Do you want to reconnect with healthy eating while gaining independence? Does the idea of ​​taking care of animals on a daily basis appeal to you? Do you have enough space in your garden? Then it is very likely that you have thought about ecological chicken farming at home. Because in addition to receiving good fresh eggs every day, your homemade chicken coop will allow you to reduce waste of your kitchen.

However, this type of breeding is far from being a pleasure in reality. So here is 5 tips which will get you off to a good start!

Plan the space well first

Raising free-range chickens is rewarding in itself, but you also don't want them running around the neighbor's! Likewise, we imagine you wouldn't want to find chicken droppings on your sofa. That's why we recommend you first clearly define the space on which they can move. Here are some things to consider:

• Your chickens won't stay outside forever, so you need to think about separate the chicken coop from the outdoor enclosureThe easiest way to do this is tobuy chicken wire which will prevent the poultry from escaping in the middle of the night.
• If we stick to the most common rule, it is better to plan 1 m² per hen in the henhouse and more than 5 m² per hen in the outdoor enclosure. This means that if you plan to raise 10 chickens, go for a chicken coop of 10 to 15 m² and an outdoor enclosure of at least 50 m².
• Concerning the ideal locationl, it all depends on your configuration. First of all, think about practicality (chicken coop near your house) and make sure there is a partially shaded area. Because in summer, the sun doesn't forgive!

Don't hesitate to invest in good quality materials and equipment

Remember that your chickens will spend the entire night in their coop to sleep, and this is where they will lay their eggs. In addition, in case of bad weather, they will be able to shelter freely there. Therefore, you will not only need to choose high-quality materials, but also install well-designed equipment.

Ecological materials to favor

If you absolutely want to have an eco-friendly chicken coop, we recommend building it yourself. You then have the option of buying certified wood (i.e. with the FSC or PEFC label) or turn to recycled materials. For example, you can find pallets and boards quite easily with a little resourcefulness. Concerning natural insulation, it is best to use straw or even linen to obtain an optimal temperature, whatever the season.

Essential equipment when designing a chicken coop

We previously discussed chicken wire, which is essential for demarcating the outdoor enclosure space and also for securing the chicken coop. You'll also find all sorts of tutorials online for designing your own custom chicken coop. Here, we'll focus on three points:

• The perches : Since chickens prefer to sleep up high, you need to think about how to optimize them. It is best to plan several levels, making sure that each hen has at least 25 cm of space.
• The nesting boxes : relatively easy to make (just collect some crates and place some straw), you have to make sure there is some minus 1 for 3 hens.
• Ventilation : Since chicken droppings give off an unpleasant ammonia smell, fans should be placed in strategic locations. This will also help regulate humidity, which can be problematic in winter.

Select chicken breeds suitable for this type of farming

You probably know that not all chicken breeds have the same needs. Furthermore, if you live in the north of France, winter temperatures will be significantly different from those in the south of France. So, in your case, it would be better to choose chicken breeds that are resistant to the cold. But beyond environmental considerations, there are certain breeds that stand out for ecological breeding:

• Laying breeds Starting with the Sussex hen. As their name suggests, they are known for laying a lot: up to 300 eggs per year!
• Mixed breeds (example: Orpington hen) which can also be eaten for their meat.

To a lesser extent, if your goal is to reduce your environmental impact, prefer local chicken breeds.

Pay special attention to diet

We described in the introduction that chickens had a certain usefulness for the waste reduction coming from your kitchen. We can indeed give them the leftovers, that is to say egg or snail shells, cooked starchy foods (rice, pasta, lentils, etc.), bread, pieces of cooked vegetables and even fish.

That said, you cannot don't just settle for these leftovers so that they can stay healthy. It is indeed necessary that they consume whole foods on a daily basis (cereals and seeds in particular). Also keep in mind that apart from the differences within breeds, the age of the hen also has an impact on its diet. A chick will obviously not eat the same thing as an older hen!

In any case, choose certified organic foods. As a reminder, they are produced GMO and pesticide free, which is not bad for your chickens!

Don't think too big from the start

Finally, as ecological chicken farming requires time and know-how, it is not uncommon to see individuals abandoning. Where it gets annoying is when there is no one nearby to pick up the chickens! Therefore, the last piece of advice we can give you is to go there little by littleEven if your chicken coop is small at first, you can still expand it later.

Start by raising 5 chickens to see if you like this activity or not. Knowing that if the surface area of ​​the henhouse is equal to or less than 5m², you are not required to perform a declaration of work at your town hall.