How To Build A Chicken Coop
Knowing how to build a chicken coop could save you upwards of 50% of the cost of a so-called readymade unit (which you will still need to assemble yourself). It is easy to build a backyard chicken coop, and you can make a small one in under two hours, using common tools and with no previous skill.
Your main job will be doing your homework so that you know how to make a chicken coop before you start the build, to ensure healthy and happy hens that will give you tasty eggs for years to come. And make great pets as well, if that is what you would like.
These are the 5 essential elements you should consider when building a chicken coop:
- Coop size
- Ventilation
- Type
- Lighting
- Feeding arrangements
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The size of your chicken coop will depend on the number of chickens you intend to keep. A small chicken coop will cater for only about half a dozen birds. A medium-sized hen house will suit most requirements whilst choosing a large coop will be easier to clean, give your hens more space (probably leading to more eggs) and allow you to fit extra features such as automatic feeding equipment.
Your hens must have proper ventilation (and cleaning the shed will be much pleasanter as well), and this needs to be built into the hen house design. If you are not sure about the right level of ventilation at your chosen site, expert advice is always available.
There are two types of chicken coop – static or mobile. A static type gives you the greater range of options such as size, free range extensions and security from predators (you might want to see how to build a chicken pen elsewhere in this website). The advantages of a mobile hen house are easier cleaning (you just move it!) and, leading on from this, good fertilization for your yard or garden.
Chickens need good lighting to keep them happily laying. You need to choose a site that, ideally, has plenty of natural light, and then build a chicken house that takes advantage of this. If the site is not good in this respect, you will need to consider installing some sort of artificial lighting. Again, seek expert advice if you are not sure.
Feeding your chickens is clearly important and can be very time-intensive. You need to plan the right number of feeders for the number of hens, and a proper guide will give you all the necessary information.
Once you have considered all these factors you will be able finalise your design and tackle the backyard chicken coop itself.
To build a chicken coop you really need a set of good quality plans. There are many so-called plans available, some supposedly ”free”, but many can be very confusing and potentially dangerous for your hens’ welfare.
We have reviewed many of these offerings and have found one product on how to build a chicken coop which we can highly recommend. The build blueprints and step-by-step build instructions are first class, and will enable you to design and make the best hen house for your chickens. In addition you get plenty of valuable tips and advice about keeping poultry, including chicken selection, health, common diseases (and how to care for them), breeding, shelter from predators, housekeeping, feeding and much more.
If you want to build a chicken coop we believe this is the best source for all the information you are likely to need, and it comes with a full guarantee in case you are not satisfied for any reason.
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