Plans For A Chicken Coop

There are chicken coop plans widely available at online and at local building centers. Many are free downloads with materials lists and all. The best chicken coops, however, are built by hand with your own needs in mind.

When you plan your chicken housing and runs, make sure to account for how many hens you’ll have and the climate in your area. Each full sized chicken needs at least 4 square feet of space. This means that if you plan to keep three egg layers, you’ll need 12 square feet of space to do it.

Of course, the more space you give them, the happier the chickens will usually be. A larger space will significantly cut down on squabbling and it gives your chickens more opportunity for exercise, and decreases the threats of illnesses that are prevalent in close quarters.

Chicken coop kits are available, with all construction materials needed being included. These are usually only meant for up to 3 hens, however, and can be cost prohibitive for larger units.

If you are only going to keep a couple of hens, you can buy a coop and run ready made online or by mail order. These coops usually sit on the ground and are not secured against most predators. They are convenient, however, because they can be easily moved. They are a good consideration as a ‘day’ pen, since you can move it to locations for fresh vegetation and bug intake.

Be wary of building materials that can be a hazard to both birds and eggs when building your own. Arsenic is in treated lumbers and can be ingested by the chickens when they peck at the wood. Do not use paint with lead or aluminum in its base. Anything your chicken eats can end up in her eggs and thus on your plate.

Chicken wire is not very good for keeping out predators. Dogs, coyotes, raccoons, fox, skunks, and many other predators can tear right through chicken wire with ease.

When putting together the chicken coop plans, chicken wire under the cage is a good idea, but using it elsewhere will probably lead to trouble. It’s a great deterrent for that because the animal doesn’t have the leverage needed to tear through from underneath. The predator will get discouraged and hunt elsewhere.

Protect your hens with heavier gauge wire on the sides and top of your pen. Even if your coop provides for lock down at night, many predators will still try to get through to eat leftover grain, drink from their water, and will try to get into the coop itself.

Often, you will need a padlock or something sturdier than a latch to keep raccoons out. A slide bolt or hasp is easily beaten by a chicken-killing, veteran raccoon. So be sure to plan for the types of predators in your area.

With some thought about your climate, the number of chickens you would like to have and basic safety measures, your diy chicken coop plans can be the start of an enjoyable hobby for you and your family.