Hi Everyone! I am here to tell you about raising chickens in your own backyard!

Raising chickens is a fun project and having your own fresh organic eggs every morning is the best!

Did you know that most eggs arrive at the grocery store already over 21 days old? Imagine the fun of collecting your own eggs every morning.

Here are some quick tips to getting started with building a chicken coop and getting ready for your flock.




Being able to have fresh eggs every day is just one benefit to keeping chickens in your backyard. Another benefit to keeping chickens is composting chicken litter is a great resource for garden fertilizer.





Do you hate the idea of filling up landfills with compostable material? Now can make use of food scraps instead of adding them to your garbage bag every day.





Ready to get started? Building your chicken coop successful only if you have the right plan and materials. You can quickly build a simple ground structure for 2-3 hens or a multi-storey hen house with an outdoor run.







Here are some quick, practical tips that will help you get started.







Tip #1

Chose a building plan based on your space





Each chicken needs about 4 square feet inside the coop for optimal health, egg production and individual space. Many simple coops are just an A-frame triangle structure with 2 nesting boxes and a roost at one end.





How many eggs can you use? Hens produce 2-4 eggs per week and sometimes more. That’s potentially a dozen eggs per week with 3 hens. How many chickens you want to own determines your coop size.





Tip #2

Start on level ground





Start by choosing a level space in your backyard that allows for rain runoff without flooding. You may need to landscape a bit to even out the ground. Also, if your climate is damp, consider starting with a concrete block as a base for the coop




Tip #3

Chose quality materials





You can find great sources for recycled materials at building sites and resale yards. Use untreated wood for building because treated wood can make chickens sick. Also, look for hardware mesh instead of flimsier ‘chicken wire’ for the outdoor pens.





Tip #4 Plan for Ventilation and Light





Also, chickens need 10 hours per day of light. That means including adequate windows and ventilation for chickens living inside. Use windows that open to maximize fresh air during the day. Vents in the ceiling should be installed to help cool the coop and provide fresh air.





Find a good resource for a building guide so your project goes smoothly. Taking care of chickens, called chicken husbandry, is also easy to learn and included in many online hen house building guides.