How To Build A Chicken Coop

November 6th, 2009

Chicken coop, chicken house or chicken shack, call it by whatever name, it’s essentially a structure where chickens live that’s either built on a farmhouse or backyard.

They’re usually made of wood and straw, with a special fencing called chicken wire. If you’re considering building your own chicken coop, make sure to choose a proper plan before you start with the construction. There are plenty of chicken coop designs and plans available online, so you might want to check them out.

The good thing is, the building materials are inexpensive and can be easily purchased from your local hardware store. There’s even a way to build a chicken coop with materials found at home!

It’s all in the Plan
As mentioned earlier, the key to build a chicken coop is to plan it before you get down to making it. A lot of people make the mistake of starting construction early, only to find out that it’s way too small due to additions made inside the coop.

Always leave enough free space and keep in mind that feeders, perches and waterers eat into available free space. Having a blueprint would be a good way to solve this problem.

Let there be Light
Another important factor to consider when you build a chicken coop is adequate lighting. The best placement for windows is facing the sun, but make sure that you don’t build them too low since direct sunlight might make the chickens uncomfortable.

You should also add some artificial light to keep the chickens warms during cold months. These are available at any hardware store and are quite inexpensive.

The Right Size
In case you’re still not too sure about the number of chickens you plan on keeping, it makes sense to build a chicken coop that’s slightly bigger. It’s always better to be safe than sorry…

You see, chickens need room to walk around freely without running the risk of injury. Plus, adequate space is needed to keep them healthy and producing fine eggs. Overall, you will need approximately 4ft² per chicken.

Incase you’re intimidated by the idea of building a chicken coop on your own, you can always check out the instantly downloadable ebook ‘Building A Chicken Coop‘ that has plans broken down into small, easy to follow steps. It’ll help you build a chicken coop over a single weekend and you can then look forward to fresh and organic eggs daily! All the best.

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How to Build Chicken Coops

November 6th, 2009

So, you’re planning to build chicken coops on you own? That’s great! Plan well before constructing and you’ll be well on your way to getting fresh, organic eggs! As for how to build chicken coops, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Plan, Plan, Plan! Take some time to select the right plan that suits your needs.

Look Around. Check your home, backyard or shed for materials such as old wood, that can come in handy while building chicken coops. If you don’t find much at home, ask your neighbors if they have any spare wood lying around from their last construction. See if your plan has information on used materials. This step itself can save you hundreds of dollars, especially if you plan to build medium or large sized chicken coops!

Secondhand Stores. You can find lots of material from secondhand stores, such as hinges, roofing materials, handles, plywood, etc. But make sure they’re in good condition.

Detailed Blueprint. Only used chicken coop plans that give you a specific blueprint with good cross-section pictures for guidance. Never ever start to build chicken coops without a plan or you’re bound to end up in a mess.

Size it Right. Keep around 4 square feet for each chicken you plan to keep. Ten chickens needs a large chicken coop for housing them and providing enough room to move about. You might like to separate a portion of your backyard where your chickens can roam around freely. They’ll love it and you’ll end up with some great fertilizer!

Window Positioning. Sunlight filtering in from the windows of the chicken coops is important, so place the windows towards the sun. Natural sunlight will keep your chickens healthy and you won’t need to invest in electrical lighting.

Though chickens need sunlight, make sure that it doesn’t shine directly on them. Windows play a huge role in keeping your chickens healthy and ensuring that  they lay a number of eggs regularly, so give it enough thought before you start to build chicken coops.
 
Light Wise. When you build chicken coops, make sure that they face the sun. You see, when it’s damp outside, the sun facing coops will stop the ground from getting oversaturated.

A damp ground is not a good environment for chickens, since it can make them fall ill, not to mention the likelihood of  bacterial growth! You might like to supplement natural light with artificial lighting in order to keep the chickens warm during winter.

These tips will help you to build chicken coops, but don’t try to go it alone since some kind of guidance is needed. You might like to look up the ebook ‘Building A Chicken Coop’ that is instantly downloadable, so you can start right away by following detailed step-by-step instructions with plans that have exact dimensions and the required materials clearly stated.

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Building a Chicken Coop

November 6th, 2009

When it comes to building a chicken coop you don’t have to be a carpenter or an expert, but you do need to consider certain factors. Getting it right takes planning and finding the right design. Once you’ve found the right design, stick with it. The end result is tremendously satisfying and rewarding. The chicken coop looks good, your chickens are safe and you get fresh eggs everyday!

Chicken coops have to be built in such a way that they protect the chickens from the natural elements, as well as, prowling predators. That’s why when it comes to building a chicken coop, the location is an important factor. It needs to be constructed facing the sun, on a high and well drained area, so it can dry up quickly after rains. Proper ventilation is another crucial factor. You might like to install sliding doors and windows that can be opened to ensure proper ventilation when the weather gets hot. But, make sure that the doors you install open towards the inside, not outside and don’t forget to secure all doors and windows of the chicken coop.

As for keeping predators at bay, after you’ve finished building your chicken coop, surround it with chicken wire that’s around 1 foot deep. You can also cement the floor and use two cinder blocks for the beginnings of the wall, in order to protect your chickens from snakes and creatures that dig underground. It’s important to keep ease of cleaning in mind when building a chicken coop, that way you can clean it often. Keep this in mind while selecting your  design. You see, diseases can be disastrous for chickens housed in coops. Another way out is to keep the floor slightly sloped towards the main door, so water will drain out automatically.

Before building a chicken coop you need to ensure that the chickens are kept warm in winter and at night by insulating the walls properly. You might like to consider getting an electrical lightning system that can double up as a heat and light source. These factors are critical since you don’t want to end up building a chicken coop that doesn’t serve the purpose of keeping your chickens well protected and nicely housed. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than losing baby chicks or mother hens due to a lack of precaution or bad planning. So, do take care. It all comes down to choosing the right design…

Click here for a really good guide on building chicken coops..

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Chicken Coop Construction

November 6th, 2009

Most people think that chicken coop construction is a tedious and difficult job. So, they end up purchasing readymade chicken coops that cost a lot more than home built ones. If you don’t have the budget to buy one from the market, you might like to consider building your own chicken coop. It’s a manageable task as long as you have proper chicken coop construction plans. Here are some tips that’ll come in handy:

When it comes to chicken coop construction, safety is a big factor. The chicken coop has to serve as a shelter, retreat and protection for your chickens.

Chicken coops are accompanied by what are called runs or the area outside the chicken coops.

Select quality designs and plans that guide you on the best materials to buy based on where you reside. Always be sure about the size of the chicken coop. Do you need a small, medium or large coop? If you don’t get the correct size and your chickens are uncomfortable, they won’t produce eggs properly. Ten chickens require a large coop.

A safe guideline for housing chickens comfortably is 4 square feet of space with a perch length of 9” per chicken.

As for the chicken run, 8 to 10 square feet per chicken should be adequate.

Ensure that you include a way by which you can enter the coop when needed to clean the area or collect eggs.

Your chosen design for the chicken coop must provide enough light and ventilation, have a storage area, an entrance hole (hatchway), and a main door that opens towards the inside.

In the chicken coop construction, you will need rectangular boards of wood or 3/4″ plywood sheets, roofing material such as shingles,  PVC pipes, broken pieces of logs, window catches, door latches and bolts, nails, hinges, acrylic sheet for the window panes, wood shavings, mesh and chicken wire.

Make sure that the materials you purchase are of good quality, especially the wood since it has to withstand rough weather and termites.
 
Use some sort of thick wood for the roosts, such as 2” x 2” or 2” x 4” planks and do round off their edges.

Put an easy to clean surface under the chicken coop such as a 3″ covering of wood shavings.

Whichever material you decide to go for, factor in local climate conditions and keep in mind that it needs to stand the test of time. All the best with your chicken coop construction plans!

Click here for a really good guide on building chicken coops..

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Plans For a Chicken Coop

October 23rd, 2009

The single most critical factor when it comes to building your own chicken coop is to  choose the right plans. There are several kinds of plans for chicken coops available both online and offline that are based on various needs. So, keep your specific needs in mind, such as the right size, local climate, proper ventilation, insulation, cleaning techniques and types of predators in your area, while selecting a plan.

Going for the wrong plans for a chicken coop can set you back by lots of money and time, not to mention the disastrous effects it’ll have on your chickens’ health! The plans for a chicken coop need to guide you through the entire process of construction and are critical for achieving the desired end result, so look through the plan in detail and factor in all aspects of the building process. Here are some important factors to consider while looking for plans for a chicken coop:

Decide on the number of chickens you plan on keeping in your chicken coop.  Make sure you select the right sized plans, whether small, medium or large, by matching it to the total number of chickens. If you’re not totally sure about how many chickens you plan to keep, go for a larger size than you might need.

What sort of land do you have? Is the ground firm? If it’s not, consider a plan with a solid base. Are you planning to go for landscaping? If so, select a plan that takes this into account.

Keep your local climate in mind. Does it vary greatly through the year? If so, you’ll need to give insulation a great deal of thought. The ideal plans for a chicken coop allow you to maintain the right proper temperature that’s neither too hot or too cold for the chickens.

Do you need a mobile chicken coop? This kind of chicken coop is becoming popular with people who keep chickens as pets. 

Take your time looking through various plans for a chicken coop. Don’t choose one until you’re sure that it meets your specific needs. If you’re not sure where to look, check out building a chicken coop site. Priced at $29.95, this ebook could end up saving you hundreds of dollars and hours in trying to come up with the right plan. It has numerous designs based on different budgets and sizes. You’ll also get access to some crucial tips  Basically, it’s a good ebook to follow if you want to get it right the first time round!

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