How to Build a Chicken Coop

"...If you are considering keeping chickens in your back yard, you must read this book. Whether you have a tiny courtyard or acres to play with, Keene's advice will stand you in good stead and help you build the right chicken coop. The focus of the book is on being well-prepared for your flock before they even arrive. Keene ensures that you consider every issue before you spend a cent on birds, feed or equipment. He discusses which species is appropriate for your garden, what they should eat and, as the title suggests, how you should house them. Anyone with basic do-it-yourself tools and a patch of land could follow his instructions. The drawings and diagrams are easy to interpret and the lists of materials and tools needed are very helpful. Keene also appreciates that the value of using recycled materials in your chicken coop - cheap and environmentally friendly. Keene encourages responsible husbandry - his reminder of tasks to be completed weekly, monthly and sixth monthly should be replicated onto the calendar of any careful poultry keeper. The level of detail is just right, from a list of the color of the egg you might expect from you hen to a description of healthy hen's poop! If you follow his tips, your happy hens will be very productive. Next we need a cookbook for ideas to use up all the spare eggs!" Tracyann - Amateur Chicken Farmer - Devon, United Kingdom

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How to Build a Chicken Coop - Design

Look at some existing chicken coop plans to help you with ideas, then start with a rough sketch of how you want to layout your coop, and have some colors in mind you would like to use for the walls and roof. You may have to take landscaping factors into consideration as the area around the construction site might get worn down and need to be re-landscaped. Obviously the area surrounding the chicken coop should be well landscaped to improve the overall appearance of the coop.

Some Important Factors to take into consideration

You will have to maintain and clean the coop structure so you want to use materials that will allow for a simple cleaning process. The floors and walls will have to periodically disinfected. The windows in place should be flat, sliding windows to prevent your chickens from roosting on the windows. The floors should be slightly sloped toward the door so you can hose the floor and have the runoff escape the coop without puddling.

Protection From the elements

When going through the process of how to build a chicken coop you must prepare the construction properly to protect your chickens from bad weather, potential predators, and theft. First of all the grounds that the chicken coop is built on should be at a relatively high location and well drained to prevent dampness. Making sure the chicken coop has some exposure to the sun will help keep it dry after a rain shower. To protect your chickens from predators, you should bury chicken wire all around the coop about 1 foot deep to keep them from digging underneath it. The chicken coop should also have doors and sliding windows that can be opened or closed as needed, and they should have proper screening systems in place such as heavy gauge mesh wire that won't break and will keep predators such as cats and foxes out should they happen to get past the chicken wire.

Coop Lighting and Ventilation

When learning how to build a chicken coop it is important to take lighting and ventilation into consideration. The chicken coop should be well ventilated to maintain a fresh supply of air throughout the coop and to prevent excess moisture and carbon dioxide building within the coop. The walls of the chicken coop should be properly insulated in cold climates as well. Lighting should be installed on the ceilings to help keep your chickens warm and dry during the cold months. Good lighting will also help your chickens produce better eggs year-round.

Food and Water

Your chicken feeders and waterers should be easily accessible for your chickens but should be placed a little above ground to help keep the coop less messy. Feeders and areas where there is some food build up will have to be periodically sanitized. Clean water should be provided throughout the day to help keep the chickens healthy and hydrated.

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