Chicken Coop Plans

How To Build A Chicken Coop 5 Steps To Build A Backyard Chicken House | Chicken Coop Houses

How To Build A Chicken Coop 5 Steps To Build A Backyard Chicken House

Building a backyard chicken coop is easy and affordable if you ensue a few simple guidelines. It is a process that must be well thought out and planned so as not to miss any key elements or overlook any key institute or building issues. I will break the process down to 5 easy steps.

1. Design. The first step to begin building a chicken coop is to settle where exactly you are planning to build. This will settle the thorough layout of your coop based on the dimensions you come up with. You should portion it off and sketch a quick schematic with the dimensions for use throughout the process. Once you have decided on your location and have your sketch you will then need to settle exactly what you want your coop to look like. There are many books and resources available to help you with different looks and designs. In normal you want your coop to be as large as potential to keep your chickens at their happiest. Take your schematic and begin to add in the details of your design. Begin by starting on the exterior perimeter. Find out how many posts you will need to institute the "shell" of your coop. Then fill in with "runners" from post to post. Then you will need to think your roof. The roof area should be thoroughly covered, especially if you live in snowy or rainy areas. Be Sure to slope the roof for runoff. Once your basic institute and sketch is unblemished you can then look at the inside of your coop. A coop is just the "shell"; you must also build your chickens a hen house and some perches. The hen house needs to be a small, semi-enclosed area with a roof that in separated into individual nesting boxes. This is where your chickens will lay their eggs and sleep. Ideally you should have a nesting box for each chicken, but I have found that they will tend to share nesting boxes, so if you have quite a few chickens you can just make as many nesting boxes as is feasible. Chickens need a place to perch. It is crucial for egg production. So build them a little ladder perch. Basically 2 boards with several rungs. You can then lean this against any wall in your coop. Again, you can refer to some books or other resources for more information on the hen house and perches. Once your institute and material list is unblemished it is time to look at the actual materials you will need to unblemished your construction

2. Materials: Once you have your materials list it is now time to head to the local hardware store. The coop should be made with new wood, not scavenged wood. Spend a little money up front to save you time and money later. The coop will be exposed to the elements 365 days of the year so good capability materials are essential. So buy your 2x4s and other material new! Pressure treated wood can be used but is not advised. Chickens will peck at everything so you do not want then pecking away at a chemically treated piece of wood. Chicken wire is facilely available in different widths and lengths. You will have to settle which size roll is the best fit for your coop. You can also look in the masonry department at your local hardware store for stucco lathe, or stucco backing. It is virtually same to chicken wire, but is a little less costly and comes in larger rolls.

3. Ventilation/Light: Make sure your coop is well ventilated. It should not be thoroughly enclosed. You need air flow through the coop for chicken health and for antiseptic reasons. Chickens are very hardy and can take cold weather, any way they should be kept away from a direct wind. Make sure your coop has sufficient natural light. Be sure to pick a roofing material that allows light to pass through. Use this transparent material on at least half of the roof area.

4. Safety: Be sure to keep chicken security in mind when constructing your coop. There are many night-time predators, even in urban areas that will try their hardest to breach your coop for a late-night feast. Use sufficient wood so as to minimize long stretches of just chicken wire. Staple guns can be used to attach the chicken wire but should be used very liberally. Be sure there are No openings or potential open areas. Also be sure to bury about 12 inches of chicken wire colse to the perimeter of your coop. Many predators will exertion to dig under your coop walls, so be sure to enlarge the wire and thoroughly bury it.

5. Feed/Water: Visit your local feed or pet store and buy a small trough type feeder. This will allow you to spread out your food restocking activities. There are many different water dispensers available at assorted stores. It is best to buy a large one, again to minimize the times you need to refill it. Be sure to check your water and food daily. Water can frost or the chickens can knock over the dispenser. Consult your local pet or feed store for the type of food you should feed your chickens. I feed my chickens our leftover fruits and vegetables as well.