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.

Don’t Overlook the Door

The door is a crucial part of the coop, since a damaged door could easily allow your chickens to escape the coop. Since you use the door on a daily basis, it gets more wear and tear than many parts of the coop. Be sure to monitor it regularly for signs of damage or wear, and repair it immediately if you notice that the latch is beginning to weaken.

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.

Check Your Fence Regularly

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.

Inspect the 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.

Sometimes the feeder will only need to be moved an inch or two, but this can make a big difference in the ability of the chickens to access the food.

So, don’t neglect the maintenance of your chicken coop. If you decided to go with a mobile chicken coop you’ll find that maintenance does tend to be quite a bit easier since you can just move the coop to wherever you are. If you didn’t, than that just means regularly planning maintenance into your weekly or monthly schedule as you see fit.