How To Build A Chicken Coop Without Getting Egg On Your Face

Are you ready to learn how to build a chicken coop? Good, because learning how to do it right will save you and your chickens a lot of trouble.

First it is important to sit down and decide how many chickens you are planning to take care of. You may have a rough idea, but now you need to decide on the exact number.

You see, each chicken needs at least 3 square feet of space inside the chicken coop. This is the bare minimum and it never hurts to actually calculate more space per chicken for the coop. If the coop is too big, there is always the option to add another chicken or two. But crowding them will be detrimental to the birds' wellbeing, as well as their ability to produce eggs.

Next you need to think about what you want from the chicken coop, do you plan on moving it around or do you want one that is fixed to the ground. There are two styles of chicken coop, one is portable the other is as you guessed fixed.

Both of these have their advantages and disadvantages.

The portable chicken coop allows you to choose where the birds will be in the yard. This is naturally practical if you want to move them around and keep them close to you. They are also easy to clean. You can move them to one spot clean them, and move them back to it original location without flooding the ground around the coop.

But they are often limited in size, so if you plan on keeping more than a couple of chickens you will want to use a fixed chicken coop. This type of coop is sturdier and is more resistant to wear and tear.
No matter which type of chicken coop you plan on building, you will need to put the right amount of effort into keeping your birds safe. This includes using the proper strength of building materials and fencing.

There are many predatory animals that are all too happy to break into your hen house and reek havoc. This is a thought that you will have to overcome when you raise chickens. Some of the animals you might have to detour are the neighborhood cats and dogs. But rats can also pose a threat to your pet chickens. Larger animals such as badgers, coyotes and foxes can be a threat, though these are more common in the country.

The last thing you'll want to keep in mind when you are learning how to build a chicken coop is the appearance. This might seem like a small thing. But nobody likes to look at an unattractive chicken coop. This is often a misconception people have of them when you build a chicken coop in the city.

But this is a great opportunity for you to show how nice they can look and how great a pet chickens make. Besides that, they are the only pet that can provide you with company and breakfast!

Now that you've gotten the tricky part of learning how to build a chicken coop out of the way, it time for the fun part. There are many different styles and types to choose from. And as long as you can hold a hammer, you should be able to handle building a coop. Click here to get started!

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.

=> Build a Chicken Coop Now!

Build a Backyard Chicken Coop - Step 4

Step 4 – Don't Neglect Your Coops Appearance

When you learn to build backyard a chicken coop you are building a fun family project. One that will provide you with many fun memories and experiences. But it should also be more.

A backyard 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. 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!

When you live in the city and build a chicken coop the looks might even be a must. Many cities have ordnances dictating how you may build your coop. And the number of birds you may hold.

Build a Backyard Chicken Coop - Step 2

The Two Styles Of Chicken Coop

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 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. As you might have already guessed there are a couple of different benefits to building a portable backyard chicken coop. Since you can move the coop around, maintenance is much easier. Instead of bringing the tools to the coop, you can bring the coop to your tools. Cleaning the coop is also a snap when you can move it wherever you want.

But there is a downside, and we need to cover that as well. 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.

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. Planing is a big part of building a fixed chicken coop for your backyard, so choose wisely. Once it is finished, moving it will be a very time consuming process.

Here are a couple of tips for you when you build a static chicken coop. The first thing is that sunlight is very important to your chicken's health and happiness. Be sure to position your chicken coop so that it gets the most sunlight possible 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. Strong rain or wind can be a problem, that's why it is a good idea to build your coop under a group of trees or next to a larger building.

One more thing to remember when you are learning how to build backyard 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.

Build a Backyard Chicken Coop - Step 1

Size, How Many Chickens Do You Want?

I know what you're thinking, and to be honest I thought this myself once. You know where you want to place the hen house, and you know how many chickens you want to hold, is that not enough? The answer is quite simply, no! Even if you already have a location in your yard picked out, this doesn't mean it is a match made in heaven. To put it simply the chickens and the size of your coop might just be incompatible. And if your hope is for fresh health eggs every morning, there is a very good reason why you will want to avoid over crowding your roost.

Each chicken requires at least 3 square feet of room inside of the chicken 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.

It isn't any wonder that a crowded coop is a chaotic coop. Hens that are forced to spend their time fighting over room will be less likely to lay eggs. And the eggs that they do lay will leave something to be desired. If you build a backyard 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 for your backyard.

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.

An Egg a Day – How To Build a Chicken Coop

Do you know how rewarding it is to raise chickens? It's true, holding chickens in your backyard, either on a farm or in the city, can be very relaxing. And these pets have the added benefit of giving you a tasty treat for your breakfast table.

But what is required to raise chickens? If you are just starting out, it is important to learn how to build a chicken coop. As you can easily guess, doing it the wrong way will be a torture for the chickens and make the entire experience disastrous.

When done correctly though, building your own chicken coop can be cheaper, healthier and a lot more satisfying.

The first question you should ask yourself is how many birds do you plan to raise. This will be directly connected to the size of the chicken coop you're going to need to build.

Just remember that you will need to give each of your chickens at least 3 square feet of space to live comfortably with the other chickens in the colony. More space is always better, and if you happen to build too big of a chicken coop, you can always add more birds.

Want a tip that will make your job of cleaning the coop easier? You should put tiles down on the floor. Also by slanting the floor so it tilts slightly towards the door you are making it easier when you spray it clean. This will allow the water to run out the door. These are two things that high quality chicken coop plans will share with you, but not all of them do.

Just like your home, the chicken coop needs to be properly protected from unwanted intruders. These predators will be more than happy to take advantage of weak fencing or other Achilles heals.

Don't underestimate the dogs and cats in your neighborhood, they can be a threat to the safety of your chickens. But your chickens can also be at risk of being attacked by other animals. Rats can also pose a threat to your chickens, but so can foxes and coyotes, and depending on your location badgers might be a problem.

Take the predatory animals you have in your specific area and factor them in when you build the chicken coop.

Lastly, the importance of your chicken coops appearance cannot be over looked. A chicken coop can be a wonderful addition to almost any yard, when well built it will add an optical element that will wow family and friends. But if you fail to properly take the time to follow well written plans, or let the finishing touches fall on the wayside... You're running the risk of giving your neighbors an excuse to complain.

Chicken coops can be a fun and exciting way for you to enjoy a fresh egg every morning, but if they aren't handled properly they can turn into an eye sore. Just remember to put yourself in the shoes of those that live around you and ask yourself if you would like the coop. If the answer is no, then go over it and make any corrections.

Now that you know what is required for you to build a chicken coop, there is one final step. This is getting the plans and the materials. This is the exciting part, and one that anyone can handle no matter their experience level with the toolbox.

Read more on the subject here.