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chickenrunrescue.org Page 7 9/14/15 -‐”Poultry Your Way: A Guide to Management Alternatives for the Upper Midwest”, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 2005 The coop should be heated to maintain a temperature above 32 degrees during the coldest part of the winter and cooled below 85 in the hottest part of the summer. Below 32 degrees birds are uncomfortable and cannot maintain body temperature. Below 15 degrees frostbite begins, and hypothermia increases. Oil or water filled safety heaters (i.e. brands Pelonis, DeLonghi, Honeywell) are completely closed and sealed systems that run on electricity. The oil is heated from within and the heat is radiant so there are no exposed heating elements that create dangerous problems even if they tip over. Heat lamps should only be used with extreme caution and be firmly attached at least 3 feet from animals and far from any flammable item, especially dry straw or bedding. Smoke alarms are highly recommended. Extra bedding should be available to keep animals warm and comfortable in cold seasons. Between 75 and 85 degrees, panting and dehydration begin, above 85 heat stress and danger of heat prostration increases. ventilation-‐ Doors, windows and vents near the ceiling supply oxygen, remove heat from breathing, remove moisture from breath and droppings, harmful gasses and dust particles, and dilute disease causing airborne organisms. Fans should be provided for hottest weather. light: Natural light from windows and/or skylights is required. Can be supplemented with full spectrum incandescent light to follow normal seasonal light cycles and for cleaning and maintenance. The minimum light intensity you should provide should be enough to clearly see the hens feed when standing over the feeder. feeders: Food receptacles should be made of non-‐corrosive material that is easily cleaned minimizes spillage, prevents contamination with droppings and keeps food dry. The containers should be large enough for all the birds to comfortably eat at once or numerous enough to prevent competition or intimidation. Large heavy rubber feed buckets work nicely. Hanging dishes or feeders work as well and should be hung at about the level of the bird’s back. If dishes are outside the coop, they should be set under an overhang to keep them dry when it rains. waterers: Water receptacles should be made of non-‐corrosive material that can be cleaned and disinfected with a solution of chlorine bleach, prevent contamination with droppings and is spill and leak proof. The containers should be large enough for all the birds to comfortably drink at once and hold enough water for all birds for an entire day. They should be slightly positioned higher than the feeder or far enough away to prevent contamination with food. nestboxes-‐ One nest box for every 3 hens. A 12”W x 12”D x 14”H is most versatile. Chickens prefer wooden nest boxes with covered opening for privacy placed on or as low to the floor as possible. If set higher they require a perch in front of the opening. They should be filled with 2-‐4 inches of straw. litter or grass. They prefer to nest in the South East corner of the structure whenever possible. PEN: The fenced area surrounding the coop that provides secure access to exercise, sunlight, earth and vegetation and is freely available to the birds when they are unsupervised. It is constructed to prevent the bird’s escape and prevents entry by intruders/predators. Construction & Materials – Kennel pens can be purchased ready made or in kits, or built from scratch. Local building codes should be followed to prevent damage from snow, wind, etc. Temperament and social structures of flock should be taken into account, and partitions should be available for birds who are sick, injured or lower in the pecking order. Required features: size: 10 sq. ft of floor space minimum per bird (an area 3 ft. x 3.3 ft per bird) is required so 4 birds will need floor space of at least 6 feet x 7 feet. If the coop is adjacent to the pen at least a 6 x 12 foot space in a yard is needed. If the coop is elevated 2 feet so the chickens can use the space underneath, the coop and pen can occupy some but not all of the same footprint. If most of the pen is in deep shade all of the time it would be conducive to unhealthy bacteria and fungal development. The pen should be