Chicken Coop Building Plans


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You may or may not be surprised to know that a great number of people have been enjoying the financial freedom and quality of living that raising chickens brings. It will give you organic eggs and economic independence with minimal investment. In order to provide quality living for the chickens you need to build good quality chicken coops. So how do you build a quality chicken coop? It has been a major source of concern for a great number of people looking in to building their own coop. Quality chicken coop building plans will come to your rescue by providing long lasting and healthy chicken coop concepts that have been proven many times over.
How will you preserve your chickens from hostile climatic conditions? So many questions like this will pop up and you will have to find out the most feasible solution. Don’t worry help is at hand. A well thought out building plan should be designed or brought before starting the procedure of building a chicken coop. There are many plans available some free some with a small charge. Don’t fall in to the trap of thinking cheapest is best. Actually well drawn plans with precise material specifications can actually save you a lot of money on the long run. Buy quality whether that be cheap or expensive depends on where you buy. Good plans will teach you about the importance of easily accessible nest boxes, well designed doors to allow the smooth passage of the chickens and good ventilation to keep the air dry and clean. Amongst many other things.   Building a chicken coop can be a simple process.
First of all you will have to find the most suitable location. To keep your chickens more productive and healthy natural sunlight is an important aspect. Hostile weather conditions such as flooding or extreme temperatures should not be aloud to become a problem for the chickens. The materials to build the coop can be purchased from local stores at good prices if you know what you need in advance, a lot of money can be saved through less wastage. We are not saying you will become expert in building chicken coops but you will have everything you need with a set of quality chicken coop building plans.
Online research will help you familiarise what sort of chicken coop building plans are out there, a good set will cover all aspects like the arrangement of the ventilation, the materials to be used to save chickens from the predators, chicken wire, the quality of the wood, raised platform and insulating materials. Quality chicken coop building plans will also help you familiarise with the installation of advanced features like food dispensers, egg collection hatches and automatic watering systems.

Once you become familiar with all these aspects, the process of building a chicken coop will actually become much easier and much more enjoyable. Using professional advice in the way of  building plans will help you save money because you will be building a long lasting chicken coop with wonderful facilities that your chickens will love. Since you do not have to repair the coop time and again it can be considered as an investment for the future also. The average space requirement for a chicken inside the coop can be around 4 to 5 square feet and a medium sized chicken coop will cost around $200 to build, which is less that half of an anywhere near decent brought one by the way.
So I recommend you take a look around the Internet for some plans and see what you think, if you wish to buy plans directly from this site please click on one of the pictures in the side bar or at the top of the page. One thing I can guarantee is these plans will be very precise with plenty of options to choose a style and size you will be happy with. They will have full material and tool lists to help you get started and save you money.
Good luck
Andrew

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Building A Chicken Coop


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How To Go About Building A Chicken Coop Easily

Building a chicken coop is really not that hard, actually it’s a lot easier than people think. In fact anyone can build a good chicken coop and also save a lot of money which would have been wasted hiring a carpenter to do the job for you. The trouble is people get afraid thinking raising chickens is very expensive, especially with the initial out lay of having a chicken coop built.

If you build it yourself you have no worries. In most cases when one employs the services of a carpenter, the cost ranges from between $700 to $900 for a even a small coop. This is not a small amount of money when you add in the cost of looking after the chickens, wow there is a lot of money gone.

The problem many people have is that they do not know where to start when thinking of building a chicken coop. They will be worried they do not possess the skills to build the coop, or even that they start but may not be able to finish the project on their own.

However, this case only applies when the person making the chicken coop attempts to do so with out proper plans. When choosing the right chicken coop plan to use, it is always important to put a few factors into consideration. The ability to comprehend the plans in such a way that it is easy to start building. This is where the majority of people fail because they choose plans that are far to complicated, this can spell disaster because although the project is started it cannot be completed. This leads to frustration.

It is always important to chose easy chicken coop plans so building can be completed easily from start to finish. This will not only save you a lot of time but also a lot of money. Can you imagine having to go to a carpenter and asking for home to finish your half built chicken coop.

It is also important to take a few other factors into consideration in order to make the building of your chicken coop nice and easy. You should consider the cost of the materials and also the size of the coop you plan to build. The materials should be of good quality but also not very expensive. Going for very cheap materials will compromise on the durability of the coop while going for very expensive materials on the other hand will end up being a waste.

The materials you choose should strike a balance between quality and price so as to be really effective. This is another reason why good plans should be followed. The plans will lay out all required materials from the start so you know what you have to buy. This will save on wastage.

The size of the chicken coop should also be considered before starting the project. This is determined by the number of chicken that you intend to keep. It is also important to know that the bigger the size, the longer it will take to finish it. As well as the more it will cost obviously. Actually though the limit is only that of your imagination or that of the designer of the plans.

So having thought about the above factors it can be much easier building a chicken coop without necessarily having to involve the services of a professional carpenter. Although it might take some a little bit more time, at the end of it all, it will always be a very satisfying sight to see you very own hand built chicken coop. All that is needed is determination and of course the right attitude and everything else will flow smoothly trust me.

The above steps indicate very clearly that everyone is capable of building a chicken coop.

Good luck with your building.

Andrew

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How To Build A Chicken Coop


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So you have been thinking about building a chicken coop for a while now. You have always wanted to be more self sufficient and provide for your family. Well there has never been a better time to learn how to build a chicken coop. The news channels are filled with bad news the world economy is taking a nose dive, food prices are rocketing. So building a chicken coop and keeping chickens can be your own little piece of security and peace of mind that you’re doing your bit to beat the down turn, save some money and become self sufficient in your own little way. You don’t need to have a lot of space at your house in order to build a chicken coop. You can get chicken coop plans for all sorts of different types and sizes of coop, and whether you keep one or twenty chickens you’ll know your reap the benefits.

 

chicken coop

Building from a chicken coop kit can be a good idea and has a number of benefits. As well as a full set of instructions and laid out plans you will also get all the materials you need to complete the chicken coop. There are no worries about over ordering supplies and having lots of left over’s with equals wasted money. Also for the slightly less capable it takes away the decision of exactly what materials are needed to buy, and less skill is needed as the materials are already cut to the required size. It’s more like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Normally when building a chicken coop from a kit it can be completed more quickly as the materials are as we said pre cut to the correct length along with the correct amount of fasteners. So a kit chicken coop is an ideal weekend project to do by your self or even involve the children. Believe me the children will love it.  The main negative side of a kit chicken coop is cost. Because a lot of the work has been pre done for you regarding materials etc the cost is almost always higher. So if you want to save some money you will want to build your chicken coop from scratch.

 

chicken coop plans

Build a chicken coop

A lot of people much prefer to build their chicken coops this way from scratch. This can be done in two main ways. You can either go it totally alone designing and building it completely without any help from plans. If this is what you decide (I would not consider doing it this way) then you must be careful to draw up your own plans before you start. The second way is to buy a set of plans and build your chicken coop from these detailed plans, sourcing your own materials to do the job (keeping costs at a manageable level). Now as much as I’m all in favor of saving money and going it alone, in my opinion to build a chicken coop without plans will actually cost you more in the long run. Going in to a project blind without a proper set of plans will get you in a whole heap of trouble, costs will spiral you will end up with a lot of wasted materials and it will take a lot longer to build. Following a structured plan will be a big help. A good set of chicken coop plans will be extremely detailed and easy to follow. Giving all the materials required to complete the job. If money is an issue you can always build up the materials over time until you are ready to start building.

 

build a chicken coop

Chicken coop plans

One thing I can say for sure is that building your chicken coop will give you immense pleasure. The self satisfaction of having built something for yourself that is useful and practical will be a joy and who’s to say that once you have built your own chicken coop and developed your skills and knowledge that you can’t build chicken coops and sell them to other people. With the world the way it is at the moment and the economy looking bleak a lot of people are looking at ways they can earn a few extra dollars or safe guard their income. If you are out of work or just looking to boost your income by a few dollars then using skills you have or skills you can learn and even teach yourself will become very valuable. If you can build a great looking chicken coop from a set of plans in a weekend, and then sell one every week you could be on to a nice little earner. That will surely put a smile on your face.

chicken coop

Chicken coop

If you have any questions about building chicken coops or in fact keeping chickens in general then don’t hesitate to get in touch or leave a comment below.

Don’t delay get building today (don’t forget your plans).

Andrew

Added: 6th December 2011.

I just wanted to add an extra bit to this post about the tools required to build your chicken coop. I have had a few questions in my inbox a long the lines of. “Do i need special tools for chicken coop construction or will I be able to get by with a basic tool kit.”

I decided to give a list of the tools I use to build my chicken coops and hopefully this will help. Obviously the tools required will depend very much on the size and type of coop you intend to build but below is a list of the basics.

  • Personal protection and safety clothing: OK so not strictly a tool but please do not forget this essential part, trust me I have found out the hard way in the past with cuts and bumps.  Basically a good strong pair of gloves, protective goggles, and possible some hearing protection are all good additions to your tool box.
  • Tape measure: Try to get a good quality tape measure that is at least 10 meters. Good quality tape measures are usually wider and thicker and will stand up to more use. Remember the good old saying. “measure twice, cut once”.
  • Saws Various: You may choose to use a power saw. I would recommend a circular saw or a table saw. I also have a miter saw, a jigsaw and various hand saws at my disposal. I would say if you have to choose one get a circular saw as you can do most cuts required with this.
  • Hammer:  I use a small hammer for tacks and small nails and a larger hammer for hitting boards in to place and larger nails. I actually screw most of my wood together but the hammer still gets plenty of use.
  • Drill: Although you may well drill a few holes here and there the majority of the drills work will by as a powered screwdriver. Always have a spare battery charged ready to go.
  • Level: I have a few levels. A nice long builders level and a handy pocket size one. I also have a post level that I find handy.
  • Tin snips: Any good chicken coop will use some chicken wire somewhere and a good pair of tin snips will be your best friend here.

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FREE Chicken Coop Plans


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Choosing The Correct Chicken Coop Plans – Is FREE Best

Choosing the correct chicken coop plans is the most essential part if you want to make a chicken house. Choosing the correct plans is actually not that difficult, but be sure to only select the correct plans. Below is the reason why:

The size of the coop: For your chickens to generally be cozy the chicken coop plans should provide a crystal clear idea the number of hens you’ll be able to keep within the coop. Selecting one that is too small isn’t recommended, because the birds will be congested, and the hygiene is going to be inadequate.
That can actually lead to health problems among the chickens, apart from, any social difficulties in your coop if the hens feel too crowded.

Hints to reduce Your Work: Chicken coop plans really should have a number of ideas regarding how to reduce your work. For instance, some hen houses have a slanted floor which will make it much better to clean the structure. There will be a lot that you can do to make your hen house less of a nerve-racking, and more of a happy endeavor. Gain knowledge from the experiences made by experts to not repeat their errors. You aren’t the first one to make your own chicken coop, so luckily there is several fantastic helpful information on you to purchase, and get started out building your own coop.

The appropriate spot to build: Choosing the correct spot to build is a crucial factor in having the most out of your hen house. For instance, chickens need a ton of sunlight. Building your hen house in an area with very little sunlight can hurt the egg production. There are other steps you can take to make sure your coop stays nice, and is simple to keep clean. One thing you should do is build your chicken coop on top of a hill to guarantee your coop won’t flood when it rains. Top quality chicken coop plans have to give you more suggestions similar to this to help you find the most effective spot in your back yard.

Proper protection for the Chickens: Your chickens have to be protected. That is true both for pet predators, and wildlife, dependent upon if you live in the city or maybe the countryside. A dog, cats, foxes etc . . . . are all a possible threat to the hens. Since several predators will dig their way into your hen house you will have to take all required measures to protect your hens. You would not want to get up one day to discover all your chickens mangled and hurt, do you?

Design and Style of the coop: Okay, the design does not seem that important, however let us not kid ourselves… it really is! You wouldn’t like to have some unpleasant eye blister within your backyard. And I advise you, neither would other people. Better choose a nice design that everyone can live with than some unappealing box that your friends and neighbors will dislike you for. If you get this correct, chance is your neighbors will be jealous of you for the amazing looking chicken coop. And also you built it on your own.

Do you want to get both hands on fantastic chicken coop plans? Excellent! There has never been a better time to build a chicken coop, do not attempt to build it blind. Good plans are available, and will actually save you money in the long run.

OK OK so you wanted FREE chicken coop plans. Sign in on the right hand side to receive my chicken coop building newsletter and as a thank you I will send you  FREE chicken coop plans.

Andrew


Chicken Coop Designs For Every Purpose


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Whether you are a poultry keeper on a small holding or a backyard bird keeper there is a chicken coop or chicken coop designs out there to suit your needs. There are the familiar traditional chicken houses that come in a wide variety of designs and materials that range in size from small to large. These coops are substantial and are a fixed feature within the small holding. There are smaller portable models, referred to as “chicken tractors” or chicken arks that allow the pens and birds to be moved within a range.

 

Properly designed and constructed, both types of chicken coops provide the birds with its basic needs: light, shelter from the elements, space for roosting and nesting and movement within a space secure from predators. Which coop or chicken coop designs you chose will depend largely on the type and number of chickens you keep and environmental considerations. A general rule of thumb is that each bird you keep, standard or bantam, will need 2 to 3 square feet of space within the coop proper and 4 to 5 square feet of outdoor space.

 

Everyone has a mental imagine of a chicken coop, it is a rustic image that includes a door for the farmer, windows to provide light and ventilation, and a pop-hole door and ramp leading into a fenced yard. Generally frame or stick built, the fixed chicken coop has walls that are tall enough to allow the farmer to feed and water his birds, collect eggs and remove soiled bedding materials such as straw or wood shavings. Interior of these coops can include coop “furniture” includes roosts, nest boxes, and fixtures that allow the suspension of food and water container for the birds. While some traditional coop design may also have built in hoppers for chicken feed there are kit built options and building plans on the market that allow for external storage of feeds. This design limits the amount of spoilage or contamination of feeds by rodents.

 

During the past few years, there has been a so-called “eco-friendly” trend in chicken coops designs.  Coops design and construction that falls within this category invariably include the use of a lighter weight portable coop that can be transported throughout the land or home owner’s property. These coops are commonly referred to as “chicken” tractors in rural settings or “chicken arks” in suburban or urban environments. Like the traditional fixed coop basic elements used in a chicken tractor is a box or enclosed area affording the bird shelter during egg laying or sleeping, fixtures for food and water vessels, nest boxes and perches for the birds to roost upon. The difference in these structures being the weight of the material employed in their construction and the incorporation of tote handles or wheels that allowed the coop to be moved.

 

Larger range houses can be newly constructed or can incorporate all or some elements from an older travel trailer or stick built garden shed. The larger the house, though, the more likely the holder will need more than man power to move your coop. Smaller manually moved chicken tractors make use of lighter weight materials housing fewer birds but decreasing dependency on fossil fuels to move them.

 

Effective use of chicken tractors requires a certain degree of planning on the part of the poultry keeper. Both range houses and chicken tractors use an “open” floor. Open floors in this context refer to wire fabric used in the floor of the box portion of the coop as well as the exercise yard. The use of wire also limits predation. Open floors, moreover, allow for chicken waste to fall through to the ground where it is picked up by the soil and remaining thatch as usable nutrients. Chickens fed prepared rations and not scratch, contribute trace minerals such a selenium enriching and refreshing pasturage. Frequently moved birds are much more likely to be plagued by internal parasites or stress-related behaviors such as feather picking.

 

The smallest type of chicken coop is sometimes referred to as an “chicken ark”. Movable or fixed coops that are scaled down versions of their country cousins are widely available for the city dweller. Any one considering keeping chickens within a suburban or urban setting should check with their local by-laws before moving forward. If the keeping of chickens is permitted, there may be also by-law restrictions and regulations for the coop itself and fencing. These small lot friend structures are available in pre-fabricated kits or through downloadable plans.