You Can Build a Chicken Coop for Yourself

There is a common misconception that building a chicken coop is too difficult for the average person to do. When someone needs a small coop, their first instinct is to purchase a coop from somewhere else. This results in them spending more money than necessary on their chicken coop. If you're on a tight budget, however, you might find that buying a coop won't make sense for you. If this is your situation, then you should learn how to build a chicken coop yourself. Don't worry, with the right tools and a positive attitude, you can do this!

The first thing that you need to consider is the safety of the chickens, which is a major purpose of all backyard chicken coops. While shelter is important, safety is paramount.

Surrounding your chicken coop should be a run. This is an area that should be enclosed where your chickens can spend time outdoors.

You need to determine how many chickens you're going to want in your coop. Too small of a coop and you'll end up with chickens that won't lay eggs.

If you're unsure of what size you need, consider providing a nine-inch perch and four square feet of space for each chicken that you plan to keep. Your chicken run should be at least eight square feet per chicken.

You'll want to be able to tend to the coop with regular cleanings and, of course you want access to the eggs. You should ensure that you have a way to get into the coop. The door for entrance should swing into the coop, not outwards.

You also want to ensure that your coop provides plenty of air exposure as well as light for the chickens. You'll need an area for storage and a hatchway.

For materials you'll need: •3/4" rectangular plywood boards •Shingles for the roof •Chicken wire •PVC pipe •Door latches •Window catches •Acrylic sheeting •Mesh •Log pieces •Wood shavings

Because everything that you use will be exposed to the elements, make sure you purchase quality products that are already treated against moisture, mold and other problems caused by the elements.

The roosts need to be made from 2"X2" or 4"X4" planks. For the safety of your chickens, make sure that you blunt the edges so that they aren't sharp. The wood shavings will be laid out onto the floor so that cleaning simply means a quick sweeping.

When building your coop, whether it's going to be a stationary or movable chicken coop, remember the elements. If you're exposed to a lot of heat, moisture, high winds and so on, take all of these things into account when selecting the materials.