Chicken Coop Plans

Are you crazy about eggs? If so, then close your eyes and envision the smell of your own fresh, organic eggs frying at sunrise. Or being scrambled. Or being cooked over easy. Perchance you have resolved to raise hens for this, or other reasons. If you are just starting out with raising chickens then it is important to know that it can be very rewarding to raise your own hens. What you may be surprised to learn is that is it just as rewarding to build your own chicken coop.

Before you start it is essential to have an understanding of building chicken coops. You will need to plan a few particulars. Errors are frequently created by novice chicken cage builders simply because they did not give enough thought to each aspect of building their coops.

First, before you begin, accept the fact that you will inevitably make mistakes. This is true whenever you start anything new, not just building houses for hens. If you accept this from the start, you are less likely to make errors from the frustration that occurs when things eventually go awry.

The two most frequent errors can easily be staved off with a bit of preparation. Most errors have to do with the functionality of a chicken coop, though structural mistakes also happen. Location of windows and feeders are what novice builders typically overlook and place incorrectly. Educating yourself about these errors, and the reasons they happen, will prevent you from joining the ranks of those who have also made them.

The number one mistake is to improperly position the windows. Chickens need natural light. They crave it. So, it is important to position the windows so the chickens will get direct sunlight throughout the day. Regrettably, many people tend to forget about window placement until it is too late. If this takes place, you will need to supply other lighting sources to supplement natural lighting during daytime hours to keep your chicks content.

The second most oft made mistake when building chicken coops has to do with feeders. Seasoned builders know that feeders need to be located at about 4-6 inches above ground. Inexperienced builders usually dont give this much thought, but it is important to not have a feeder too high or too low.

The reason for this is both functional and vital to chick welfare. If a feeder is located high then smaller hens will be unable to reach it and will starve. On the flip side, if the feeder is situated too low, a huge mess will result. Be sure to take time to measure the positioning of your feeder so that both you and your hens are satisfied with the results.

Of course, these are only two of the many errors that can be made when building chicken houses. Do your homework before you begin, and make sure you ask questions when something does not make sense. There are excellent ebooks on this topic that are worth purchasing in.

It is possible that after you complete your first chicken house you will be inspired to make a bigger and better house. Just be sure to follow a plan and listen to the experts so you can easily avoid typical problems.

Gene Potter has made a informative web site for anyone who want to learn more at his site, Building Chicken Coops.