Facilities At Elite Poultry
Coops
To raise Orpington chickens best they should be allowed to free range for
most of the day but will need a shelter at night, and a place to lay. The coop
can be an old shed or proper chicken coop. It will need one nesting box per
every three hens, and a place for the birds to roost at night. Quite often an
old ladder works well for a few birds.
The birds should be shut in the coop at night for their own safety as this is
when most predators are active. The coop, and laying boxes, should be bedded
with straw. If a layer of cardboard is placed underneath this may aid in
cleaning. Depending on how many birds you keep in ratio to the size of your
coop, and how much time they get outside, it may need to be cleaned every day,
weekly, or even once a month.
At the very least the birds should have a fenced in run. This can be made
out of 2 x 4's and stucco wire. Chicken wire is cheaper but will not last as
long. A good run will allow the birds at least 4 square feet of space per
chicken, and ideally have grass. The door to the coop should be kept open in
the day so they can return to lay, or get shade and shelter. Many keepers will
free range their birds further allowing them full access to the yard.
In the winter if temperatures fall below freezing a heat source such as a
light bulb is important for their coop, as well they may need extra bedding
most of the day but will need a shelter at night, and a place to lay. The coop
can be an old shed or proper chicken coop. It will need one nesting box per
every three hens, and a place for the birds to roost at night. Quite often an
old ladder works well for a few birds.
The birds should be shut in the coop at night for their own safety as this is
when most predators are active. The coop, and laying boxes, should be bedded
with straw. If a layer of cardboard is placed underneath this may aid in
cleaning. Depending on how many birds you keep in ratio to the size of your
coop, and how much time they get outside, it may need to be cleaned every day,
weekly, or even once a month.
At the very least the birds should have a fenced in run. This can be made
out of 2 x 4's and stucco wire. Chicken wire is cheaper but will not last as
long. A good run will allow the birds at least 4 square feet of space per
chicken, and ideally have grass. The door to the coop should be kept open in
the day so they can return to lay, or get shade and shelter. Many keepers will
free range their birds further allowing them full access to the yard.
In the winter if temperatures fall below freezing a heat source such as a
light bulb is important for their coop, as well they may need extra bedding