How To Efficiently Build A Chicken Coop

Raising chickens is a simple and enjoyable hobby that anyone can pick up.  It can provide eggs and meat for the family while enriching the garden with fertilizer.  But like any animal, having a comfortable home is essential.  The good news is with the proper planning, you too can build a chicken coop rather easily.

Before you actually begin to build a chicken coop, it is vital you take the time to plan.  First and foremost, consider the spot as it should be somewhere high to avoid accumulation of water during a rain storm.  Also look at how big it will need to be as there should be around two square feet per bird on the inside, or eight to ten square feet per bird in the yard area.

Once you have the right spot picked out, sketch out a rough design that includes large enough doors for you to enter as well as windows possibly for ventilation in the summer and warmth in the winter.

Now that the blueprint has been laid out, it is time to build a chicken coop.  You want to construct the coop so the front faces toward the south.  Make sure to slope the roof in a way that rain will not run directly over the door.  All windows should be secured with chicken wire to keep predators out, or even sliding glass windows if you want to completely close all openings.

Next, place a latch on the door so you can properly secure the coop when necessary.  Nest boxes come next along with perches against the walls of the coop, which should be three to four feet off of the ground.  You can fill the next boxes with straw for comfort. 

Surrounding the yard you want some kind of fencing like chicken wire that is at least four feet high and 12 inches deep to keep predators from digging into the yard.  Make sure to angle the fencing away from the yard. 

If you really want to go all out, you can even cover the yard area with netting as this will prevent birds like hawks and owls from preying on the hens.  Planting millet or other tall grasses can also protect your chickens.  The main intention is to keep your chickens as safe as possible.

The final touches to efficiently build a chicken coop is to hang the feeders and water devices in the yard.  Of course, do so in a way that the trays are about the height of the chickens backs.  By keeping them off of the ground it helps prevent the chickens from getting dirt in the food and water.

Although it is quite a bit of work, it is surprisingly easy to build a chicken coop.  It makes for the perfect home for an enjoyable hobby.