How to Maintain a Backyard Chicken Coop
You’ve undoubtedly put a lot of time and energy into getting your chicken coop set up. Of course, it would be a huge disappointment to see it fail for lack of proper maintenance. The good news is that keeping a chicken coop well maintained and in good repair doesn’t have to be too hard, if you keep up with it regularly. These are the main things to consider when it comes to maintaining a chicken coop.
Don’t Overlook the Door
The door is one part of the coop that is in constant use, since you’ll use it daily when you feed and water your chickens. This is why it’s important to monitor the state of the door on a regular basis. Make sure to repair the door right away if you notice that the latch is beginning to loosen, otherwise your chickens may escape.
If you notice that you repeatedly have issues with the door, you may want to think about replacing it entirely or installing a new and more secure latch. In any case, you should ensure that the latch is properly bolted to the door.
Every farmer has their own preference when it comes to opening the door, so take some time to experiment and see what works best for you.
Check Your Fence Regularly
At least on a monthly basis, you should monitor the structural integrity of the fence. If you know that there are predators that regularly visit the area, they may try to get in and can affect the stability of your fence. If you notice damage, rebuild or repair it as needed.
Depending on the strength and materials of the fence, some fences may weaken and topple with time. This is why it’s important to test different areas of the fence to make sure it is still sound.
Check the Feeders
It’s important to monitor the feeders inside the chicken coop closely on a daily basis. If you notice that the feeders are broken and in disrepair, this could indicate conflict among the chickens in the coop. This is a sign that you may want to install an additional feeder so that the birds won’t have to fight for access.
You should also observe how your chickens respond to the height of the feeder. Some chickens prefer a feeder lower to the ground, while others prefer them higher up. Try to place the feeder in a location that is convenient for all of your chickens.
Sometimes the feeder will only need to be moved an inch or two, but this can make a big difference in the ability of the chickens to access the food.
The important thing to remember is not to neglect your chicken coop. If you opt for a mobile chicken coop, maintenance is even easier, since you can easily position the coop wherever you happen to be. If you have a stationary coop, it works best to create a weekly or monthly maintenance schedule to keep things on track.
