Building Chicken Coops
If you’ve been trying to figure how to go about building chicken coops, then you’ve come to the right place.
My Favorite Chicken Coop Building Guide
There are a variety of different chicken coops that you can build, but understanding which one is going to best fit your needs is important for getting optimal results. If you spend the money on a chicken house, it only makes sense that it needs to match your individual needs, so getting started on the right foot is important.
Here are some main things to consider before deciding what type of coop to build.
Size
One of the most important factors that will need to be looked at is the size of chicken coop you want to build. There are small, medium, and large plans for the chicken coops, each which accommodates a certain number of chickens.
The biggest mistake you can make is trying to cram too many chickens into your coop. Because each chicken requires so much area to feel comfortable and lay eggs properly, you’ll really want to make sure you’re choosing your size wisely.
It’s always better to error on the size of being too big than being too small, plus then you can always add more birds to the chicken coop if you want later on.
Portable Versus Fixed
Next you should ask yourself is whether you want your chicken coop to be portable or one that’s fixed instead. Portable chicken coops give you the advantage of being able to move it around to wherever you are, so if you’re someone who likes to keep the chickens as pets, this makes for a very attractive option.
Also, having a mobile chicken coop allows for easier maintenance since you can simply move the chicken coop to wherever you need to clean it.
Protection
Factor in protection from predators as you make your decision what type of chicken coop to make as well. Ideally you should have a very solid fencing system to keep all varieties of predators out. This will have to be built to match the size of the coop you’re building as well. Consider putting chicken wire to keep the wild life away.
And also if you have a fixed coop, you may want to pour some cement around it, to keep the animals from going in the ground and getting inside the coop, as that can present another danger for your flock.
Location
Where you place the coop is important for a couple of reasons.
First you want to make sure you have a flat surface so you it sits nice and even. Also make sure to keep it further away from any wooded area if possible. This will help keep the predators away, and if it’s close to your home, you can keep an eye on it.
Remember that protecting your flock from any danger is the number one priority.
Nesting Boxes
If you want to enjoy fresh organic eggs, you need to create the best environment for your laying hens. Each nesting box is good for about 4 to 5 hens. Place them in the darkest corners of the coop and slightly off the ground.
Lay some hay inside the nesting boxes to keep the birds warm, especially in the winter. And make sure you clean it often.
Roosting
As you know chickens love to roost. So make sure to have roosting poles, sitting up high for a place of sleep and relaxation.
Chicken Run
When looking at where to place your chicken house, don’t overlook the fact that you’ll need a place by the coop for a chicken run. Your birds need to move, so allow plenty of space for the chicken run.
Appearance
Finally, think about the overall appearance of what you want your chicken coop to look like. There are a number of different ways you can build the chicken coop which will impact the overall design of the chicken coop. This will also likely influence the cost of the building process, so it’s something to think about and work within your budget.
There are definitely cheaper methods to build your chicken coop so understanding the different things that will influence the cost is the first step to making a smart decision.
Building chicken coops can be fun and something your family can enjoy for years, so here is my favorite chicken coop building guide that has everything you need to make this project for you as easy as possible with:
- lots of tips and shortcuts
- step-by-step instructions
- multiple guides on different aspects of building chicken coops
- blueprints and layouts
- a video library with everything about raising chickens
- and much more…
