How To Build A Chicken Coop

Build A Backyard Chicken Coop – 4 Simple Steps

Are you going to build a backyard chicken coop as part of the Urban Chicken Movement?

It’s the “chicken underground” that’s sweeping the nation! City folks are re-discovering the benefits of raising chickens in their own backyards. Fresh eggs are only one of the many benefits of having these domesticated birds living in your backyard.

For me and my children, involvement with 4-H was a great way to help teach responsibility to my kids and get fresh eggs! The chickens are also gentle and very entertaining! They’ll come when called (a little food here helps) and they really don’t make much noise – or mess. As long as you do your part in keeping them and their coop clean. Which brings us to my main subject – building your own chicken coop – 4 simple steps to a great chicken coop.

Plan, Plan – Then Plan Again
Remember that old saying “measure twice, cut once?” The same applies when building your chicken coop – except it starts with planning.

How many chickens do you intend to keep? This has a direct relationship to the size of the coop you’ll need. What breeds of chickens will you have? Bantam chickens are small birds, but Wyandotte chickens are large – you’ll need to make sure you have enough space for either bird you are planning to raise.

The location of your coop is very important. For example, if you live in a colder part of the country, you may want to take advantage of the sun on a cold winter day to help warm up your chickens. You’ll need to choose a spot in your backyard that has good Southern exposure for those frosty mornings

Remember that you’ll need to clean under and around your chickens. This means you’ll have to have good access from all angles for a good cleaning. Speaking of access – determine before you build where the access door or hatch will be – then you can orient your chicken coop conveniently in the yard.

Don’t choose an area of your yard that puddles moisture – constantly wet chicken waste doesn’t make for a healthful situation. Pick a spot that’s high and dry – for the health of your birds.

These and other very basic questions should be answered before you buy materials and start building.

Use Paper – Put Your Design On Paper
With measuring tape in
1000
hand, sketch out basic shapes and dimensions on a piece of notepaper. It’s ok to crumple up and throw away many sheets before you settle on a good design. Transferring your thoughts to paper can mean the difference between success and failure – and failure is not what this is all about!

Don’t be too concerned if your sketches aren’t classical pieces of art – we’re looking for practical and sturdy first – beauty second. Do any of your neighbors (or friends out in the country) have chickens and coops? It can be a great to copy what works – you’ll get a lot of good design tips if you look at something already built.

Get Materials
Notice this section is titled “Get” Materials? If you’re a thrifty person, you may look at local newspapers and maybe even Craigslist to see if anyone is selling (or giving away) a chicken coop. Be cautious here, you don’t want someone’s junk, but I personally have seen a number of nice-looking and very usable chicken coops sold very cheaply – or even given away.

If it isn’t possible to find a used coop, then you’ll have to build from scratch. From the sketches you made, try and write down a list of materials you’ll need – everything! From 2×4′s to nails to chicken wire, if you have what you need on paper, you really can avoid some trips to the hardware store. One thing that has really helped me is to take the sketch to the hardware store in addition to the list I’ve put together. If I can’t get the exact bracket or piece of lumber that I planned on using, the sketch can help me substitute something I can get.

Don’t forget tools! Besides the basic tools – hammer, screwdrivers, square, saw, tape measure, etc., I always have my 18 volt electric screw gun. Over the years, I have really depended on that tool to help build tons of projects. While screws are definitely more expensive than nails, only screws allow you to take something apart without ruining the wood! This has saved me many times.

Now – Just Build It
I can’t stress enough the need to protect yourself – eye protection is critical, ear protection is nice, and a good set of leather gloves can be a lifesaver on a cold day.

Take your time with the construction, and don’t be afraid to modify your design as you go. Sometimes we miss critical features or other things, and as you build your chicken coop, you may find out you really missed something that you’d like to add – or correct. It’s always easier to make small changes as you go, than end up with a severely compromised chicken coop.

Get help, if you can. Often, two heads are better than one – and 4 hands are definitely useful if you’re dealing with large or bulky items.

I’ve learned that if I follow some basic steps like these I outlined, my chicken coop projects usually turn out a lot better than the ones I’ve seen hacked and band-aided together. And, your chickens will be happier. Remember – happy chickens make more and bigger eggs. And, that will make YOU happy.

By: Darrel Whiggins

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Join the “Urban Chicken Movement” and raise chickens in your backyard! I WANT TO LEARN HOW to build a chicken coop – and raise chickens myself!

If you think you merely need to throw up four walls and a roof, enclose it in a fence and you have a chicken coop, we need to talk. It isn’t hard to build a chicken coop, but there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind.

The first one is to have a clear idea how many chickens you’re building your coop for. Did you know that you need at least three square feet of space for a chicken to feel comfortable? More living space is always better but never go below that figure. This will ensure that your chickens are happy and healthy.

Remember, you can never build a chick coop too big for your chickens, if you do you can always add more. Building one that is too small can be a problem. The reason you don’t want to squeeze too many chickens into a coop is because it will effect their ability to lay eggs. It will also cause social problems when the chickens begin to compete for space in the coop.

Another aspect that is very important when you are learning how to build a chicken coop is realizing how important protection is. Many people that are new to raising chicken will have to learn the hard way how relentless other animals will be when they smell an easy meal.

There are many predators that will be hungry for your feathered friends. They will dig under the fence and try anything else they think will help them get into your hen house – And if you fail to take the necessary steps to keep them safe, you will wake up one morning to a depressing sight.

Predators include the neighborhood cats and dogs, but this can also include rats, badgers, foxes and coyotes. There may be other predators depending on where you live, so you need to keep that in mind when you are learning how to build a chicken coop. The appearance of your coop is as important as all of the other elements. If your hen house turns into an eye sore, you are running the risk of turning once cordial neighbors into disgruntled ones.

There is no reason why you shouldn’t build a chicken coop that adds a unique aspect to your backyard. Coops can be a very pleasant addition to the landscaping that gives you a great conversation starter. This is better than the alternative – giving the neighborhood something to talk about. As you can imagine, there are many different ways to build a chicken coop, and there are as many styles as there are tastes. Picking one that will fit your needs and the needs of your chickens is important.

Do you know how to build a chicken coop? You do now! Click here to get access to excellent plans for many different styles of chicken coop by visiting: http://build-a-chicken-coop.iqbanq.com.