Chicken Coop Designs

Its important to consider the size and function of your existing backyard space before considering which of the many available Chicken Coop Designs is right for you. A good rule of thumb is that the enclosed structure should have 3-4 square of floor area per chicken. Additionally an enclosed outdoor area should contain up to 10 square feet per chicken. If space is limited or most of your yard is already dedicated to other uses, consider a small portable chicken coop, that can easily be placed in an unused side yard area. Just a note; the outdoor area should be fenced on all sides and across the top for protection from predators.

If your primary purpose for keeping chickens is to provide a steady supply of eggs for your family, there is an easy way to decide which of the many chicken coop designs is right for you. If you are careful to select a chicken breed that is bread for egg laying, you can figure that you will get about 5 eggs per week per chicken. Thus with just a few chickens and a small portable chicken coop, you can be assured of an adequate supply of eggs for the typical family. Of course a larger flock would generate a surplus of eggs, which one could easily sell to neighbors.

Before even studying the many chicken coop designs available, check with you local city or county to see if there is a maximum number of chickens allowed on your property. Often times this can be the deciding factor in determining which chicken coop plan to opt for. It would be a shame to invest in construction of a chicken coop and acquire the appropriate number of chickens for the size of the coop, only to find out, after a disgruntled neighbor places a call to the city, that your operation is not allowed. Visit Chicken House Plans for more information on chicken coop designs and the hobby of chicken keeping.

One of the most important features to include in all chicken coop designs is adequate ventilation. Chickens will produce large amounts of moisture and ammonia. Providing adequate ventilation will allow the humidity and air quality to be maintained at safe levels. The optimum amount of ventilation depends on the many factors. Obviously the more chickens you are housing the greater the need for ventilation. Also proper ventilation will help regulate the temperature in the coop during the summer. While chickens can tolerate cold weather, drafts and moisture are a no-no. Care should be taken to eliminate drafts, particularly drafts that are directed directly on them.

So how does one incorporate the seemingly competing need for venting and a draft-free environment into their chicken coop designs? During the cold months its important to place the primary vents above the level where the chicken reside. In this way the ammonia and vapor can escape, but there will be no drafts on the chickens. Most of the time vents can easily be incorporated where the roof structure meets the walls of the coop. Other venting should be incorporated into the walls of the coop. These can be in the form of doors and windows that can be opened up or closed off in an air-tight manner. These doors and windows will then provide a way to regulate the ventilation according to the climatic conditions. Needles to say, when these openings are left open they should be screened to provide predator protection for the flock. In extremely hot climates it may be best to replace one or two solid walls of the coop with screened walls during the summer, thus maximizing cooling. For more information on chicken coop designs and the hobby of chicken keeping, visit Chicken House Plans, a resource for chicken keeping enthusiasts.

Nesting Boxes are simply a box-like cubby that chickens will
instinctively reside in when they are laying eggs. They are
typically mounted off the floor and inside the coop, away from
drafts. There are no hard and fast rules about their construction
details, so long as they satisfy some basic requirements.
The bottom of the boxes should be lined with 2-3 inches of straw.
This will provide a comfortable nest-like cushion for the chickens
and a soft 'landing area for the eggs. The straw should be replaced
every few days so be sure the boxes are placed so they are easily
accessible. Often a row of nesting boxes is mounted along one wall
of the coop, and a trap door is provided so that the boxes can be
accessible from outside the coop for ease of cleaning and daily
collection of eggs.

The actual size of the boxes should be 12-15 inches in all
directions. They can easily be constructed from plywood or ¾" thick
boards. For nesting boxes mounted over 18 inches off the floor of
the coop, a ladder plank should be provided. Also, it is better if
there is a landing area or deck immediately in front of the boxes.
This way the chickens can hop onto this deck before entering the
boxes. If the roof of the boxes is accessible from inside the coop,
it's a good idea to make it sloping; this will discourage the
chickens from using the top of the nesting boxes as a roosting area.
However if you provide a perch and place it higher than the top of
the nesting boxes, they will use the perch as they will
instinctively prefer the higher location.

There are many chicken coop plans floating around the internet. Frankly, many are designs are overkill for folks who desire to keep a few chickens in their backyard. chicken tractor is a great alternative for this situation.

A chicken tractor is a small movable structure without a floor. The chickens therefore have are able to scratch for worm and bugs. This not only provides them with a sort of "free range" existence, but your yard will be left with a rich source of fertilizer. For more information on this inexpensive and practical alternative to a traditional chicken coop, visit Chicken Tractor Plans.