Having some Chickens in the backyard is a growing experience for the whole family. It will encourage your children to be diligent with their chores while caring for the welfare of the chickens. And for adults it helps to relax and unwind from the stresses of work while bringing pleasure and enjoyment as you see your chickens grow and produce eggs for your kitchen table.
You will need to build a chicken coop for your chickens so that they can have a comfortable place to roost and lay eggs. There are 7 tips for building a chicken coop that you will need to consider before you start. These 7 tips will help you plan and build the right chicken coop for your backyard without blowing out the budget.
7 Tips For Building a Chicken Coop
- Think Pre-Designed Plans
- Think Ahead
- Think Recycled Material
- Think Size and Position
- Think Warm Nesting Boxes
- Think Easy To Clean And Maintain
- Think Roosting Space
1. Think Pre-designed Plans
Let’s face it. No one builds without a plan. If you are like me, you will want to build your own chicken coop. A set of Chicken Coop Building Plans is a great place to start. It is a small cost; however, it may save you money in the long run. It will take away the guess work and the costly mistakes that can easily come from not having a set of plans.
Chicken Coop plans will give you an overview of what your chicken coop will look like. This will help you choose the right chicken coop for your backyard and it will give you an idea of how much you will need to budget for the project.
Like all pre-designed plans, you will need to spend time to interpret them so that you have a good understanding of how they will work out in your situation. Sometimes you will need to adjust the plans to suit your situation.
2. Think Ahead
Take your time to prepare for the project. Every building project has its unforeseen obstacles. When they happen, work them through and you will save yourself a lot of hassles and frustration.
If you make a mistake with materials, take some time to think through how you can utilize the materials in other parts of the building process.
I never rush building projects and when I do run into problems, I take some time to see how I can learn from the experience.
3. Think Recycled Materials
One thing I have learned over the years is not to throw away the bits and pieces from a building project because these bits and pieces can be used for other projects.
You may have some bits and pieces lying around your home that can be used in the construction of your chicken coop.
Once you have decided on the chicken coop for your backyard, you will soon know what materials you will want for the project. Most places have second-hand suppliers and you should check them out. You may be surprised by the savings you can achieve by using recycled materials.
4. Think Size and Position
Preplanning will go a long way in choosing the right chicken coop for your backyard situation.
If you have a small backyard, you will need to choose a small chicken coop with either wheels or handles so that you can move it around with ease.
If you have a reasonably large backyard, you may want to construct a medium to large chicken coop. There are lots of designs around for you to choose from and you can also consider a free range area for extra space.
Again, some preplanning will save you time and money.
5. Think Warm Nesting Boxes
Your chickens will appreciate warm and dry nesting boxes. The general rule is that you will need one nesting box for every 2 to 3 chickens or hens. The nesting boxes need to be large enough for the hens to stand.
You can also line the nesting boxes with soft straw, wood shaving or shredded paper.
The goal of the nesting boxes is to construct them so that they are warm and dry. This will encourage your chickens or hens to lay their eggs in relative peace and privacy. With nesting boxes there is no need to hunt for eggs.
6. Think Easy to Clean and Maintain
Cleaning and maintaining your chicken coop is a very important part of keeping your chickens or hens healthy.
When constructing and positioning your chicken coop, keep in mind how you can make it easier to clean and maintain your hen house.
Your family will appreciate your pre-planning in this area.
7. Think Roosting Space
Chooks love to roost and if you can construct a chicken roost or roosting rod, then your chickens will have a place to sleep.
Also, it gets your chickens and hens off the ground and this is good for their health and well-being. Wooden ladders often make good roosting perches.
Hopefully these tips will help you have an enjoyable experience while building a chicken coop for your chickens and hens! If you need pre-designed plans, check out the following material from Amazon!