Properly Caring For Your Coop

Planning ahead is the best way to keep up your coop. You will need to make sure to keep your coop is dry, and placed level on the ground. Caring for your coop is not as complex as it seems. You just need to make time to care for your coop and apply these preventive measures:

Keep Your Coop Dry

Although your coop may come with a weatherproof coating, wear and tear from outside elements can eventually deteriorate your coops exterior. This can cause your coop to become vulnerable to rain. Nothing is more annoying than having a wet coop. If you don’t take care of this problem as soon as possible, you can run into situations like wet nesting boxes, wet chickens, mud bog coop, and moldy feed. And for those cold climate areas, your chickens may develop frostbite due to the excess moisture. Fortunately, there is hope: As a preventive measure, it’s recommended to apply a water sealant such as Thompson’s water seal clear multi-surface waterproofer, which you can find at Lowe’s for $54.50. Or AgraLife TriCoPolymer KS128 Kennel Seal which is around $48. This will help prevent any leaks from occurring. We recommend re-sealing your coop once a year or at the first sign of any water getting through. 

Secure Your Coop Down

Many coop owners won’t think about this, but states that have high winds, such as Kansas and Nebraska, can become problematic for lightweight coops. Coops can actually be toppled over or even blown away. In hurricane states, heavier coops can have the same problem. If this happens, your chickens will have exposure to the outside elements and local predators. Yikes! Keep in mind: The best way to prevent your coop from being blown away is to secure it to the ground. For example, you can set four metal fence around the coop and anchored with thick gauged wires like the Hillman Group 9-gauge galvanized utility wire, which is found at Lowe’s for $9.98. There are many ways to strap your coop down. You just need to find the best solution for your type of coop. And by doing so, you can rest assure that your coop will stay in place during high winds.

Add Extra Predator Protection

Having a coop is the first line of defense. With the types of predators preying on your chickens, just having a coop will not cut it. Don’t get me wrong, having a coop is a safe place for your chickens to lay their eggs and roost at night. You still need some extra added protection. Motion Sensor Lighting – This type of protection can help deter night predators, such as a raccoon, from attacking the coop. Simply add a solar-powered motion sensor light to your coop like an All-Pro 180-degree 2-head white solar-powered LED motion-activated flood light with timer,