Chicken House Plans – 7 Steps To A Healthier Hen House

You have decided to take the leap and begin raising your own backyard chickens

Constructing a chicken coop for your feathered friends can save you cash and allow you to customize the hen house to match your specifications. But before hammering that first nail, ensure that your chicken house plans take into account these seven important factors:

1. Size: Be sure you allow enough space for your chickens. For standard chickens 3-4 square feet inside the coop and 6-10 square feet within the run is suggested. For the smaller bantam chickens you can get away with 2-3 feet square indoors and 8 square feet outside per chicken.

2. Lighting: Chickens need light in order to lay their eggs. Where possible try and face the coop towards the sun and install windows to bring in the light and also the warmth.

3. Ventilation: You chicken house should be well ventilated to let the fresh air in, but not drafty. If high winds can be a problem, consider building in a sheltered location.

4. Insulation: Don’t forget to take into account temperature changes. In cold climates your chicken house will likely need to be insulated.

5. Feeders and Waterers: The feeders and waterers must be easily accessible by both bird and man. Consider installing automatic waterers for a constant supply of freshwater.

6. Nesting Boxes: If raising chickens for eggs, you should have nesting boxes for the hens to lay in. Provide one nesting box per two hens. They do not enjoy being crowded when laying!

7. Predators: Chickens are tasty, not just to us but to a wide variety of predators. Ensure your chicken house and run are safe on every side including below ground level and above. Do not forget the burrowing and flying predators! Well-known predators include raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks, fisher cats and hawks. Wire mesh fencing is often employed to keep the chickens in and predators out. Make certain when you’re installing fencing to dig down a minimum of 12 inches to safeguard your chickens from burrowing predators.

It is vital when building a chicken coop to have a written blueprint to work with. If your chicken house plan takes into account the above seven factors, you’ll be well on your way to creating a safe, secure home for your chicken flock.

Ann Wallis is a live long gardener who has recently discovered the delights of raising chickens in his backyard. To find out more about raising backyard chickens as well as the best hen house plans visit http://simplechickenhouseplans.com