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In general, 1 chicken needs a chicken house about the size of a king-size bed or large armoire. Always remember that your chicken needs enough space to exercise and move freely. If you have multiple birds, 2 square metres (22sqft) per 5 birds is a good guide. However, bear in mind that this can vary depending on the size of your chicken and the layout of your yard. Buy a chicken house from a home hardware store, pet store, or online supplier. Take a look at your yard before buying your chicken house and make sure you have enough room. In addition, a fenced-in yard to let your chicken loose is ideal. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for specific assembly guidelines. Most chicken houses are designed for each piece to snap together and then be further secured with the provided screws. Use a Phillips head screwdriver and wrench to put your chicken house together. Check the manual to determine the size of the wrench needed. Build your own chicken house if you'd prefer. Make sure the chicken house is covered overhead and surrounded by fence so predators can't get inside. Most chicken houses come with perches, which you need to install horizontally across its width. Each perch should have rounded edges and a height that can be reached by your chicken. If you have multiple chickens, make sure that you have enough perches so that all of them can roost comfortably at the same timeabout 15 centimetres (5.9in) per chicken is usually good. Align the perches so that there's enough space for your chickens to get on and off them without hurting themselves. Create your own perch by running a piece of wood or a tree branch horizontally across the chicken house. Purchase perches from pet stores or online suppliers. Straw is the most common choice for bedding thanks to its ability to provide healthy germ balance, residual warmth, cushioning, and a fun environment for your chicken to pick through. Wood shavings are also sufficient as long as they are from pine wood and not cedar. Regardless of what you use, purchase enough to cover the floor of the house in a 2 inch (5.1cm) thick layer. Don't use sawdust, hay, or grass clippings. Purchase chicken house bedding from pet stores. If you're starting with chicks, keep them in a cardboard box with a heat lamp hanging 18 inches (46cm) above the litter. Keep the litter surface at 95F (35C) and measure temperature daily with a thermometer. Decrease the temperature by 5F (15C) each week. After a couple of weeks, the chicks will start taking small flights, which is when you can either transfer them to a bigger box or a coop. Pad the bottom of your cardboard box with straw or wood shavings. Place your box in a quiet room safe from children, cats, and dogs. Purchase a heat lamp from a home hardware store or online supplier.
Purchase a chicken house large enough for it to extend its wings. Assemble your chicken house. Place 3 to 5cm (1.2 to 2.0in) wide perches in your chicken house. Add straw or wood shavings for your chicken house bedding. Keep chicks in a heated cardboard box until they can fly.