Have you noticed that when you went looking for chicken houses for sale that you were presented with list upon list of chicken houses of differing designs and sizes? How do you choose the one that’s right for you, your garden and your chickens?

Besides the obviously important features of bird safety and comfort, there are some points to keep in mind when buying chicken houses for sale. Below I’ll outline some simple things to look for when choosing your chicken hen house.

What space do you have for the chicken hen house? Really, this is the first thing to consider when looking at chicken houses for sale. You can buy a raised chicken house which stands on legs keeping the chicken coop above ground level. This saves space in your garden and also helps protect the chickens from all but the most determined predators.

Chicken houses must allow the free circulation of fresh air both day and night. This helps to reduce the moisture levels inside the chicken hen house but also keeps the ammonia levels safe too. Moisture and ammonia can have a drastic effect on chicken health and will greatly reduce the quality and quantity of eggs produced if these levels are not kept low. Add this to the fact that most chicken houses for sale are made of wood, moisture and ammonia will rot these quite quickly if steps aren’t taken to prevent it.

To lay at their optimal level, chickens need 14 hours of light, either natural light or electric. Make sure the chicken hen house has plenty of windows to allow this natural light to enter all day long. This will also allow the free movement of fresh air needed as outlined above. Also ensure the windows and doors are fitted with tough heavy gauge wire mesh to prevent predators having easy access to the coop. At night time, close the hens inside the coop where they will remain safe and comfortable until the following morning.

I hope the pointers in this article will be useful to you when you start sifting through the many chicken houses for sale that are offered. Keep them in mind and you’ll be sure to choose one that meets your needs and is cheap to the bargain!