Build a Chicken Coop

Building a Backyard Chicken Coop

Raising chickens has many benefits:  family enjoyment, fresh eggs, backyard insect removal and natural fertilization.  To give your chickens the best possible place to live, you will want to learn to build a backyard chicken coop.

A chicken coop is where your chickens will spend their days.  This will be where they are kept safe from their enemies.  You can buy one ready made and if you have extra money and not much time, this is a good choice.

However, building your own chicken coop, is not a very difficult task.  Before you start, you will want to do an inventory of supplies to make sure you have everything that is needed.  Then you need to get a good plan.  The most important consideration when picking the plan is the size of the flock.  If you flock is still young, think about how big they will be when they are fully-grown.

Some other things to think about:

* How many nests are you planning on having
* The number of feeders and the space they will occupy
* The location of the water and how much you need
* The number of windows needed to provide proper sunlight

After figuring out what you will need in your coop and the size it needs to be, location is also important, particularly the land under the coop.  Rocky, hilly ground is definitely out.  Ample sunlight is very important, as is the need to be safe from predators and other threats.  Clear more space than you need before you start to build.

When you have these details worked out, you are ready to start planning.  Begin with a drawing showing what you want the coop to look like.  Keep it to scale so your measurements are correct.  Don’t forget to include windows, feeders, nests and other details.  At this point you should be able to ’see’ your coop.

With the plans done, you can start shopping for supplies.  You will need at least:

* Wood pieces measuring 2′ X 4′
* Cinder blocks made from concrete
* Chicken wire
* Insulation
* Incidentals like nails and screws
* A saw
* A hammer
* Anything else to fulfill your plan

Finally, you can start the building!  With your plans in place and supplies bought, nothing is holding you back.  Make sure you read and follow the plans.  Take the extra effort to make the coop solid and sturdy.  Leave gaps that will allow for ventilation, but that won’t allow predators to enter.

You can learn to build a chicken coop for your backyard.  In the end you will have exactly what you want and what suits your needs.  Soon your backyard will be full of chickens and you have bragging rights about their wonderful home.

If you are truly interested in building your own chicken coop, then you need to be equipped with the right information. Visit my blog where I give you tips and advice on how to choose the best chicken coop guide: Build a Chicken Coop