‘Building A Chicken Coop’ Review

Reviewer:  Mike Roberts

Rating:  

Reviewed:  Building A Chicken Coop Guide

I have finally got around to reviewing one of the most successful chicken coop guides on the market.  This is Bill Keene’s ‘Building A Chicken Coop’.  I discovered that this is more than just a guide for making hen houses.

It does, of course, include plans for making a wide range of coops, all in full color and showing all dimensions very clearly.  I like the plans layout that Bill uses.  It shows each assembly step simply and clearly, and there are comprehensive lists of materials, together with the necessary quantities and cut dimensions.  This alone makes the manual worth its purchase cost, because it is so easy to get these dimensions wrong if you have to calculate them yourself.  Believe me, it is much better to let an expert do it for you.

There are cross-sectional diagrams and sketches to clarify any awkward  assembly details that could be difficult to understand. You are shown how to make nesting boxes, automatic egg collectors (the mind boggles – I never had these when I was raising hens!) and easy access for cleaning out the coop.

Click here to check out Building A Chicken Coop for yourself

 

Then there is a ton of advice on rearing and keeping chickens, which anyone new to this hobby or business will find absolutely invaluable.  Remember, Bill Keene is a chicken expert with decades of experience so he knows what he is doing.  I learnt quite a few new tips myself.

He covers things like:

  • site selection
  • choosing the right materials
  • protecting free-range hens from predators
  • finding the right breed of chicken for your particular circumstances
  • breeding hens
  • health precautions and how to take care of common diseases
  • diet
  • housekeeping (we used to call that ‘chores’!)
  • protection of the hens and coop from weather (hot, cold, dry, wet)

I may have missed some topics but you get the picture. Really useful stuff, and good to keep at hand for future reference.

All these plans, instructions, diagrams and materials lists have been produced with the novice builder in mind.   Here is an example of the kind of diagrams in the guide:

 

Bill claims that anybody can build a chicken coop using his guide and plans, and that only common tools are needed.  I can confirm that his claim is well-founded and that a beginner should have no problems at all.  On the contrary, I think that anyone reading this guide will want to reach for some tools and get started on a hen house immediately!  I can easily see why this product is currently the most popular of its type on the market.

I was unable to find any fault with the content, and I feel that the purchase price represents very good value for money.  There is also a full, no hassle refund guarantee, which I welcome for any online purchases these days.

Overall, an excellent product which I recommend without hesitation.

 

Click here to check out Building A Chicken Coop for yourself