The key to easy chicken coop construction is either purchase a kit, or buy a guide with easy to follow instructions.  However, just because you’ve purchased a kit doesn’t mean that that particular design is easy to put together.  The key to easily building a chicken coop is to find a simple and functional design that will provide adequate space, ventilation, heat, and protection from the elements.  Easier said than done, huh?

Well luckily for you there are resources available that provide ready made designs that are easy to build and maintain.  And they work extremely well at keeping your chickens healthy and comfortable.  Building A Chicken Coop is a complete step-by-step guide which details the easy ways which you can apply to build your own chicken coop in the comfort of your backyard.  It contains pictures and illustrations.

Or if you prefer you can watch Dan Kennedy’s Make Your Own Chicken Coop with step-by-step video instructions on how you can easily build a chicken coop in less than 3 days.

Don’t wait any longer, get started with your chicken coop today.  It doesn’t get any easier than following the pros that’ve built and designed hundreds of coops.  When you’re done come back to this site and share your story below.

Tweet This Post

Chicken Coop

people usually keep their chickens in the backyard. However, when they need to buy a house for their chickens, they will always face the same problem, which is the high price of a chicken coop. Many people can’t afford to pay that much money. At a crunch time like this, we all need to be as thrifty as possible. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a chicken house in your backyard. In this article, I provide you a way to build your own chicken coop within the limited budget.

For those of you looking to keep chickens in your backyard, you know that your largest expense is the chicken house.  Most of us can’t afford to pay that much money.  At a crunch time like this, we are all looking for ways to be as thrifty as possible.  However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a chicken house in your backyard.  You can build a chicken coop within your limited budget.

Don’t believe the myth that building a chicken house by your self is hard.  It does take a lot of work, but it is not difficult.   When you are done, you will not only have the pride of knowing you built the chicken coop yourself, but also that you saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars.  You will save at least 50% in costs by building a chicken coop over buying a new one.  So if you are serious about saving money on a chicken coop then get a chicken coop design and build one yourself.

The first things you need to consider is that number chicken that you are going to be raising in the coop.  For each chicken you’ll need at least 2-3 square feet of space.  Second, you’ll want to look for a chicken coop design that gives you detailed instructions on how to build one that is easy to clean, well-ventilated, and provides ample protection from rain and wind.

Its very easy to find a chicken coop plan, there are resources all over this site to help you find one.  So don’t let not having a design stop you.  After finding a good plan, you want to drive over to the local Home Depot, Lowes, or hardware supply store to get the required materials.  Again, a decent chicken coop guide will tell you the exact supplies you’ll need and how much to buy of each.

You can also try looking around at construction sites or contractor sites to ask for any scrap wood and wire mesh.  Don’t steal it, but if they have spare wood you may be able to get them for free.  You can also try to negotiate at your local hardware store, you’ll be surprised a the discounts you can get by just asking 3 times, “is that the best deal you can give me?”  Times are tough, and store owners are more willing to negotiate just to make a sale.

So to recap, find a good chicken house plan, get all the materials you need, and start building your first chicken coop.

Tweet This Post

An increasingly number of people across the country are choosing to raise chickens in their backyards.  They are looking to have a constant supply of eggs or chicken that is naturally grown.  The benefits are that you get to ensure your food source is healthy and is raised in an ethical way.  But before you make the leap, you should carefully evaluate the type of chicken coop or house you decide to purchase or build.

You may be surprised at the variety of chicken coops available and the number of styles you can choose from.  When trying to figure out what coop to buy there are several factors that you should consider.  For example, size and ventilation.

It is always best to choose a coop that is bigger than you actually need, but won’t take up too much space in your backyard or next to your garden.  The reason being is that if chickens are kept in small spaces they become stressed and this will reduce the number of eggs they lay for you.  A good size coop is one that can provide 2 to 3 square feet of space for each chicken that lives inside it.  So if you’re keeping 4 or 5 chickens then one that measures 15 square feet or more would be ideal.

Much like humans, chickens need fresh air in order to be healthy and active.  You chicken coop should have ventilation points all around the top and base of the coop. If the chicken coop is poorly ventilated then you’ll have a build-up of carbon dioxide and that will affect the health of your chickens and the quality of their eggs.

Last but not least, you should try and choose a coop that is easy to maintain and clean.  Your coop should have a sloped bottom and every part of it should be easily accessed.  You don’t want to struggle when it comes time to clean your coop.

To get chicken coop designs for chicken coops that are spacious, well ventilated, and easy to clean check out this guide on chicken coops.

Tweet This Post

Studying chicken coop pictures is one sure fire way to help you get a good sense of what your finished project will look like.  If you are unsure about the size or measurements of your chicken coop, then looking at chicken coop pictures will help to provide some inspiration and ideas.  You should find a style that want to model your design after, and then stick this picture next to your workstation or on your fridge to help visualize your end result.

There are a lot of coop designs out there from small and mobile to large and luxurious.  So you want to be very clear on where you want to fall in that spectrum.  You also want to make sure your coop fits into the surroundings and doesn’t stick out like an eye sore.  If you want, you could even match it with the style of your house, shed, barn or garage.

You also want to be sure that the style you choose compliments the weather patterns and seasons of where you live.  There is no point in going with a design that doesn’t offer proper insulation or warmth during cold months.

The size of the coop should also match your surroundings as well.  It is possible to have a coop in a small backyard or the rooftop of a city apartment building.  You just need to find the right design.  Granted you need to be mindful of any city or town ordinances against keeping chickens.

Similarly, if you live on a property with plenty of space, then you won’t have any problem with larger designs and styles.  You are free to raise more chickens and setup a commercial venture which can turn into something that can provide a nice income.

To help you brainstorm some ideas, we have provided the following chicken coop pictures for you to peruse:

Small Chicken Coop

Luxurious Chicken Coop and House

Great Chicken Coop

Chicken House

Chicken Coop

Wooden Chicken House

Tweet This Post

Chicken Coop Design

With so many different chicken coop plans that you can find on the Internet, how can you be sure that you’re following the right design?  Most designs that you find out there for free are cheap and not very practical, not to mention that you will spend a lot of money in the long run looking for repurchasing parts and maintaining the coop.  When looking at chicken coop design be sure to check for these four key things:

#1 – Easy Cleaning
The chicken house plan that you are checking over should be a snap to clean.  Many chicken coop blueprints fail at providing designs that make cleaning easy.  A great chicken coop design will be easy to maintain and even easier to clean.  You want to make sure the doors open inward and there is a downward sloped floor (for proper draining and runoff).

#2 – Proper Ventilation
Another great thing to look for is a chicken coop design that has proper ventilation.  Poorly ventilated chicken houses and coops can be a complete disaster for your chickens.  If the coop has windows, make sure they are easily opened and slide without any problems.  The same rule applies for the door.  A great door, whether its made out of Plexiglas or wire mesh, should not be hard to open when needed.

#3 – Proper Lighting
Use some form of electric or fluorescent bulbs to ensure that you have a good lighting source.  A great perk of a properly lit chicken coop is that is also provides heat for cold nights.  Don’t overlook good lighting for your chicken house.

#4 Sturdy Construction Materials
Be sure to use quality wood and materials when building your coop. This includes getting thick enough wire mesh if you plan to build your windows or doors out of mesh. The last thing you want is a pesky predator chewing through your wire mesh to get to your chickens.

Only use quality wood and materials when building your chicken coop.  This includes getting thick enough wire mesh that if you plan to build your windows or doors out of mesh.  You don’t want a dangerous predator chewing through your wire mesh and eating you chickens.

These are the key four things you should be aware of when designing or planning to buy a chicken coop plan.  For more information on chicken coops, be sure to read this guide on building a chicken coop.

Tweet This Post