April 7, 2025|Chickens, Gardening, Homesteading, Tips
Hey there, it’s Kara from Lange Girl Farms! With 15 years of country life, I’ve raised chickens naturally alongside ducks, horses, and more. But my first coop? A mess! I’ve since figured it out, and I’m sharing the top five mistakes I made so you can skip the headaches. Here’s what my hens taught me about building a holistic, happy home.
Mistake 1: Too Small for Comfort
My first coop squeezed ten hens into 20 square feet—chaos! They need 4 square feet each inside, plus a run. Now I have a massive coop to fit my ever growing flock and likely will come with an addition in the future.
Mistake 2: Poor Airflow
I sealed it tight—big mistake. Dampness bred trouble ‘til I added vents. Fresh air’s a must for natural health—no stinky coops here!
Mistake 3: Predator Fails
A fox nabbed my favorite hen ‘cause I skipped wire burying. Now I have a chicken coop Fort Knox with hardware cloth You can find it here thru my affiliate link (https://amzn.to/43LPCDL) for securing 9’ walls in their run or open vents on the coop, but I use chicken wire in the ground wire You can find it here thru my affiliate link (https://amzn.to/3YdoKsn) — my flock’s safe.
Mistake 4: Skimping on Nesting
No boxes meant eggs everywhere. One per 3-4 hens, stuffed with straw or bedding pine flakes, is my rule now—comfy and clean. Personally I use the flakes as its easier to degrade in compost.
Mistake 5: Hard-to-Clean Design
My first coop was a nightmare to muck out. A wide door’s my fix—saves time and keeps it holistic with less stress.
These lessons took years and a few lost feathers, but my hens thrive now. Pin this to save your flock, and follow Lange Girl Farms for more natural chicken tips!