measure, the level of the plane, the perpendicular.

materials

The foundation is erected from cinder blocks, bricks or wooden racks, with a diameter of at least 100 mm.

The frame of the building is built from wooden bars with a section of at least 50x50 mm and 100x100 mm. Also used: flat board, plywood, slats, OSB boards, fiberboard.

For exterior wall decoration, plastic lining, siding is used.

Coatings suitable for barn roofing (in ascending order of cost):

ruberoid;
wavy asbestos-cement sheets (slate);
bituminous fibrous sheets (ondulin);
seam sheets (galvanized metal sheets, 0.5 mm thick);
metal profile (height not less than 50 mm).

When building a roof, you will also need wooden lining, vapor barrier.

You should not save on metal corners, screws and nails. They largely determine the stability of the structure.

In cold regions, you need to stock up on insulation. Its use will reduce heat loss in cold weather.

Construction order

It is important

A person with minimal experience in such work can build a chicken coop using frame technology. But able to handle electrical tools. It should be understood that the process is accompanied by serious physical exertion. At some stages, you will need the help of a partner.

First you need to create drawings of the barn project, which reflect the dimensions and main elements:

internal partitions;
openings for windows;
manhole for chickens;
doors;
ventilation system.

At this stage, it is necessary to determine the thickness of the walls, the type of roof (single-pitched, double-pitched).

Construction of a column foundation

A reliable foundation for frame buildings is the simplest columnar foundation. It is raised in the following way.

Along the perimeter of the building and the line of proposed internal partitions, pits are dug every meter, with a depth of at least 0.5 m.

Pour sand into each hole, compact it tightly.

Poles are installed from the selected material.

The main requirement for the installation of pillars is to withstand flatness along the horizon, which is checked by a special level.

Frame erection

In the process, large-sized elements are used. In particular, long bars, boards. Therefore, the help of 2 people is required.

Below are the main stages of assembling the frame.

Foundation of the building

Start by creating a foundation. Bars with a section of 100x100 mm (or boards 50x100 mm) are installed on the foundation pillars. The method of fixing the bars depends on the material of the foundation.

Fastening to wooden poles is carried out using nails, up to 200 mm long. Or anchor elements with perforated corners.

At the points of contact of brickwork or cinder block with timber, at least 2 layers of bituminous waterproofing are laid. The connection is fixed with a perforated corner with an anchor element. A hole in the masonry for a plastic dowel is pre-drilled.

Wire can be used to fix the beam to the foundation.

Floor arrangement

The device of the floor is carried out after the construction of the wall frame. First, logs are installed from boards 50x150, installed on the edge. They are nailed (length 120 mm) to the base and racks of the frame.

Then the floor is laid, different materials are used:

boards (retain heat, but quickly rot);
spread a layer of gravel, then pour cement;
sheets of iron.

The floor of cement or iron is cold and damp. But it is a reliable protection against predators and rodents. It will have to be thoroughly insulated. The best option is sawdust, straw.

The filler floor is obtained as follows.

Side walls are built between the foundation posts of bricks or boards, up to 200 mm high. If necessary, to obtain the desired size, remove part of the soil.

Fall asleep an even layer of gravel. Pour cement with a thickness of about 50 mm.

The article “What is better to make floors in a chicken coop” will help to avoid mistakes when choosing a material.

Wall assembly: the first stage

The described method will help to build walls quickly. The assembly of each wall (or part of it, depending on the length) is carried out separately, on a flat horizontal surface.

A wooden rack with a section of 50x100 mm is laid on the surface with an edge. The length of the rack is calculated according to the barn plan: the perimeter of the building, internal partitions.

Perpendicular to it, every 600-750 mm, install the same racks 50x100 mm, 200 mm long - the height of future walls.

Each perpendicular post is nailed to 1 post with 2 nails of 200 mm. They are driven in from the outside.

Second phase

For the stability of the structure, horizontal jumpers are installed on the nails in a checkerboard pattern between the perpendicular posts. At least 2 pieces in each span.

On the other hand, a rack parallel to 1 is installed to the perpendicular racks. Similarly, they are nailed with 2 nails.

The assembled frame forms the future wall. It is placed on a pedestal. Nailed to it with a sufficient number of nails 200 mm.

When calculating the height of the walls, we must not forget that with a pitched roof, the front wall of the shed will be higher than the back. After all, the slope of a shed roof is always done from the front wall to the back. And the side walls are made in the form of trapeziums.

Window and door openings

In the process of assembling the walls of the barn, when installing jumpers, the location of future window and door openings is taken into account. And also a hole for chickens.

Window openings are formed by lower, upper and vertical lintels. They are installed according to the size of the window. Plus 20mm on each side.

Doorways form vertical posts and a horizontal lintel between them.

The hole for chickens is formed by vertical and upper horizontal jumpers.

Wooden frames are made independently. Plastic windows are ordered from specialized companies.

The door is cut out of plywood. Knocked down from the boards.

Installation of doors and windows of the barn is carried out, as a rule, after the erection of the roof.

Chickens wake up early in the morning, so the windows should face east or northeast.

wall cladding

Sheathe the walls from the inside with wooden shields, OSB boards. The best option for VGL is moisture-resistant plasterboard sheets, followed by painting.

Get a warm shed for chickens allows basalt insulation, which is laid on the outside of the walls.

You can sheathe a chicken shed with your own hands with plastic clapboard or siding.

Details about the insulation are written in the article "How to insulate a chicken coop for the winter with your own hands."

Roof installation

The roof consists of a rafter system, lathing, insulation and an outer covering. When building a chicken shed with your own hands, it is advisable to choose the lightest version of a shed roof.

Work order

The rafter system is mounted on the upper horizontal boards of the walls using perforated corners or nails. The interval between the rafters is 750-900 mm. Use boards with a section of 50x150 mm.

To the bottom of the rafter system, with the help of a construction stapler, a vapor barrier is hemmed.

Similarly, the lower (inner) crate is hemmed with an axial step of 4 mm. The cross section of the board is 25x100 mm.

On the upper part of the truss system, between the boards, basalt insulation is laid.

Sewing waterproofing.

Arrange the upper crate of boards with a section of 25x100 mm. The step is determined by the type of coating (metal tile - 350 mm).

Install the outer cover.

Instead of a stapler and staples, you can use ordinary nails.

The slope of the slope depends on the material of the coating, the range of values is 8-35 degrees.

paddock equipment

From the side of the manhole and the front door, a site for walking birds is equipped. The site is surrounded by a fence. It can be made from boards or chain-link mesh.

The fence should perform the main function - to protect against the penetration of predators. Detailed information can be found in the article “Building a chicken pen”.

Ventilation

In the barn, it is important to ensure sufficient air circulation. Ventilation is arranged as follows.

Make at least 2 holes. They are provided at the stage of building walls. Be sure to cover with bars.

Lead the pipe through the roof. A visor is installed on the surface - a barrier to rain and snow.

The ventilation pipe should rise 1-1.5 m above the roof. You can carry out the system yourself if you study the article “How to properly ventilate a chicken coop”.

Interior arrangement

Inside the barn, it is necessary to provide everything necessary for a comfortable stay for chickens.

Make perches of the desired length. Each individual requires at least 20 cm of surface.

Install separate containers for water and feed. It is advisable to use special stable feeders with high sides.

You will also need containers for gravel, shells, fodder chalk, which are a source of mineral elements.

It is important to equip nesting sites for laying hens where they can lay eggs.

The article "Rules and tricks for arranging a chicken coop inside" will help you equip a room for chickens.

Converting a barn to a chicken coop

general review

Often, a hozblok (or part of it), built for various household needs, is decided to be used as a chicken coop. In this case, the room must be converted and made comfortable for the chickens to live.

We will give some specific tips on how to make a barn for chickens. And what to pay attention to in the first place.

The size of the finished barn determines the number of future livestock.

About 20 meat chickens can be placed in a room of 15 m 2. For 10 birds, 2 times less space is required.

The organization of a four-tier perch will allow rational use of the area. In a room of 2x3 m, it is possible to comfortably accommodate up to 20 chickens.

If a part of the shed is allocated for the chicken coop, then the bird room is separated by a wall of drywall or plywood. The room must have a window. If it was not there initially, you will have to cut an opening in at least one outer wall. And insert the frame.

Alteration of the interior

Chickens peck whatever they find. The room should be carefully inspected for substances hazardous to their life.

Check the condition of the ceiling. If poisonous crumbs pour from rotten boards from it, the ceiling is replaced.

Look at the boards on the floor. Replace if they are saturated with gasoline or other poison.

To get a reliable and warm floor will allow pouring around the perimeter with cement. It also protects from predators. Another option is the sequential formation of a layer of sand, a layer of hay. Or sawdust, dry leaves.

The rotten floor of the barn is covered with strong boards. Not necessarily new. The height of the walls should be sufficient for the organization of perches.

Other nuances

Chickens of all varieties are afraid of drafts. For this reason, close up all the cracks, the roof of the barn. They insulate the walls, which are more convenient to sheathe from the outside.

The interior is equipped with everything necessary for living chickens: feeders, drinkers. According to the scheme presented above, a ventilation system is being made in the barn.

The location of the barn and the condition of the territory adjacent to it are important. If possible, it is necessary to allocate an area for walking.

You will need to make a hole in the right place through which the chickens can go for a walk. We should not forget about the attic area, which, in the absence of space outside the barn, can be adapted for walking.

Planning Nuances

For construction, you can use ready-made drawings, although their presence is not required. The design of any barn for domestic animals is not particularly difficult, the main thing is to choose the right dimensions and outline the location inside the necessary fixtures: livestock stalls, bird perches, feeders, drinkers, etc. You can draw a conditionally approximate plan by hand, but be sure mark on it the necessary requirements officially imposed on such buildings.

Table 1. Basic requirements for sheds for domestic animals

Dimensions	They are determined on an individual basis, depending on the number of individuals. For 10 chickens, you will need an area of 3-4 square meters. For one goat, you need about 2-4 square meters, for a cow - 7-9 square meters. You also need to consider space for feeders and other equipment. The height of the premises can also be different: for a barn - at least 2 m, for a goat house and a pigsty - 1.5 m.
Availability of space for walking	For chickens and rabbits, a walking area is not necessary with a cellular type of content. Otherwise, it can be made quite small. For goats, sheep and cows, you need to fence at least 10 square meters. Most often, pigs do not need pasture either, but a very small area can be fenced near their barn to expand living space - physical activity increases appetite, and piglets grow faster.
Windows and doors	There should be enough windows so that the room is light. It is desirable to make them glazed, with detachable transoms. Arrange most of the window openings on the south side. Doors can be made on the opposite. The openings should be wide so that through them it is possible to freely take out waste products and bring food inside. In the barn, it makes sense to make double doors.
Ventilation and insulation	All cracks in the walls are carefully sealed - there should be no drafts in the room. But at the same time, there should be good ventilation in the barn. The barn and the poultry house need to be additionally insulated, if we are talking about regions with severe winters, then it makes sense to carry out heating as well. Even in the most severe cold indoors, the temperature cannot fall below 8-10 degrees.
Internal layout	For all animals and birds, you need to install a sufficient number of drinkers and feeders. In the goat house and barn, it is desirable to make hotel stalls for each individual, and in addition, to fence off corners for keeping females with cubs. The same must be done for sows with piglets. For chickens, low perches are necessarily made, for laying hens, as well as for laying ducks and geese, nests are built.

What materials and tools to use

For utility rooms, the remnants of building materials that have long been in stock and are waiting in the wings are suitable. The missing parts can be bought, it will be inexpensive. You will also need the most standard tools, which are usually already on any farm: saws, hammers, nail pullers, containers for stirring mortars, brushes and rollers for staining, tape measure and slopes for measurements, etc.

Most often, sheds for domestic animals are made of wood or brick / cinder blocks. Light frame-plank structures are an excellent option for the southern regions, where there are no severe frosts. You can use this type of buildings in the middle lane, but then you need to make insulation. For areas with a more severe climate, capital sheds made of brick and similar materials are optimal.

Wooden structures are built faster, but also do not last as long as stone-brick ones. A wooden shed must be well strengthened, the walls must be primed and painted over. It can be insulated from the outside and from the inside using a hinged profile, shingles, etc. Capital buildings for animals are erected on a columnar foundation, for which it is most convenient to use gas-foam concrete blocks fastened not with concrete, but with special building glue.

How to build a poultry shed

The farm may contain chickens, quails, turkeys, geese and ducks. Premises for different types of birds by and large differ only in size. For turkeys and waterfowl, as well as for broilers, more spacious sheds will be needed. Although there are a number of other nuances. For example, turkeys are heat-loving, so they need to maintain a high temperature in the house. Chickens need perches, and ducks and geese do not need such an interior detail.

It is better to make a foundation for a poultry house of a tape type - made of concrete, so that mice, rats and small predators, such as ferrets, cannot penetrate under the floor. The depth of the base may not be too large - 25 cm is enough.

Important point! It is permissible to make the floor earthen or clay, but you can fill it with concrete and make a boardwalk on top.

Wooden beams are erected at the corners of the future structure, horizontal partitions are made of narrow boards between them. Then the building is sheathed with plywood. On the south side, two or three windows under the ceiling should be cut. The door is made not too wide and high. For the birds themselves, you can equip a separate hole. The roof is made in one slope, you can cover it with reeds or straw, and put roofing material or slate on top. Be sure to take out the ventilation pipes.

How to insulate a poultry house?

A barn for poultry is usually built without capital and does not provide for heating. But the temperature inside should be high enough even in winter cold. This is achieved through additional insulation. First of all, all cracks in the walls are carefully sealed: drafts are the most common cause of heat leakage.

Window frames for the winter are laid with a sealant or usually with a plastic film on a sealant. Carefully insulate and doorways. A layer of straw, hay or large wood shavings is laid on the floor (small sawdust will not work). Ceiling ceilings for the season can be insulated with foam or film.

But plank walls are best processed immediately during construction. They can be insulated with different materials. One of the most economical and simple is the "old-fashioned way" - clay shingles on the crate. This is an environmentally friendly material that does not harm the bird and creates an optimal microclimate in the room. It is easy to mount the shingle, it does not last very long, but it is easy to replace it with a new one without high costs.

Instructions for installing shingles on the walls

Step 1

For the frame, thin slats are used, which can be bought at any building materials store.

Step 2

Thin slats from the inside are nailed to the walls of the barn in a diagonal pattern.

Step 4

The solution is applied in a thick layer on the crate using a trowel. You need to start from the bottom of the wall, gradually moving up and carefully leveling the surface.

Step 5

After drying, the wall is rubbed and painted with diluted lime. Whitewashing is necessary because it serves as a sanitary measure.

Interior arrangement

To ensure normal comfort for the feathered residents, it is necessary to make perches and nests inside the barn, install drinkers and feeders. In this case, a number of rules must be observed:

How to build a rabbitry

A dwelling for eared pets can be created according to the type of frame-board construction. Such a barn is not large, but inside it should be divided into zones or separate cages for furry animals should be installed. Rabbits are best kept one at a time to control the breeding process. For females with cubs and unbred young animals, a more spacious corner with insulation and artificial light is allocated.

Video - Rabbit device

In general, the construction of a wooden rabbitry resembles the process of building a poultry house, described above. But in this case, the room should be bigger and taller. It is more convenient to arrange the cells inside in two rows to save space. Therefore, for 10 animals, a barn with dimensions of 3x5 m and a height of 2-2.5 m is needed. The building needs a stable foundation on a reinforcing cage filled with concrete. A structure made of timber, sheathed with an edged board, is installed on it.

Shred cages are mounted inside the rabbitry: adjacent cells with a front mesh wall. Most often they are installed in several tiers - in two or three. Feeders and drinkers are hung on the front.

How to build a barn for pigs, cattle and small cattle

For larger pets, a capital building made of brick, concrete or aerated concrete blocks is better suited. The barn should be made spacious so that it is comfortable for livestock and people caring for it. Cows, goats and sheep are regularly milked, so there should be enough space inside to carry out such a procedure. Six square meters are provided for one cow, two to four square meters for a goat and a sheep. m. The room should have wide passages and large doors, so that it is convenient to remove manure and bring in food every day.

Video - Shed for keeping animals

First, a foundation is made of bricks or blocks, facing it with concrete. The base is laid in a previously dug trench with a depth of about 0.6 m. Next, corners are made from the blocks, they are aligned using a level and a plumb line. After that, guides are installed - vertical bars, which are attached to the blocks with brackets. A cord is stretched between them in order to see how to make even masonry. Now you need to build walls - about 2-2.5 m high. Then it is recommended to putty the seams from the inside to avoid drafts.

The roof is double pitched. The floor is poured with concrete, be sure to make grooves for the drainage of urine and liquid waste. A boardwalk is laid on top of individual shields that can be changed. The internal space is delimited by separate stalls, each with a personal feeder and drinker. It is worth running electricity to the barn, and plumbing to the large cowshed and pigsty. Running water helps a lot with daily cleaning.

Conclusion

For the proper maintenance of farm animals and poultry, separate rooms are required. Building a barn with your own hands is not so difficult, you can use the remains of building materials and the most common tools for it. The main thing is to choose the right place for the building, determine the type and size of the structure.

For feathered pets and small animals, in particular rabbits, a small wooden frame shed is suitable, which will need to be well insulated. For larger cattle, it is worth building a spacious capital brick or block building with separate stalls inside.