Quick Tips for Building a Chicken Coop

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

Did you know that commercial raised eggs are stored for weeks before they reach your market? Would you rather have fresh, organic eggs everyday with your own backyard chicken farm? Building a chicken coop is the first step to a fun and worthwhile project.

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

Tip #1
Building plan should be compatible with your space

Each chicken needs about 4 square feet inside the coop for optimal health, and individual space and high egg production.

Simple coops are just an A-frame triangle structure with 2 nesting boxes and a roost and a run at one end. Two story coops will have a ground level for roaming and nesting, and a second level for the roost and more nesting boxes.

Hens generally produce 2-4 eggs per week and sometimes more. That’s potentially a dozen eggs per week with 3 hens. Determine your coop size on your space and how may chickens you will need. Remember that overcrowding chickens affects their livelihood and their egg production.

Tip #2
Start on level ground

Start by choosing a level space on your property. Allow for drainage to prevent flooding. Install drains to carry away rain water.
You may need to landscape the area to even out the ground. Consider starting with a concrete block as a base for the coop.

Tip #3
Buy quality materials

Building sites and urban resale yards are a great resource for recycled lumber, windows, pipes, electrical components and other materials. Look for hardware mesh in building supply stores instead of flimsier ‘chicken wire’ for the outdoor pens. Invest in quality untreated lumber and make sure you have good insulation in the coop.

Tip #4
Ventilation and light

To stay healthiest, chickens need 10 hours of light per day. Be sure to build adequate windows and ventilation for chickens living inside. Install 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.

Tip #5
Download a good building guide so your project goes smoothly. Plan out your materials and follow the dimensions exactly for the best success. Many websites provide a good selection of DIY building plans. These are much cheaper than buying a pre-fabricated coop.

These building tips will help you get started with building a chicken coop. You will find many benefits to raising your own chickens. Taking care of chickens, called chicken husbandry, is also easy to learn and included in many online hen house building guides.