Mary Allen
In the spring, many people wish to keep some chickens. They search the internet for a suitable barn, which often turns out to be unstable and not compliant with the law. It is therefore worth taking a close look. An instruction.
The first thing to consider is how many chickens you want to keep and whether they should be large or bantams. Then you choose the size of the stable so that there is room for a few more animals. Because suddenly the flock of chickens is getting bigger and then you should be prepared. The outlet must also be large enough so that you don’t soon end up with a “dead” outlet with no more grass growing on it.
As a tenant, you should also ask the landlord whether keeping chickens is allowed at all. And if you also want a rooster to lead your flock of hens, it is best to get the neighbors’ consent so that their morning call does not lead to disputes. Depending on the size of the barn, you may also need to find out from the municipality whether a building permit is required to set it up. Only when these questions have been answered can you start looking for a suitable barn.
Space Requirements
There are numerous suppliers of chicken coops of all sizes, materials, and prices on the internet and also in “Tierwelt”. Especially with very cheap offers, it is worth taking a closer look. It is even better and actually mandatory to subject them to a thorough inspection on site. Is the construction stable enough? Is the material weatherproof? Does the roof also carry a slightly larger snow load? Is the barn legal? According to the law, seven chickens under two kilograms and six chickens over two kilograms can be kept per square meter. But that is far too much for a hobby, which is why you should expect a maximum of four chickens per square meter.
In the barn, the chickens must have two seats at least two different heights, which must be at least 15 centimeters away from the wall. Any second seat must be at least 30 centimeters away from the first bar. There must be at least 14 centimeters of space per animal on the perch. Animals weighing less than two kilos must also have at least 40 centimeters of space above and below the perch, and 50 centimeters each for chickens weighing more than two kilos. Small stables often do not meet this mass, which means that you have to expect a referral in the event of a lawsuit. The law also requires at least one laying nest for every five hens.
Chickens usually do not freeze and can easily endure sub-zero temperatures. Isolated houses are real mite paradises. Once the mites are isolated, you can never get rid of them. Even mice can nest here. The chicken house should therefore not be insulated. Rather, it is important to ensure that there are few cracks into which the red mites can retreat during the day. Sufficient air circulation in the house is also important. Heat and especially draft and humidity are much worse for the chickens than dry cold. Cracks are sealed with silicone or something similar.
Report Barn Occupants Immediately
Plastic chicken coops are also available on the market, which is easy to clean and hardly have any cracks. But beware: these are often much too small and usually do not meet the legal requirements. And although a poultry house supplier would be required by law to provide buyers with written notice of the legal requirements, they often do not, so uninformed buyers often end up purchasing a house that does not comply with the law.
If you want to be sure, choose a provider from the list of small animals in Switzerland. Their chicken houses are guaranteed to comply with the law because they have been tested by the association. The list and a leaflet on the legal requirements are available on the Kleintiere Schweiz website: www.kleintiere-schweiz.ch.
With a little manual skill, you can also build a chicken coop yourself. In this case, too, it is important to first find out about the legal requirements. Perhaps you know a pedigree poultry breeder from whom you can get ideas for stall construction and from whose experience you could benefit. Or you look to see if there is a small animal breeders association in the area whose poultry chairman you could ask.
As soon as the first animals have been quartered, they must be registered with the cantonal veterinary office. This has been mandatory since 2010 and is used by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office to monitor and combat animal diseases and to ensure the traceability of food of animal origin.
So there are a few things to consider if you want to become a chicken farmer. The more information you gather before the barn is set up and populated, the smaller the risk of regretting your actions later. A good chicken house will last a lifetime. It may therefore also cost a little more. If you are willing to spend a little more money and get a lot of quality in return, you are more likely to be protected from disappointment.