Plans For A Chicken Coop – Essential Features They Should Include
Article by Anne Bensonn
Want your hens happy, healthy and productive? Like to build your own coop but not sure if you have the skills or tools? What features of a hen house design are essential and how big should it be? How about nest boxes and ventilation? All these questions and more are answered right here.
Think positively! – If you’re prepared to put a little effort into it, you are almost certainly able to build your own chicken coop. Before building our first coop, I had no wood working skills myself but it’s still in good order 10 years on. A set of clear and detailed chicken coop construction plans and taking your time are the keys to your success.
Regarding tools, most plans for a chicken coop will only require basic equipment. Your tools do not need to be electrical – although you’ll be finished faster if they are. You will need a drill with bits, a wood saw and a screw driver. A junior hacksaw or jig saw would make cutting curves easier and needless to say you also need a pencil and tape measure.
If you’re a budding architect and wish to design your own coop, or if you’re thinking of buying plans for a chicken coop, make sure certain essential basic features are incorporated:
An area that is dry, under cover and free from draughts
For both you and your chickens sake, make it easy to clean. This means either high enough to walk in, or have removable or opening side panels / roof so you can reach right inside without falling in head first!!
Chickens can be like naughty children and they certainly KNOW when theyre at arms-length-plus-2-inches!! Be certain you can reach the entire chicken coop without tools and an hour to spare.
The chickens need somewhere to nest that is dark and dry. This will encourage them to lay there and not scatter their offerings far and wide in the hedgerows.
Size really does matter. When thinking about how large to make your coop, allow at least 3 to 4 sq. ft. of floor space per chicken for big breeds and 2 sq. ft for bantams. You’ll need to double this area for their health or triple it for their happiness if your chickens will be confined for much of the day!
Even small chicken coop plans need nest boxes – unless you’re only raising your birds for meat of course! You should provide 1 nest box for every 4 or 5 birds. These need to be in a dry and dark place – not only to encourage laying but also to reduce the risk of a potential egg eating habit getting started.
Good ventilation is clearly important. Ensure you include windows that can be opened in hot weather along with mesh covered ventilation holes if your chickens are sometimes confined to the coop during the day.
When choosing plans for a chicken coop one vital point should not be overlooked. Make sure the coop will be portable. This will have the single most dramatic and positive effect upon your chickens health and therefore productivity. Make an effort to move your coop regularly – if they’re confined to a small run then once per week but not so often if they range free. If your hens range freely then be careful not to move their house too far. They are not very bright sparks and may return to where the coop WAS to sleep on the ground if the new location is too far away!!
Hopefully this has helped to develop your confidence. I’m sure you have the ability to build you own coop and then you will experience a wonderful sense of accomplishment and pride each time you look at your masterpiece of craftsmanship and it’s happy, satisfied occupants.
About the Author
You’ll find an array of online pet chicken coop plans here or, alternatively, you may prefer to take the easy route and buy your first coop! This pet chicken coop shop is well laid out and clearly explains the features of each one.