Do Chickens Really Need a Coop?
Do chickens really need a coop? Or put otherwise, can chickens really survive without one? Whether your business already involves chickens in some way or another across the supply chain, or if you’re looking to get into farming or a related field that requires looking after poultry, it’s useful to know as much as possible about chicken coops.
Chickens don’t technically need a coop in order to survive, but there are some benefits to using one that might help you to avoid potential losses along the way. Here’s a little more detail about why this is the case.
Chicken Coops: A Risk-Averse Choice
While chickens don’t need a coop for day-to-day meandering or roosting in thick shrubs and undergrowth's, they do need somewhere that they can stay safely, especially during night time¹.
Having a central place where they can rest at the end of a long day or when they are being transported is considered a risk-averse choice for chicken farmers, mostly because they are able to keep better track of the animals across any given period of time. It’s only natural to assume that a few chickens will be lost to predators at night. Having a dedicated, contained space for them to rest offers structured protection for chickens.
Why Chickens Need A Coop
Aside from being a place to rest their heads, chickens also use coops to roost, while at the same time retaining their internal social hierarchy². The idea is to reduce any potential territorial behaviour, which can also lead to losses along the way. The last thing business owners want is fighting between chickens, which also means more stress for everyone.
Just like humans, chickens are social creatures that need to live in the right conditions in order to grow and their full potential; or to lay eggs that are the product of a relaxed, well-coordinated farming system.
Keeping Chickens Alive During Winter
As the seasons change, considerations have to be made for a flock of chickens. The colder months in particular will require a bit of extra work on behalf of farmers and owners, in order for them to survive through the often icy temperatures. Effective management through these seasons mean minimising drafts in the coop, and using sunlight to trap heat where possible while making sure there is enough space for the chickens to roost³. A good coop will account for these conditions, and be built well enough to keep chickens as warm and comfortable as possible.
Testing A Smaller Chicken Coop For Travel
Some agricultural supply chains require transporting chickens from A to B. In these instances, it isn’t practical to move an entire flock of chickens in an existing coop that might not be that easy to assemble or reassemble. A small chicken coop made from plastic — ideal for transport and travel — can be a way to do this efficiently while making sure that the animals are as comfortable as possible.
With a carrying load of 37kg, MPC's locally manufactured chicken coop can carry up to 12 live birds safely because there are no splinters, nails or loose parts.
Visit MPC's site for more information on our recyclable chicken coop!
References
- Boensch, I. (2020, March 20). Do chickens really need a coop? AskingLot.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://askinglot.com/do-chickens-really-need-a-coop
- In-House Editorial. (n.d.). The Importance of a Chicken Coop. Family Farm & Garden. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://familyfarmandgarden.com/blog/76276/the-importance-of-a-chicken-coop
- Mitchell, A. (n.d.). How to keep your chickens warm in winter. The Poultry Site. Retrieved February 3, 2022, from https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2018/12/how-to-keep-your-chickens-warm-in-winter
