Chicken Coop Info

When it comes to raising chickens on your own property, there are important guidelines to consider when preparing a wooden chicken house for your poultry. Without following these guidelines, especially in regards to size, you run the risk of failing to raise healthy and productive poultry. Since chickens are an investment of both time and money, you will want to do everything you can to ensure success.

Size of Coop in Respect to Number of Chickens

You will discover that you can find ideas and plans for your wooden chicken house in virtually every style and with every amenity available. Regardless of the amount of amenities, if you chicken house is too small, you can have serious consequences. An important guideline to follow is to know the adequate square foot recommendations per bird. Commonly, two to four square feet of space for each chicken is described as ideal. If you have a 4 by 6 foot chicken coop, you can comfortably house up 12 chickens but you do not want to go over that number. One rule of thumb is that the more room you have for your bird, the better.

On the flip side, you do not want to invest in too much space and waste money on excessive materials by going overboard. Building an 8 by 10 wooden chicken house for just a handful of chickens is not the best use of money and space. Finally, in regards to size, the bird size is also one point to consider. Remember, baby chicks grow up. Bantam chickens are smaller and may do well in a smaller coop with only about 4 square feet of space in an outdoor run. Larger breeds that definitely require two or more square feet of room in the coop will also need about 10 feet of outdoor run space.

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Adverse Side Effects of an Inadequate Wooden Chicken House

If you do take the “less is more” approach or simply have invested in more birds than you can realistically house, you will probably notice the adverse effects of not having the recommended space. Birds that are too cramped will not produce eggs at a normal or ideal rate. This can make your investment for egg production counterproductive and a waste of resources. You will also notice lack of proper space in your wooden chicken house can lead to the birds harming each other, be it troublesome pecking of their roommates or all out cannibalism. A coop that is too small for the amount of birds in it can also become a breeding ground for disease. The tight quarters will allow any illness in the birds to spread quicker. Tight spaces can also allow for a toxic level of fumes from the chicken waste to build up. This is itself is not safe or healthy for the birds.

Use Your Space Wisely

When trying to match up the number of chickens, breed to raise, and size of the wooden chicken house you either build or buy, remember that is will not just sit empty and that all of the room inside is not for the birds to roam around in. Take the additions and wanted amenities into consideration before you invest in birds. Such amenities that will require room in the coop include perches to rest and sleep on, nesting boxes and feeding and watering supplies. Once you take all of this into consideration and provide your poultry with comfortable and adequate room to breathe and live with their coop mates, you will begin to see the benefits of your hard work and can enjoy owning healthy and happy chickens.

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If you are going to have chickens, regardless of the size of the flock, you will need to provide them with housing. Not everyone realizes that this is something you can easily and cheaply make. Chicken coop plans are available online that you can use to fit the number of chickens you will have and to provide you with the guidelines on what features to consider for the comfort and productivity of your poultry.

The first step in determining the design you should make is in assessing the skills you have and the complexity of the coop you can make. Chicken coop styles don’t have to be elaborate but if you are handy with the saw and hammer, you can make a coop that will be both visually appealing and functional.

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In addition to the primary structure, there are other features of the coop that you can also make. Chicken coop plans may not include all of the components needed to create a functional and comfortable home for your chickens to roost and you may need to customize it somewhat. Therefore, you must also consider what you will use to construct or to use as the following needed features:

•    Nesting Boxes. The recommended size for these is 15” wide x 15”high x 11-1/8” deep with some variations allowed. Padding is a good idea for the bottom of the boxes and you can also place straw on top of the padding.

•    Roosts. This is preferably a 2” by 4” or 2” by 2” board. You can also use a tree branch that is between three and six inches in diameter. You can use a saw to round the edges of the board to give chickens a more natural roosting place. When determining where to place the roost in your coop, keep droppings in mind. Place about three to four feet off the ground and consider providing a walkway to the roost.

•    Feeders. You can use an old bucket or purchase ready-made feeders or this is something else that you can make. Chicken coop feeders and water containers can be expensive whereas you can get a 5 gallon bucket for free that works just as well. They are usually available from the deli where they receive them filled with cake frosting!

Nearly anything that you need to use is something that you can make. Chicken coop accessories are available but you can determine by your budget whether you want to spend the money or save by doing it yourself.

Some other things to consider when you make your own chicken coop include the location, elevation of the coop, your climate, and the recommended dimensions for the number of chickens you will keep. Normally, each chicken will need three to four square feet of space. Not providing enough room can lead to health problems for your chickens so you should never confine them to a smaller area.

Your climate will play a part in the style of coop you make. Chicken coop plans may not provide for adequate ventilation in hot areas or call for needed insulation for colder climates so you will have to add these yourself. Elevation of the coop can also help keep out heavy rains that may cause flooding while helping it remain cooler in the summer.

Finally, you should choose the location of your chicken coop carefully. In Urban areas, you may have strict requirements about how close to the property line you can place your chicken coop. With careful planning, you can construct a chicken coop that will be attractive and has all the needed features to raise healthy, happy chickens!

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When you get ready to build a house for your chickens, you could purchase plans that are made in a number of different attractive designs or you can get chicken coop plans for free that will help you produce an equally attractive chicken coop for your flock. Not all people are looking to build a chicken coop with the same goals in mind so there are different considerations you may have when looking for the plans. Even though you can get your chicken coop plans for free, you will need to know what your priorities are in order to get the best plans for the desired outcome.

Build a Chicken Coop That Is “Green”

For a chicken coop that is both economical and kind to the environment, you will want to use as many “recycled” materials as possible. When you search online, you will find that there are plans for chicken coops that require the use of scrap and recycled materials. However, if you are not a skilled carpenter, it will probably be more difficult to determine exactly what your needs are when you go to buy your supplies. While most plans will include a more specific list of the exact materials needed, you may need to adjust as you go when working with these materials. If you get chicken coop plans for free that are designed specifically for using with recycled and scrap materials, you will get more information on the types of products you can use and how to choose them.

To simplify things, if you already have an old shed or a small camper that has been deemed “no longer useable”, then you may only have to convert it into a new coop rather than building a coop from scratch. Otherwise, you can still save a lot of money by purchasing used lumber or scraps that are available at many lumber yards. You will find chicken coop plans for free that will not only help you build the structure, but help you find less expensive ways of providing food and water for your chickens without buying new water containers and feeders.

Build a Coop that is Designed Especially for Your Breed of Chickens

The biggest reason that most people start raising chickens is for the fresh eggs. They taste better and are believed to be a healthier choice over those you get from the supermarket. If you are going to raise chickens for the purpose of having fresh eggs, then you will need to look for plans that have nesting boxes and a roost included. There are plenty of chicken coop plans for free that have specifications for both of these. Not only will you need to add these features in the right sizes but you will also need to consider the best location for convenience of cleaning as well as for accessing the coop. Chickens kept for other purposes do not require nest boxes or roosts.

Get the Right Size of Chicken Coop Plans for Free

Although you may be tempted by an especially attractive design of chicken coop, make sure it is the size you need. You should never keep more chickens in a coop than is recommended since they need ample space in order to be healthy and productive. You also don’t need a large coop for only two or three chickens when you have little space in your backyard to keep it. Depending on the area where you live, finding the right chicken coop plans for free will keep you, your chickens, and even your neighbors happy!

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Want to keep chickens on the cheap? From a houseful of hens to a gaggle of geese, a large chicken house is an ideal way to keep your birds safe and sound. Commercially built coops can be on the pricey side, so here are the top 5 ways to build a super-sized coop that won’t drain your bank account.

1. Do it yourself – You could buy pre-assembled kits or hire a contractor to build a large chicken house, but budget-conscious poultry keepers tackle the task themselves. You can find plans to accommodate nearly size and budget. Look for plans online or in poultry-keeping books.

2. Go green – Rather than shopping the local home improvement store for new materials for your large chicken house, use recycled materials. Wood and wire scraps from long-finished house and garden projects can be incorporated into your design. Don’t limit the use of old materials to the coop itself. Make like MacGyver and get creative with chicken house equipment, too. Use flowerpots for nests or vinyl scraps to line nest boxes or floors.

You can also go green by transforming what you already have into a large chicken house. From the big dog run that’s been unused for years to the abandoned tool shed, you may already have all you need to create coop for your birds.

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3. Enlist Mother Nature – Cut down on heating and cooling costs for your large chicken house by using nature. For instance, plant large trees on the southern side of your poultry house. By choosing varieties that shed their leaves in the winter, you can provide cooling shade in the summer and warm sunlight in the winter.

You can also let Mother Nature cut costs by placing ventilation, such as window or vents, on the southern and eastern sides of your house. Since the wind is less likely to blow from these directions, you can provide fresh oxygen. The result is that the chickens get the ventilation they need without the draftiness they don’t. What’s more is that southern-facing windows will help warm up the coop in the wintertime.

4. Plan for the future – Maybe you’re the proud owner of a dozen birds, but how many will you have in 3 or 5 years? When you build a large chicken house, consider using a design that allows you to easily expand its capacity. It’s true that this might cost a little more now, but it can save you big bucks down the road when you decide to add more hens to the flock.

5. Moving day – Whether the flock needs a shadier spot or a fresh patch of grass, you might be looking for a large chicken house that goes where you want it to. While wheels are fine for moving a small coop, a larger house should be on skids. When it’s time to move the house out to another part of the property, simply hitch it to tractor or riding mower and pull it to the new spot.

A large chicken house shouldn’t put you in the poorhouse. From reusing building materials to smart building placement, a little planning you can help cut down on costs without sacrificing quality. The result? Happier birds and a fatter wallet–and who doesn’t want that?

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Some people may have a couple of chickens that they want to build a house for while others have several that requires an adequate coop where they can lay eggs. Small chicken coops can be built to accommodate anywhere from two to twenty chickens while there are also medium and large sized coops for much larger flocks. The size of chicken coop you should get depends on the number of chickens you are going to be raising and you should never rely on small chicken coops to hold too many chickens. Without adequate room, chickens are prone to health problems and they are also less likely to produce as many eggs, which is the reason most people start raising chickens in the first place.

A chicken coop is necessary regardless of how many chickens you have. It will protect the birds from predators as well as from the elements and will provide them with a dry, comfortable place to roost and to nest. Where you put the coop is also important. It needs to be up off the ground in an area with adequate drainage. This prevents dampness of the floor and also helps prevent pests from coming in. Many chicken farmers recommend the use of a concrete floor to resist moisture and provide a better barrier against pests as well.

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There are many different designs for small chicken coops available online or, if you choose, you can design your own. With either option, you need to know the requirements for the adequate space for the chickens in order for them to get exercise and have free movement. You also need to know the minimum specifications for the area needed for them to nest and roost.

For perching, birds need six to ten inches of perch space each. Nest boxes need to be a minimum of fifteen inches high, fifteen inches wide by 11 1/8 inches deep. Allow for one nesting box for every three chickens. Small chicken coops need to have the same dimensions for perches and nesting boxes as do the larger coops.

Many people choose to make their own chicken coops rather than purchase those that are pre-built for two reasons. First, they can decide on the features that they want and put them in the positions and sizes they want. Second, even small chicken coops can cost more than a thousand dollars! For those who are interested in providing comfort for only a few chickens, that is a hefty price tag!

When you make your own coop, you can find many plans online that provide you with dimensions, step-by-step instructions, and the number of chickens the finished product will accommodate. Since small chicken coops are often used in the backyard for those with little room, choosing a style that has a run underneath the building is a good idea. This gives chickens access to the outdoors without the risk of predators endangering them.

Another feature you might consider with your coop plan is in making one that is portable. Small chicken coops can be moved to different areas of the ground so that they have access to new grass and more bugs whenever you move them to a new area.

When choosing housing for only a couple of birds, remember that they still have the same needs as larger flocks and that includes fresh air, adequate ventilation, and plenty of light as well as sufficient room for nesting and for perching. With the many different plans available, you can choose one that is economical to make and that will meet the needs of your chickens without your having to sacrifice comfort for money!

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If you have never raised chickens before, chances are you have not given a lot of thought to where or how these little ones live. However, it appears more and more people are giving thought to this endeavor. As this trend broadens, it becomes increasingly important to research how to do it correctly. One major question that will need to be addressed is where are you going to put the chickens? The answer is most likely a chicken coop; choosing one is easier than it sounds. A diy chicken house is one excellent choice. It affords you control over both expense and design, two factors that are important in the responsibility and success of raising chickens.

Once you have made a decision concerning the types of chickens and the number of chickens you want to raise, it is time to seriously consider their shelter. For the most part, chickens prefer to be outside in the fresh air and they use their housing for laying eggs, protection from weather and sleeping. Luckily for most who choose to raise chickens, no great expertise is necessary to create a home for them, this does not however, mean the choices that go into building the diy chicken house are not important. The responsibility of caring for animals is not to be taken lightly.

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Benefits of a DIY Chicken House

•    The cost of building your own chicken house is significantly cheaper than buying a prefabricated one or hiring someone to do the job for you.

•    You know your property better than anyone. Choosing the exact location and size to fit your needs is your own.

•    It only takes basic skills and tools to create your own chicken house.

•    Never fear, the internet and book stores are full of great resources to help you.

•    You have the pride of a job well-done when the work is completed.

In this economy raising chickens in your own yard has increased greatly. The benefits of organic eggs and the recycling of food scraps as well as the development of rich fertilizer are not only wallet friendly but eco-friendly as well. A diy chicken house completes the package. Prior to the beginning of construction please remember to include the following essential components.

•    Materials
•    Insulation
•    Ventilation
•    Lighting
•    Nesting
•    Positioning
•    Protection from the elements
•    Protection from other wild life
•    Perches
•    Litter collection

In order to maximize the enjoyment of chicken farming, take into account that chickens can at time be quite noisy. You may want to build your diy chicken house in an area that is not too close to your house or that of your neighbors, assuming you want to have a decent relationship with them.

It is also worth considering that the chickens not be placed in an area that is used by children or other pets. There is the possibility of the chickens becoming frightened and this stress is not only unfair to the chickens but egg production can be affected. So, now that you have the basics it is time to start thinking about what you need to get started. Remember there are excellent resources available to assist you; you are not alone.

Enjoy the decision you have made to raise chickens and to take on building a DIY chicken house. You have a lot to be proud of knowing that you created a safe and comfortable place for your chickens to thrive and a place they are happy to “call” home.

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- Choose Your Chicken Coops Plans Wisely

Once you have made the decision to build your own chicken coop, it is important to come up with a list of needed features before choosing you chicken coops plans for the design. There are hundreds of different plans available and you may be tempted to make your choice based entirely on the appeal of the style. While a coop resembling a little red barn may look too adorable to pass up, that doesn’t mean that it has the features built in you will need for your chickens. Not all coops serve the same purpose or are for the same number of chickens so you need to make your choice based on needed features.

These are some of the things you should consider when choosing the chicken coops plans you will use as your guide:

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•    How many chickens are you going to have? Many of the coops you will find plans for will give you a range of how many chickens they will accommodate. Choose one that will accommodate the maximum number of chickens you intend to have at any given time.

•    How much room do you have for your coop? If you are a backyard farmer, then the amount of space you have to use for your coop is an important consideration. A large coop may not be appropriate for your backyard and may not even be legal. To take up less space, consider chicken coops plans that take up more room vertically rather than taking up your square footage.

•    What breed of chickens are you going to use? There are different requirements for different chickens so you will want to do some research to decide which ones are best suited for your needs and what style of coop will work best for that particular breed.

Important Characteristics to Have in your Chicken Coops Plans

1.    If you have laying chickens, they need between 1.5 to 2 square feet of coop space. Those raised for meat will need a little more. It is important to have enough space for your chickens in order to prevent many health issues.

2.    Whether the chicken coops plans you choose allow for proper ventilation or not, it is important that you install it in order to prevent the build-up of toxic fumes and to provide fresh air for the chickens.

3.    If you live in a region that has seasons or harsh weather, you will need to insulate your chicken coop to protect the chickens from extreme heat or cold.

4.    Use flooring that will prevent rodents from being a problem. A concrete floor along with secure walls and fencing can prevent the diseases that rodents can carry from being introduced to the chickens and it will also prevent them from eating their food.

5.    Make sure you have enough access to food and water for the number of chickens you have and keep them clean and filled. All of the chickens should have easy access to feed and water.

6.    Provide areas for your chickens to roost above the ground comfortably with a height of about one-and-a-half feet above the ground or floor of the coop.

7.    Provide a wire enclosure where the chickens can “run free” without any danger from predators.

With a little research, you can find the ideal chicken coops plans to help you build a coop that will suit your needs as well as those of your chickens!

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Deciding to try and raise chickens on your property in a home chicken coop can be both fun and educational. There are also many benefits to having them safely on your property whether you live in a rural setting or even a city or town. They are a great way for your family to always have fresh healthy eggs on hand. The eggs can also be source of extra money if you have enough chickens. Having chickens is also an environmentally friendly way of disposing of kitchen scraps. They also can provide you with natural fertilizer. One other very important benefit to raising poultry is the fact that they provide a natural pest control service and can keep your yard virtually free of ticks and other potentially harmful insects.

Important Elements to Think About When Setting Up a Home Chicken Coop

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Enjoying the benefits of having poultry is not as simple as just buying them and letting them run wild, ruling the roost so to speak. There are many elements of design and construction that have to be considered if you want to raise healthy chickens and increase their life span and egg productivity. Once you have the correct size in mind for the amount of birds you wish to raise, you have to pick a location. Ideally, you will want to choose a spot which is dry and elevated. Keeping your home chicken coop elevated off the ground is the best protection against potential damage from the weather, such as snow and rain. Having it off the ground is also a viable defense against predators. Natural predators can include coyotes, foxes, weasels, raccoons, cats and dogs. Protection against aerial predators like hawks is also a must.

Once you have a location that can keep the coop dry and safe from predators, you will want to also be sure it can keep the chickens warm in winter and cool in the summer. You can paint it white and have an aluminum roof to help the coop stay cool if you have extremely warm summer days. In the winter, making sure to keep drafts to a minimum will help the chickens stay comfortable. Their cones can become frostbitten if they are not protected enough. Heat lamps can be used inside if need be. Of course, this means you have to wire the home chicken coop for electricity.

One easy way to keep the temperature at a consistent and favorable degree is to use insulation in the coop. While you can certainly use man made insulation just as in a home, remember that the birds are much more comfortable in cooler air than warmer. They also have their own natural down covering to help them maintain their body heat themselves without the help of man. Cover any dreadful drafts that could lead to frostbite, but do allow for some air flow to keep the air supply fresh. Natural insulation is very common for the home chicken coop also. Planting tall vegetation around the coop and also using hay bales to hold in heat and keep out cold are very common practices also.

While there are many different things to consider and ways to go about installing and using a home chicken coop, taking the time to do it right for the climate you live in will give you the best opportunity to enjoy poultry on your own land. Pick the optimal spot which will help you get the most out of your natural environment along with making sure the chickens are comfortable and safe and you are on your way to successfully raising poultry.

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The old adage “You get what you pay for” is true even when talking about purchasing cheap chicken coops to house your chickens in. The simple fact is that the only way you are going to get a quality chicken coop that will serve its purpose without costing you a fortune is to build it yourself.

There are many Do-It-Yourself guides on how to build cheap chicken coops available on the internet as well as hundreds of different free plans that you can choose. Making your own chicken coop can be a lot of fun, especially if the entire family works on it together.

Once you have made the decision to start raising chickens, the next step is to decide how many chickens you will have. A chicken coop should be built to provide adequate room for the number of chickens you will have and a little bit bigger for the ones you are sure to add later on!

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When you start searching for the guide on how to make your chicken coop, don’t settle on the first one you find. Since there are so many available, there are obviously going to be some that are better than others. Make sure you find one that actually makes sense to you all the way through. You don’t want to get in the middle of your project and then lose track of what you are doing. Cheap chicken coops are those that you get right the first time!

There are also some plans and videos that instruct you on every detail on how to build a chicken coop. Some will even guarantee that they can show you how to build cheap chicken coops for under $100. The problem with this is that you must pay the price for the video or guide without getting to see first-hand how the plan is detailed and whether it is one that you can easily follow. Your investment in the video or plans will add to your overall cost of the coop and may not be beneficial to you in the end. If you opt for one of these plans, make sure it is one that offers a money back guarantee.

Cheap chicken coops that you have made yourself can be just as effective for housing as the pre-built ones you will find available. When you purchase these, you are paying for the time that was spent in constructing them in addition to the materials that were used. When you make your own, you can choose a design that has all the features you want and need for your chickens while saving hundreds of dollars over the cost of a pre-built chicken coop.

If the price of chicken coops is the only thing that has been getting in your way of raising chickens in your backyard, then you may be surprised to find that cheap chicken coops are an option if you are willing to put some time and effort into making your own. In addition, you can find tips on how to find used and scrap items that will cost you even less and that provide a more environmentally acceptable option. Any time you recycle building materials, you are making a contribution to the planet!

Cheap chicken coops are a great option that makes raising chickens a real possibility for many people. Don’t base you decision to raise chickens on the expense of building an adequate coop. Instead, look for a guide that will provide you with the easy step-by-step directions you need to build it yourself from start to finish!

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