First, you will want to make it clear in your mind how big you want to make your chicken coop. Miss judging the size of the coop is generally a beginner's mistake so we will want to go into more detail about this part of raising chickens. After that 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.
When you have a better understanding of the first two steps you will be ready to tackle Step 3. Building a chicken coop isn't hard but 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 construction. 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 had better get started!
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 place the hen house, and you know how many chickens you want to hold, is that not enough? If you've guessed that the answer is no you're correct. Even if you already have a location in your yard picked out, this doesn't mean it is a match made in heaven. 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.
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 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.
In the event that there is too much room in the coop later you always have the options to add another hen or two.
You might already know this but let's say this for those who don't know. But there are two types of chicken coop constructions to pick from. The first is portable, and is often referred to as a chicken tractor. The other type of chicken coop construction is fixed to the ground, this makes finding the proper location absolutely crucial. Let's look at the two types and you can get a better idea of what best suits your needs.
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 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 easier with portable hen houses.
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.Fixed or static hen houses are much more stable than the portable ones, and a well built coop can last for many years. Planing is a big part of building a fixed chicken coop, so choose wisely. Once you have your chicken coop fixed to the ground it will be a nightmare if you ever need to move it to a new location.
Here are some things to consider when you build a static roost. First, chickens need a lot of sunlight. Make sure to build the chicken coop so that it gets as much sun as it can each day. That doesn't mean you should put the coop in the middle of a field. 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 construction you've undertaken, is placing it on a low spot in your yard. Always build the hen house on the higher parts 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.
Predators will know when you have chickens, and that is regardless if you've learned how to build a chicken coop properly, or not.
You will find out just how many animals will be more than happy to prey upon your chickens if you're now cautious. Even though Spot is the nicest dog in the world, and the cat next door doesn't look like a cold blooded killed they can be a potential threat to your chickens. But they aren't the only danger, there are 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 foxes, coyotes and badgers. You will want to assure that you use strong enough fencing to keep the more determined wild animals out. Make sure to bury your fence deep enough in the ground to keep out animals that try to dig their way into the coop.
Just like the danger from below there can also be a 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.
When you learn to build 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 well built chicken coop should be both healthy and comfortable for your chickens but also look nice. No one is fond of an eyesore, forcing you neighbors to live with one is both rude and risky. Wouldn't you rather get their compliments that be the reason for their complaints?
This would be a shame, since a chicken coop construction 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.
Besides the fact you don't want to look at a mess chicken coop you might also have to contend with city ordnances. These ordnances might play a direct role in how your chicken coop can look.
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