Chicken Coops Plans
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Chicken Coops Plans - Different Types Of Coop
When we decided to save more money by becoming a little more self sufficient and had to learn how to raise chickens, the first decision we struggled with was determining which type of chicken coop we needed.
We decided to build one rather than buy one and we found that there are a variety of different chicken coops that you can build yourself, but understanding which one was going to fit our needs best was important for getting best results. When spending money on building chicken coops plans need to match individual needs, so getting off on the right foot was important.
We took the following guidelines into consideration before deciding what type of coop to build.
Chicken Coops Plans come in small medium or large sizes.
A big mistake can be made is to try to cram too many chickens into one coop as each chicken requires a certain amount of space to feel comfortable and produce enough eggs. It is always better to choose a bigger size rather than a smaller one. If you find you have too much room, you can always add some more birds.
Portable Or Fixed
The next question to ask is whether you want your chicken coop to be portable or if you preferred one that's fixed. Portable chicken coops have the advantage of being able to move around to wherever you are, so if you're someone who likes to keep the chickens as pets, this is the best option.
Also, having a mobile chicken coop makes cleaning easier as you can simply move it and clean where it was.
On the other hand, if something more structurally sound is more important then you will probably be better off going for a fixed chicken house as these will be built sturdier and they can withstand greater wear and tear.
Protection
Predators have to be a concern when building chicken coops. Ideally you need a very solid fencing system to keep the various predators out. This should be built to match the size of the coop you're building as well.
Appearance
The last suggestion to think about is how you want your chicken coop to look. There are a number of different ways you can build the chicken coop but the more complicated it is, the more expensive it will be so remember that you need to work within your budget.
Building a chicken coop is cheaper than buying one so understanding the different things that will influence the cost is the first step to making a smart decision.
We decided to build one rather than buy one and we found that there are a variety of different chicken coops that you can build yourself, but understanding which one was going to fit our needs best was important for getting best results. When spending money on building chicken coops plans need to match individual needs, so getting off on the right foot was important.
We took the following guidelines into consideration before deciding what type of coop to build.
Chicken Coops Plans come in small medium or large sizes.A big mistake can be made is to try to cram too many chickens into one coop as each chicken requires a certain amount of space to feel comfortable and produce enough eggs. It is always better to choose a bigger size rather than a smaller one. If you find you have too much room, you can always add some more birds.
Portable Or Fixed
The next question to ask is whether you want your chicken coop to be portable or if you preferred one that's fixed. Portable chicken coops have the advantage of being able to move around to wherever you are, so if you're someone who likes to keep the chickens as pets, this is the best option.
Also, having a mobile chicken coop makes cleaning easier as you can simply move it and clean where it was.
On the other hand, if something more structurally sound is more important then you will probably be better off going for a fixed chicken house as these will be built sturdier and they can withstand greater wear and tear.
Protection
Predators have to be a concern when building chicken coops. Ideally you need a very solid fencing system to keep the various predators out. This should be built to match the size of the coop you're building as well.Appearance
The last suggestion to think about is how you want your chicken coop to look. There are a number of different ways you can build the chicken coop but the more complicated it is, the more expensive it will be so remember that you need to work within your budget.
Building a chicken coop is cheaper than buying one so understanding the different things that will influence the cost is the first step to making a smart decision.
Building Chicken Coops - Save As Much Money As Possible
Why Spend More Than You Need To
The building materials used to build a chicken coop make a big impact on how much money you spend on the chicken shed in total so understanding the different types of materials will be vital to help cut costs.Many people tend to think that a lot of expensive materials are needed to successfully build a chicken coop. This is not the case at all. Chicken coops can be made from a variety of materials including such things as an old shed, scrap lumber, PVC pipes, 50 gallon barrels, or other unneeded things that you may have lying around the house right now.
Usually wood is the material most used to build a chicken coop. However it is also the most expensive, so you will have to weigh the pros against the cons. If you want your chicken coop to last for ever, it is probably best to build a wooden coop to make sure that it does stay standing through the various changes in climate.
If you are considering just building a small coop, it is possible to get away with using recycled timber instead. You can also ask relations, friends and neighbors for scrap pieces of wood. But bear in mind if you do this you will probably have to pull some nails and may end up with a chicken coop with bits that don't exactly match. If cost is absolutely the most important factor, then it's likely something that you will want to think about and consider.
It is very possible to save over half the price of the coop just by spending more time on selecting the right building materials. So, before you run out to buy the building supplies, carefully consider this first.
It is important that you have a firm understanding about the type of chicken house that you want before you even get going.
When we got to this stage our minds kept spinning so we decided that it was worth looking for a manual that explained all the options and choices and we could look at them on paper in the cold light of day. We searched the internet and finally opted for

I PERSONALLY found that this helpful guide by Bill Keane went through the whole process from start to finish and answered all the questions I could ask and definitely made sure that we built the ideal coop for our circumstances.
To Check Out The Guide We Choose Click Here?
How To Build A Chicken Coop To Last
One challenge that many people face is that they build their chicken coop and make a great job at it, but the way they have built it, it does not stand up for long enough.
Understanding the construction process better and exactly what is needed to build a coop that lasts will ensure that the money you spend is worth it. Here are some points to consider.
Proper Landscaping
Before beginning building chicken coops, make sure that the chicken coops plans are to build it on land or part of the backyard that is level and properly landscaped. There are two options here, you can either landscape an area of land that you really want to build it on or you can look for a piece of land that will already work well to build on without having to landscape at all.
The second option is going to be both cheaper and easier than the first, but again this will come down to how you feel about it..
The Base Structure Is The Most Important Bit
One area that you will need to spend a little more on is the base for the structure. In the building plans in the book I recommended you will see exactly what kinds of materials are going to be the best so it makes it easier to come to a decision.
There are still very cheap options that you can consider and that will work for a while, but there are still limits. Knowing in advance which cost effective materials stand the test of time will be a great help.
Make Good Use of Windows
Chickens need light to lay their eggs to our advantage so windows are a major element in the chicken house plans as they are going to let enough light through so that your chickens continue to lay eggs as they should. When there is insufficient light, that's when problems start, so making use of windows in the coop, make sure the chickens stay happy for a long time.
It is essential that you consider the chicken house building plans of the windows though because putting them in the wrong place in the coop could cause the walls to be more fragile, so again, having a proper plan to guide you is important.
Choose Your Feeders Wisely
Finally, the feeder position should be right. When the feeders are at the wrong height level, the chickens will be unable to get to their food properly, or, they may scatter the food all over the floor. This has the effect of the birds starting to pick at the structure of the house, which could mean damage and expense to repair it over time.
Understanding the construction process better and exactly what is needed to build a coop that lasts will ensure that the money you spend is worth it. Here are some points to consider.
Proper Landscaping
Before beginning building chicken coops, make sure that the chicken coops plans are to build it on land or part of the backyard that is level and properly landscaped. There are two options here, you can either landscape an area of land that you really want to build it on or you can look for a piece of land that will already work well to build on without having to landscape at all.
The second option is going to be both cheaper and easier than the first, but again this will come down to how you feel about it..
The Base Structure Is The Most Important Bit
One area that you will need to spend a little more on is the base for the structure. In the building plans in the book I recommended you will see exactly what kinds of materials are going to be the best so it makes it easier to come to a decision.There are still very cheap options that you can consider and that will work for a while, but there are still limits. Knowing in advance which cost effective materials stand the test of time will be a great help.
Make Good Use of Windows
Chickens need light to lay their eggs to our advantage so windows are a major element in the chicken house plans as they are going to let enough light through so that your chickens continue to lay eggs as they should. When there is insufficient light, that's when problems start, so making use of windows in the coop, make sure the chickens stay happy for a long time.
It is essential that you consider the chicken house building plans of the windows though because putting them in the wrong place in the coop could cause the walls to be more fragile, so again, having a proper plan to guide you is important.
Choose Your Feeders Wisely
Finally, the feeder position should be right. When the feeders are at the wrong height level, the chickens will be unable to get to their food properly, or, they may scatter the food all over the floor. This has the effect of the birds starting to pick at the structure of the house, which could mean damage and expense to repair it over time.
Fun Chicken House Plans On Youtube
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FitnessandBeauty
Nov 19, 2010 @ 4:33 am | delete
- Really helpfull ang good written lens. Thank you very much! take care
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cglasgow3x
May 1, 2010 @ 6:01 am | delete
- I found this site to be interesting because there where a lot of things I did not know about chicken coops, I started to read and could not stop reading. I was impressed with the content, good job!
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Maverickf1808
Mar 26, 2010 @ 10:59 pm | delete
- Great Lens! Excellent information!
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BetsyPowell
Dec 15, 2009 @ 9:26 am | delete
- Great Lens. I enjoyed reading about the different plans and benefits.
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mmgroupmentor
Dec 8, 2009 @ 10:40 am | delete
- Very nice layout. Easy to follow and understand. Great job.
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TravisLoizos
Dec 8, 2009 @ 12:47 am | delete
- Very Informative! Didn't know there was this good of info out there about chicken coops.Well Done!
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TeaGuru
Aug 3, 2009 @ 4:25 am | delete
- Nice info here on chicken coops!
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suepeel
Jul 24, 2009 @ 3:12 am | delete
- The kids will love helping Jim and I build one of these. The thought of fresh eggs every day is exciting.
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MitchH
Jul 12, 2009 @ 2:15 pm | delete
- Off to build mine now..thanks for the help.
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AbeTyler
Jul 8, 2009 @ 11:21 am | delete
- This great info. I never thought of keeping chickens until now. We should try to be more self-sufficient.
Abe
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Jared_Bing
Jul 6, 2009 @ 6:49 pm | delete
- Great money saver... eggs & meat if you've got the guts to kill the bird!
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maniacmusicman
Jul 6, 2009 @ 5:41 pm | delete
- Interesting topic. won't be able to build anything where I live because I live in a condo
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enterford
Jul 6, 2009 @ 3:37 pm | delete
- great job you did explaining how to select one and how to maintain it, thanks
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chris_deltise
Jul 6, 2009 @ 11:13 am | delete
- Very well put together and informative site, well done. The amount of eggs I eat I should make one myself!
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fdrob77
Jul 6, 2009 @ 6:40 am | delete
- I didn't realize that this information this good was available.
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jimbobberly
Jul 5, 2009 @ 10:07 pm | delete
- loved the lense and the info - now to find my hammer and nails
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JenniferRaynes
Jul 4, 2009 @ 3:20 pm | delete
- Haha, I was just thinking of this the other day. Great info here, just bought the guide :)
Thanks...
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Above-The-Rim
Jul 4, 2009 @ 1:46 pm | delete
- Very interesting. This would be an excellent way to save money by building one of these.
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CompTek
Jul 4, 2009 @ 9:37 am | delete
- This is some really great info and costs a lot less then I thought it would.
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stephendavies
Jul 4, 2009 @ 3:58 am | delete
- Wow, what great information. I was going to design one myself, but from the illustrations I've seen here I doubt if I could improve on them.
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HarveyJackson
Jul 3, 2009 @ 4:11 pm | delete
- helpfull stuff thanks, more affordable than i thought!
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suepeel
Jul 3, 2009 @ 3:27 pm | delete
- This looks like a great project for our family to embark on. The whole family will enjoy building chicken coops and raising chickens together.
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