Do you know what these four important steps are? This article will give a complete understanding of what they are, and when you're through you will be ready to move onto the next step, getting the plans (a crucial element) and getting out the power tools.First, you will want to make it clear in your mind how big you want to make your chicken coop. The size of a coop directly effects the number of chickens you can raise. And building a coop that is too small can have drastic effect on your birds happiness. From there you will be able to choose a style that you will be happy with and more importantly fits the location you have chosen for it.
Once you have this information, you will want to look at building both a healthy and safe chicken coop, which protects your hens from both predators and the elements. Safety is important and something you won't want to neglect. Step 3 goes into more detail about covering this part of building a chicken coop.
The final step will cover the importance of building an aesthetically pleasing chicken coop. I bet you will be surprised when you learn why this step is so important, and one you don't want to skip.
I see that you of you are already to get the plans and get building, so I had better get started!
Picking The Right Size
You may think that this is a given, that anyone building a chicken coop with know this without question. The reason is simple... You know where you want to put the chicken coop and you know how many chickens you want, isn't that enough? The answer is quite simply, no! Just because you have a spot picked out, that doesn't mean it is the most ideal. You may run into trouble if your desired hen house doesn't match the number of chickens you plan to get.
Every chicken that you plan on keeping needs at least 3 sq. ft. of room in the coop. Going by this you will now have a better idea of the actual coop size, and if it will fit where you originally planned to build it.
As you can imagine, if the chicken coop becomes too crowded, your hens will spend the majority of their time fighting for room rather than laying eggs. If you build a chicken coop don't waste your time and money trying to squeeze the most hens into the smallest space. Make sure your chickens have the space they deserve. So now you are in the perfect position, you can now decide how many chickens you really want to house and build the appropriate coop.
If you find out later that the chicken coop you've built it too big (Something that is very unlikely) you can add another hen or two to the house.
Choosing the Right Type of Chicken Coop
Maybe you already know this but there are two types of chicken coops to choose from. The first is portable, and is often referred to as a chicken tractor. The other is fixed and is usually built to hold more chickens. Lets explore these two types of chicken coop and find out which one works the best for you.
To get started we will take a few minutes and learn more about the chicken tractors. Portable chicken coops have several advantages over the fixed versions, let's take a look and see what those are. Maintenance is definitely much easier on the portable chicken coops. With that said it is also needs to be done more frequently. Instead of bringing the tools to the coop, you can bring the coop to your tools. As you can imagine this also make cleaning the coop out much easier.
Still with all good things there is a downside to this type of chicken coop and we will look at that now. Don't build a portable chicken coop and think that it will last forever, it won't. Chicken tractors are not constructed as rigidly as the fixed version, and it is only to be expected that transportation and movement will take its toll.
The fixed, or sometimes referred to as static chicken coop are more stable than their movable counterparts. And can last for many years with regular maintenance. Now it is very important to point out that you need to have a clear idea where you will be building this type of chicken coop. Once it is finished, moving it will be a very time consuming process.
Here are some things to consider when you build a static roost. The first thing is that sunlight is very important to your chicken's health and happiness. Make sure to build the chicken coop so that it gets as much sun as it can each day. With that said I should also mention you have to position the coop so it gets the most protection it can from the elements. If you have strong storms in your area you will need to build your chicken coop under a couple of trees or parallel to a bigger building.
One more thing to remember when you are learning how to build a chicken coop is never place it on low ground. I always recommend that you build the chicken coop on the highest spot in your yard. That way you can (usually) rest assured that you hens will stay dry. When not placed on high ground you run the risk of having your chicken coop flood. If this happens, you'll learn what the expression “madder than a wet hen” means.
Keeping Your Chickens In And The Predators Out
One of the most important aspects of learning how to build a chicken coop is keeping your birds safe.There are many different types of predators that will prey upon your hens if you aren't careful. This can be anything from the neighborhood cats and dogs to less likely threats such as rats. Of course rats are one of the smaller threats, if you live in the country you might also have to contend with larger predators.
Foxes are well know for trying to break into chicken coops, but they aren't the only ones. Coyotes and badgers also have an appetite for chicken. The fencing you use plays a big part in how safe your chicken coop is. Don't use too weak of fencing or you will have to pay a big price later. Make sure to bury your fence deep enough in the ground to keep out animals that try to dig their way into the coop.
Don't forget the threat from above. Hawks will also prey upon chickens, so it might be necessary to cover your chicken's run with a roof or fencing.
Looks Really Do Matter With Chicken Coops
Learning how to build a chicken coop can be a really fun experience which also makes a great family project.
A chicken coop is more than simply a comfortable safe home for your chickens. It should also add an element to your yard that few others share. That means you should take the time and make it also look nice. Even if you think the chicken coop you've built is the cutest thing you've ever seen take a step back, what would other people say? Many people, especially when they've learned how to build a chicken coop for the first time, are blind to how their coop really looks. Is the coop really as nice as you think?
This would be a shame, since a chicken coop can add a unique element to your yard's landscaping. One that will have your neighbors talking for all of the right reason, and your family supplied with fresh eggs every morning for breakfast.
If you build your chicken coop in the city, you will want to check your city ordnances for any that regulate if and how you can build your coop.
Building a chicken coop requires the will to see the project through to the end. But it also requires something else. Plans. If you set out to build a chicken coop with out a real set, you are setting yourself up for a head ache. Ready to get your hands on a set? Click here to learn how to build a chicken coop and get your hands on some plans! You can also read more in this article.












