How I Got Started Building a Chicken Coop
Article by Hank Dodson
Preparation for building a chicken coop can be a simple thing or can be one of the hardest things you have ever done. If you consider the number of chicken coop designs there are it might make your head spin. On the other hand, you can make building a chicken coop as easy as 1-2-3. Let’s take a look at the simple methods first. When I was a youngster of about 10 years old I wanted chickens in the worst way. I kept asking my parents over and over if I could have chickens and the answer was always the same, NO! My reply was always the same WHY NOT?
My parents, not really knowing much about chickens, always started with a list of why I shouldn’t have my own chickens. First there was, they cost much to keep them up. Then there was the who’s going to take care of them, along with “you’re way too young to clean up after them” and the ever faithful reply of “and where do you think we’re going to keep them”
As I kept growing and the years flew by, my love for chickens got stronger. I learned about chickens and what goes into raising them from chicks. Most people are surprised that chickens are not all that complicated. One of the concerns is building a chicken coop, just like my parents were afraid of and were always using for an excuse. I realize now it wasn’t really being afraid, it was more of a lack of not knowing how simple a coop could be built or how cheaply it could be built.
I want to share with you how simple you can build a coop. If you are a parent wanting to understand why it is easy to raise chickens for your children or you are a young person wanting to have chickens but you need to explain to your parents how easy it is to have chickens, and that you are aware of how to take care of chickens.
Here is the simple and quick way to build a small chicken coop that will house about 4 chickens to start with.
You only need a piece of your yard about 4ft.x4ft. You need some lumber for corner posts. Dig some holes in the ground about 18″deep, stand the lumber posts in the ground and pack it down around the posts. The coop doesn’t have to be very tall only about 3ft. in height. Add a plywood roof and a swinging door with a latch and there is your frame. The last step is to nail on some chicken wire around your frame and door. All the materials which can be found at any hardware store are very cheap to build this simple coop.
I hope this information is helpful for building a chicken coop as simple as possible. For more complex ways to build a coop you can go online and you will be pleasantly surprised on how many plans you have to choose from.
About the Author
Hank Dodson is the owner of The Chicken Coop Plans Site. Hank has been building chicken coops and caring for chicken for decades. Want to learn more about chicken coops how to build? Visit his chicken coops how to build site for helpful tips and information on how to build you very own coop.
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