Avoid These 7 Critical Errors When Building a Chicken Coop

Last year I decided to build a chicken coop with my wife. Her and I used to be obese and we decided to evaluate the foods we were eating. We decided that part of us getting even healthier was growing more of our own food and eating organic to avoid the chemicals that build up in our bodies. As part of this we wanted to raise chickens for the healthy eggs. After a little bit more trouble than we had asked for we finally did build a chicken coop. I wish that someone would have told me a long ago what mistakes to avoid.
ERROR #1: Not Planning Before You Build.
When you are ready to build a chicken coop you must plan every aspect of the coop before you even pick up a hammer.
To build a chicken coop draw out a plan. Collect all of the materials. Select materials that will be easy to attain, easy to work with and easy to clean up. Plan the functionality of your coop. The doors need to open inwards, not outwards. If you build it the other way with the door opening outwards you chickens will begin roosting on your windows. Your chickens will spend a lot of time in the coop so they need fresh air, designing a coop with sliding windows is a great way to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the summer.
When you build a chicken coop you must consider how will you keep the floors clean in your coop. First you will need to cover them with a good material for the chickens to dig and scratch as they naturally do. Hay is, unfortunately, not ideal for this. Second, you should build the coop with the floors slightly sloping towards the door. This way you can spray the hose in the coop and the dirt on the floor easily slides out to the ground below. You will have a clean coop and no puddles of water in the coop.
ERROR #2: Not Giving Your Chickens Proper Ventilation.
Building a chicken coop is to protect your flock. The purpose of your coop is to protect your chickens from the element and outside predators, but you also need to give them proper ventilation. Free movement of air inside the coop is very important, but you do not want to freeze your chickens with a draft. Chickens, are like humans, they can only perform at their optimum levels if all of their basic needs are met first, in this case protection and oxygen. A Chicken coop without free air movement and therefore more oxygen will have high carbon monoxide levels and humidity levels. This is not good because uncomfortable chickens do not produce as many eggs. It is also very dangerous because it makes mold growth within the walls very easy.
ERROR #3: Not Insulating the Walls.
To build a chicken coop properly insulating the walls is very important. The walls of the chicken coop need to have good insulation installed. This will help keep the chickens warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The insulation will also help to keep the coop at optimum humidity levels. When the chickens are kept at the optimum humidity levels they produce more eggs. Insulating the walls will also help to keep the chickens dry. In colder climates when your chickens are dry they can withstand the cold well. Insulating the walls will not only keep your chickens producing eggs but it will prevent your chickens from getting sick.
ERROR #4: Not Putting the Water and the Feeders in the correct place.
If you build a chicken coop, obviously the water and the chicken feeders need to be in a place where your chickens can easily access them. It is important to be very careful in selecting a place to put the water and the feeders. Chickens can make a big mess of things because of their natural instinct to scratch and dig. It is very frustrating to see water and the chicken feed you just put out all over the floor. To prevent this place the feeder and the water at the height of a chicken back. Ideally the chickens will have to stretch their necks up to the food a little bit to eat and drink but they will not be able to place their feet in their food or water. Be sure to replace the water and the chicken feed daily.
ERROR #5: Not Having a Good Light Source.
Build your chicken coop facing the south so that the coop will receive sunlight throughout the day. For the winter months when the days are shorter and there is less sunlight, it is important to install a light in the coop. This is not difficult. They have lights that you can just stick to the walls at any local hardware store, you do not have to be an electrician, it is as easy as putting a sticker on a paper.Installing this light will be well worth the few dollars you spend to do it. It will keep your chickens warm and happy and keep your egg production up in the winter, when most chicken farmers experience a fall off of production because the chickens get less light and warmth.
ERROR #6: Not Protecting Your Chickens from the Elements.
Your coop is a haven for your chickens, much like your house is for you. A well constructed chicken coop will protect your chickens from hazardous elements such as bad weather.
Here are the basics for weather proofing your coop:
1. Make sure the doors and the windows are sealed properly so that they do not let a draft in.
2. Build the chicken coop on an elevated area where it can be drained easily and the least amount of dampness of the coop.
3. Build your chicken coop facing the fun sun. This will keep the coop dry after it rains and warm when it is cold out.
ERROR #7: Not Protecting Your Chickens from Predators.
Build a chicken coop not only to protect your flock from the elements and to protect them from predators.
Here are the basics to protect your chickens from predators:
1. Do not build the coop near brush where other animals may live.
2. Bury your outside chicken runs with chicken wire. You can lay the wire on the ground and then cover it. This will keep predators such as raccoons, cats and even dogs from digging underneath the run.

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Drywall Installation Doing It Properly To Avoid Hassles

Are you planning on putting up a wall in your home by yourself? If you are, then you have to remember that putting up drywall may seem pretty simple but the fact is, you have to have some knowledge about how to put it up properly and you have to have the necessary skills for it. In addition to that, you need to have the proper tools in order for you to put up the drywall properly and in order for you to avoid any hassles that are commonly associated in installing drywalls.
Installing drywalls is more than just nailing it in but you will find that it’s not really that difficult if you know how to do it properly.
First of all, you will find the supplies you need from your local hardware supply store. You can also find it in home improvement stores. The size of the room or the project that you are actually doing will determine how many of these tools and drywall panels that you will need. So, here are the things that you have to remember when installing drywalls.
First, you have to sand down the walls until they are smooth. You also have to keep in mind that after sanding it, you have to wipe of the dust with a dry and clean cloth.
You also have to fill any holes in the walls with plaster. You can do this by using a scraper to apply putty and you can patch after where it is necessary. If you need to apply more than a coat of plaster, then do so up until the hole is completely filled.
You need to keep in mind that you should not start installing drywalls up until you prepared the entire room. You have to fill the holes that needs filling, and you also have to sand the walls again and wash every wall down in order to remove dust. After doing all these things, it is then that you can start installing drywall in the room that you are working on.
After installing the drywall and applying the joint compound on the seams, you have to wait until it is dry. This is when you will be able to paint your drywall with any color you want.
You have to remember that before you start installing drywalls in any room of your home, you need to try to consult a professional. They will be able to tell you what you need to do in order for you to properly install drywalls and they may even give you important facts about drywall installation.
You also have to keep in mind that the cheaper method is not usually the cheap. In fact, it can even be a lot more expensive as making mistakes and doing shortcuts on installing drywall can lead to expensive repairs in the future..
Installing drywalls is not that difficult. However, you need to have the proper tools, equipments and skills in order for you to properly do it and avoid future problems that may arise from an improperly installed drywall.

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