In planning housing for your small poultry flock, you need to
consider a variety of issues. Some are associated with the
practical matters of having a coop on your property. Others are
associated with the well-being and productivity of your birds.
Figure 1. Small egg laying flock. Source: Jacquie Jacob,
University of Kentucky. Practical Aspects of Housing Poultry on
Your Property There are several logistical aspects to having
poultry housing on your property. When deciding on a location
and design for your poultry house, answer the following
questions: - How close are you to your neighbors? Do any city
ordinances specify the minimum distance that certain structures
must be from a property line? - Do you want portable housing
(suitable for pasture-raised poultry) or fixed housing? - Will
the structure be designed for your convenience—that is, for ease
in gathering eggs, cleaning, disinfecting, accessing electrical
components, watering the flock, catching birds, and so on? - Is
the design suitable for expansion