If you’ve set up a backyard chicken coop, then you have undoubtedly spent a lot of hard work getting everything set up. It would be a terrible waste to see the coop begin to deteriorate from lack of care. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be too difficult to keep a chicken coop running smoothly and in good repair, provided you keep up with things on a regular basis.

Here’s what you should pay the most attention to in caring for your chicken coop.

Pay Attention To The Door

Since the door is one area of the coop that’s going to be constantly moving as you go in and out to feed the chickens, it’s something you’ll want to watch and maintain regularly. If the latch is becoming loose, be sure you fix this immediately so your chickens don’t find a way to escape out.

If it seems that you are continuously having problems with the door, then you may want to replace it altogether, or at the very least, change the latch to something more secure. In either event, be sure to bolt the latch securely to the door.

Chances are you’ll have your own preference when it comes to opening the door, so take some time to figure out what is most convenient.

Routinely Check the Fence

Another aspect of the chicken house that should be monitored at least once a month is the structure of the fence. If you do have predators that come around frequently, they may attempt to get in which can impact the stableness of your fence, calling for some rebuilding if necessary.

Depending on the strength and materials of the fence, some fences may weaken and topple with time. This is why it’s important to test different areas of the fence to make sure it is still sound.

Check Feeders

Keeping a close eye on the feeders located in the chicken coop is also vital since these will be used on a daily basis. In some cases if the feeders are very beat up it could be a signal you should consider installing another one into the coop as the chickens may be constantly fighting over food and picking at the feeder.

You should also observe how your chickens respond to the height of the feeder. Some chickens prefer a feeder lower to the ground, while others prefer them higher up. Try to place the feeder in a location that is convenient for all of your chickens.

In many cases, the feeder won’t need to be moved more than an inch or two, but this is quite important when it comes to the chickens’ ability to access the food easily.

It is critical to maintain your chicken coop regularly. If you have decided on a mobile chicken coop, this task is quite simple, since you can easily move the coop to wherever you are. If you’ve chosen a stationary chicken coop, the best way to keep on top of things is to create a weekly or monthly maintenance schedule and stick to it.