Building a Chicken Coop - Find the Right Location

Besides the actual chicken coop plans, finding the right location for your coop will determine whether you and your chickens will be happy with your chicken coop efforts. Building your chicken coop in the right location and position leads to happier, healthier chickens and results in them laying more eggs.

Find a well protected area in your yard. This depends on how large your yard is after all. If you have a lot of space, you may want to consider building a chicken coop where you can easily have an eye on it. You can also build a portable chicken coop if that is more convenient to you.

Think about what predators there are in your area. That includes domestic predators such as your neighbors' cats or dogs. Wild predators will often include raccoons, foxes, badgers and rats. But don't forget the treats from the air. Hawks can also pose a danger to your poultry. If you know that there are hawks in your area you will want to consider building a covered run. If the plans you pick don't include a covered run you may have to modify them to your needs.

Additionally, picking the right fence to go with your home-made chicken coop will be a major asset in protecting your chickens. If there are a lot of predators that may dig their way underneath, you will have to build your coop far enough into the ground to deter the strongest-willed predator.

Another thing to think about when building a chicken coop is that your chickens require a great deal of sunlight. Make sure to position it so that it faces the sun as long as possible during the day. Building a chicken coop in overly shadowy areas is not such a good idea. If your chickens don't get a lot of sunlight, you will have to install electrical lighting, which is not very cost effective.

While your coop should be well ventilated, it should not be too windy either. So if you live in a very windy area, consider building the chicken coop close to the house or a group of trees that break the wind a bit. The same is true for very rainy climates. If you get a lot of rain, position your chicken coop so that it is as much protected as possible. Also you don't want to build the coop so that rain can flow down and flood the coop.

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.

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.