Build a Chicken Coop

When you are looking at building a chicken coop, you need to think what it is for. Principally it needs to protect your chickens from the elements and from predators, principally foxes. Chickens are generally hardy, but they are not keen on wet weather and they hate the wind. If you live in an area where there are foxes then the threat they pose needs to be taken seriously. Often, if a fox visits it will kill all your birds even if it only takes one. A determined fox will work on door catches and will attempt to tunnel under runs.

Chicken coops need to incorporate the following essential elements:

1. A pop hole to allow the chickens in and out of the house.
2. Roosting bars.
3. Nest boxes (at least one for every three birds).
4. Good ventilation to help remove moisture and avoid build up of ammonia from droppings.
5. Good insulation to keep the chickens warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
6. Surfaces that can be cleaned easily.
7. You should allow minimum of around 30 sq cm/4.7 sq ins per hen.

As chickens take between hour to two hours to lay their eggs, they need somewhere comfortable to do so. In fact if they are not happy with what you have provided your hens will go off and find their own place to lay their eggs. You need to provide nest boxes that are enclosed (except at the obviously at the front) and should be shady and private. The darkness also discourages the chickens from eating their own eggs.

Chickens prefer to sleeps at night on roosting bars or perches. They need to be around 25mm to 35mm/1 ins to 1.4 ins wide with curved edges. You will need to bear in mind the breed of your chickens when selecting the width of your perches. The perches should all be around the same height otherwise your hens will compete for the highest position. They also need to be designed to be easily removed for cleaning.