Four Tips To Build a Better Chicken Coop

Do you know what these four important tips are? We will cover them in this article, and when you're completed you will be ready to move onto the next step, purchase some high quality plans, and getting out the toolbox.

Before we talk about any other aspects of building a hen house we need to discuss the size of the 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. Once we have covered that you will be able to pick out the style that best suits your needs and the amount of space you have.

Once you have this information, you will want to look at building both a safe and health coop. 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. But you may be surprised when you find out how important this step really is.

Some of you may already be itching to break out the power tools, so I will get started and show you how to build a chicken coop.

Tip 1 - Building the Chicken Coop to Fit

I know what you're thinking, and to be honest I thought this myself once. If you know where you plan on placing the coop and you have a ballpark estimate of the amount of chickens you want to raise, isn't that all there is to it? If you've guessed that the answer is no you're correct. It doesn't matter if you already have a spot picked out, and the number of chickens set in stone. You may have to change your plans if the site isn't the most ideal. You may run into trouble if your desired hen house doesn't match the number of chickens you plan to get.

Each chicken requires at least 3 square feet of room inside of the chicken coop. As you can see, this will directly influence how many chickens you can hold, and where you can build your coop.

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. Since most people build chicken coops for the eggs, this would turn out to be a waste. So now is the perfect time to decide how many chickens you plan to raise.

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.

Tip 2 – Choosing the Style That Fits


You might already know this but let's say this for those who don't know. But there are two designs of chicken coops to pick from. The first style we'll talk about is a portable one, which is often referred to as a chicken tractor. The next one we'll talk about is the fixed or static chicken coop. This one is built to last but it also has it draw backs. Let's look at the two types and you can get a better idea of what best suits your needs.

To start let's have a look at the portable versions. As you might have already guessed there are a couple of different benefits to building a portable chicken coop. Since you can move the coop around, maintenance is much easier. Have you ever lost a tool in the yard only to find it later with the lawn mower? When you build a portable chicken coop you have the option of bring the coop to you tools, rather than the other way around. Cleaning the coop is also easier with portable hen houses.

However, there is a downside to building a portable chicken coop and we will need to look at that, too. Chicken tractors aren't built to last a long time so don't get your hopes up when it is finished. It should be clear that you will have to preform a lot of maintenance, and eventually completely replace your coop, if you choose mobility rather than stability. 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.

Strength and security is the major advantage a fixed chicken coop has over the portable versions. Planing is a big part of building a fixed chicken coop, so choose wisely. 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. For starters, access to sunlight is a big part in keeping your chickens healthy. Don't forget to build your chicken coop so that it get as much sun as it can each day. But you will also want provide your coop with protection from the other 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.

A beginner's mistake, especially if this is the first chicken coop you've built, is placing it on a low spot in your yard. Make sure to build it on the a higher part of your yard. If you get strong storms, your chicken coop could become flooded. If this happens, you'll learn what the expression “madder than a wet hen” means.

Tip 3 – Keeping the Chickens in and the Vermin 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. The cats and dogs in your area an be just as much of a threat as the 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.

These can include the likes of: foxes, coyotes, and badgers. 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. You will also want to bury your fence deep enough underground. Some animals will try very hard to dig their way into your chicken coop, make sure that doesn't happen!

Don't forget the threat from above. Hawks will also prey upon chickens, if you know you have them in your area you may also want to cover your chicken run.

Tip 4 – Make It a Looker

Learning how to build a chicken coop is more than throwing together some lumber.

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. Nobody likes an eyesore, and if you don't take the time to finish out your chicken coop, you might get complaints rather than compliments from your neighbors.

Don't leave this part of building a chicken coop to take care of itself, because it won't. Coops can add a wonderful aspect to your yard's landscaping, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. And this is one piece of landscaping that will get you neighbors talking for all of the right reasons. They will also be envious over all of the fresh eggs you get to enjoy!

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.

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How To Build A Chicken Coop That Lives Up To Its Name

Now that you are about to build a chicken coop, there are several things that you need to think about.

As you can imagine, there are more than a couple of types you can easily build yourself. But before you rush out and get the material ask yourself these questions:

How Many Chickens?

How many chicken do you plan on holding? If you're going to build a chicken coop, you need to ask yourself this question first. This is a very important element of a chicken coop, and one that many beginners fail to answer.

The number of chickens is directly responsible for the size of the chicken coop. If you plan on raising 10 chickens, your coop would need to be at least 30 square feet. Each bird requires a minimum of 3 square feet of living space. It is always a good idea to build the chicken coop larger than you actually need. This allows you add more chickens in the future, but more importantly it gives your chickens more living space.

Failure to give the chickens enough space will result in poor egg production and produce other problems in the chicken coop.

The Two Types of Chicken Coops

There are two types of chicken coops for you to learn how to build. The first one is portable. There are several reasons why you might choose to build a portable chicken coop. One of them is ease of maintenance and cleaning. Another is the flexibility to take the chickens with you. If you plan to raise the chickens as pets, a portable chicken coop is a good option.

If you prefer durability, a transportable version might not be what you are looking for. In that case you would want to look at a fixed chicken coop. It provides you with a stable steadfast construction that both you and your chickens will appreciate.

Don't worry, if you can build a portable chicken coop, you can build a fixed chicken coop just as easily.

The Protection Factor

This is also a very important part of learning how to build a chicken coop. And one that shouldn't be overlooked. If you are building a chicken coop for the city, you will be up against just as many predators as in the country. Several common dangers are: dogs, cats, rats, badgers, foxes and coyotes.

Make sure to use a fencing that matches your needs, and meets the size requirements for your chicken coop.

And while I run the risk of sounding like a broken record, don't neglect your chicken coops security. There is nothing more heartbreaking than looking your children in the eyes and explaining to them that a predator dug under or broke through the fence and killed the chickens.

Looks Matter

Don't neglect the appearance of your chicken coop. Anyone can find out how to build a chicken coop, but there is more to it than that. And it is common that people don't put enough effort into its visual aspect.

You need to build a pleasant looking home for your feathered pets or run the risk of ruffling some feathers with the neighbors. Of course you don't want that, nobody likes an eye sore, but with a little effort your chicken coop can become the envy of the neighborhood.

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Building a Chicken Coop - Use Durable But Cost-Effective Materials

Building a chicken coop made out of wood may not be the absolute cheapest solution, but it will most likely pay off providing you with a coop that features a longer life expectancy and enhanced durability. If you are very tight on money, you may want to look for scrap wood. Smaller chicken coops may also be built from recycled timber.

If you are looking at building a chicken coop out of scrap wood, you may not be able to find the fitting pieces of wood. It is also quite likely that you will have to pull some nails. If you can't find the fitting pieces of wood when building a chicken coop, may have to make compromises in the construction. In that case you will have to make the decision what is more important to you, a certain kind of design or the the limit of your budget. However you decide, make sure to pick the fitting construction plan. If you can't afford to build a large coop, you will need to cut back on the number of chickens your coop is supposed to house.

In any case, if you look carefully for potential building material, you can save a lot of money when you are building a chicken coop. It is always better to build a durable coop and go with a smaller sized housing than using poor quality material for a larger building.

It is important to remember that each chicken needs at least 3-4 square feet inside the coop. Make sure you build your chicken coop with this in mind. If you squeeze too many chickens into a cramped chicken coop you will be forcing the hens to fight over brooding space.

The cost of building a chicken coop also comes down to the climate in your area. Cooler, rainier areas will require more insulation than warmer climates. On the other hand, hot weather calls for more windows to provide the necessary ventilation in your chicken coop. Good chicken coop plans will give you a clear idea on what is needed to keep your chickens healthy.

Also don't go too cheap when you pick out the material for the coop's foundation. The stronger your chicken coop's base, the more durable the overall structure will be. In the end it's a win-win situation for both you and your chickens. By picking the right material, you invest in a long term coop that can withstand the weather, which will result in happier and healthier chickens. Which means more eggs!

The plans make all of the difference in building a functioning chicken coop, so make sure to use plans that work. Get chicken coop plans here or visit my website for more information: http://build-a-chicken-coop.iqbanq.com/