Tampilkan postingan dengan label chicken. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label chicken. Tampilkan semua postingan

How to Build a Chicken Coop and Save a Bundle Doing It

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have a better chicken house in the process?Isnt it cool that raising chickens takes so little resources? There is a reason why the term "chicken feed" is in our language meaning something very inexpensive. Certainly that can be true if you are going to build a chicken coop. Chicken coops are responsible for the safety and environment for your chickens. The right chicken house will maximize the number of eggs that your chickens lay.
A healthy chicken will lay five or more eggs a week but this is affected by heat, cold, rain, and other environmental conditions. Your chicken house must be able to create the best environment possible in each of these cases. A house with sliding doors and windows is a great benefit when its hot. And of course you need a house that will keep your chickens and their bedding dry when it rains. All of these factors must be considered when selecting plans. With the right plans you are assured a good egg yield and healthy chickens.
There are many chicken coops for sale and these can really run your costs up. Another problem with pre-made chicken coops/chicken houses is they may not have all the enhancements that you can add inexpensively if you build your own chicken coop.Check also this chicken coop guide.                             
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Avoid These 7 Critical Errors When Building a Chicken Coop

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Last year I decided to build a chicken coop with my wife. Her and I used to be obese and we decided to evaluate the foods we were eating. We decided that part of us getting even healthier was growing more of our own food and eating organic to avoid the chemicals that build up in our bodies. As part of this we wanted to raise chickens for the healthy eggs. After a little bit more trouble than we had asked for we finally did build a chicken coop. I wish that someone would have told me a long ago what mistakes to avoid.
ERROR #1: Not Planning Before You Build.
When you are ready to build a chicken coop you must plan every aspect of the coop before you even pick up a hammer.
To build a chicken coop draw out a plan. Collect all of the materials. Select materials that will be easy to attain, easy to work with and easy to clean up. Plan the functionality of your coop. The doors need to open inwards, not outwards. If you build it the other way with the door opening outwards you chickens will begin roosting on your windows. Your chickens will spend a lot of time in the coop so they need fresh air, designing a coop with sliding windows is a great way to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the summer.
When you build a chicken coop you must consider how will you keep the floors clean in your coop. First you will need to cover them with a good material for the chickens to dig and scratch as they naturally do. Hay is, unfortunately, not ideal for this. Second, you should build the coop with the floors slightly sloping towards the door. This way you can spray the hose in the coop and the dirt on the floor easily slides out to the ground below. You will have a clean coop and no puddles of water in the coop.
ERROR #2: Not Giving Your Chickens Proper Ventilation.
Building a chicken coop is to protect your flock. The purpose of your coop is to protect your chickens from the element and outside predators, but you also need to give them proper ventilation. Free movement of air inside the coop is very important, but you do not want to freeze your chickens with a draft. Chickens, are like humans, they can only perform at their optimum levels if all of their basic needs are met first, in this case protection and oxygen. A Chicken coop without free air movement and therefore more oxygen will have high carbon monoxide levels and humidity levels. This is not good because uncomfortable chickens do not produce as many eggs. It is also very dangerous because it makes mold growth within the walls very easy.
ERROR #3: Not Insulating the Walls.
To build a chicken coop properly insulating the walls is very important. The walls of the chicken coop need to have good insulation installed. This will help keep the chickens warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The insulation will also help to keep the coop at optimum humidity levels. When the chickens are kept at the optimum humidity levels they produce more eggs. Insulating the walls will also help to keep the chickens dry. In colder climates when your chickens are dry they can withstand the cold well. Insulating the walls will not only keep your chickens producing eggs but it will prevent your chickens from getting sick.
ERROR #4: Not Putting the Water and the Feeders in the correct place.
If you build a chicken coop, obviously the water and the chicken feeders need to be in a place where your chickens can easily access them. It is important to be very careful in selecting a place to put the water and the feeders. Chickens can make a big mess of things because of their natural instinct to scratch and dig. It is very frustrating to see water and the chicken feed you just put out all over the floor. To prevent this place the feeder and the water at the height of a chicken back. Ideally the chickens will have to stretch their necks up to the food a little bit to eat and drink but they will not be able to place their feet in their food or water. Be sure to replace the water and the chicken feed daily.
ERROR #5: Not Having a Good Light Source.
Build your chicken coop facing the south so that the coop will receive sunlight throughout the day. For the winter months when the days are shorter and there is less sunlight, it is important to install a light in the coop. This is not difficult. They have lights that you can just stick to the walls at any local hardware store, you do not have to be an electrician, it is as easy as putting a sticker on a paper.Installing this light will be well worth the few dollars you spend to do it. It will keep your chickens warm and happy and keep your egg production up in the winter, when most chicken farmers experience a fall off of production because the chickens get less light and warmth.
ERROR #6: Not Protecting Your Chickens from the Elements.
Your coop is a haven for your chickens, much like your house is for you. A well constructed chicken coop will protect your chickens from hazardous elements such as bad weather.
Here are the basics for weather proofing your coop:
1. Make sure the doors and the windows are sealed properly so that they do not let a draft in.
2. Build the chicken coop on an elevated area where it can be drained easily and the least amount of dampness of the coop.
3. Build your chicken coop facing the fun sun. This will keep the coop dry after it rains and warm when it is cold out.
ERROR #7: Not Protecting Your Chickens from Predators.
Build a chicken coop not only to protect your flock from the elements and to protect them from predators.
Here are the basics to protect your chickens from predators:
1. Do not build the coop near brush where other animals may live.
2. Bury your outside chicken runs with chicken wire. You can lay the wire on the ground and then cover it. This will keep predators such as raccoons, cats and even dogs from digging underneath the run.
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How to Build a Backyard Chicken Coop

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How to Build a Backyard Chicken Coop
Growing chicken is not only a great experience for families with children, but also an excellent way to get fresh eggs, remove bugs from your yard, and get some much needed natural fertilizer for your garden. In order to provide the best environment for your home grown chicken, you should learn how to build a backyard chicken coop. The process is simple, but you need to make sure you have everything you need.
This is where your chickens will eat and sleep. Your coop will also need to keep them safe from potential predators. It is possible to buy a pre-made chicken coop and that is a good option for you if you have the money and dont have the time to build one on your own.
The first thing you need to do is come up with a plan. It is important to take a count of how many chickens are going to be in the coop as well as how large they will get when they reach maturity.
Other considerations are:
How many nests you plan on putting in
    How many feeders you will need room for
    Where to put water and how many you need
    How many windows will give your chickens enough sunlight
Beyond choosing exactly what youll need to go in your chicken coop and how much room you will need it is also helpful to make sure you choose a good terrain to build on. Definitely dont choose one that is hilly or rocky. Also, consider an area that will have the right sunlight conditions and keep the number of threats to a minimum. Be sure you have more than enough space cleared to build on.
After youre sure of those basics you can really begin to plan. Draw up a blueprint of your chicken coop. You need to draw to scale so you can make sure all your measurements will be accurate. Include all of the components like windows, feeders, and nests. This will help you get a visual on what the outcome will be.
Once you finished drawing your plans up you can start to buy the materials. At the bare minimum you will need:
2 X 4 wood pieces
    Concrete cinder blocks
    Chicken wire
    Insulation
    Nails and screws
    Saw
    Hammer
    Anything else you have included in your plans
Now the real fun can begin! Once you have your plan and your materials you can start to build your backyard chicken coop. Follow your plan and put in extra effort to make sure everything is sturdy. Do remember to leave areas for ventilation but also seal everything up to keep predators out.Its not hard to learn how to build a backyard chicken coop, and the end result will be perfect for you. Soon enough youll have chickens in your backyard and you can brag to friends and family about the wonderful coop you built.Find Quality Chicken Coop Plans Here Too
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Chicken Coop Designs Helpful Tips For Designing Your Own Chicken Coop

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Chicken Coop Designs
This is because most designs require the exact same amount of planning that a modest house does as opposed to an uncomplicated small hutch which may be what you 1st thought of prior to exploring chicken coop designs in depth.
The design of your chicken coop is something that ought to be taken really seriously, as it can impact the health of the chickens. 
When within the design procedure, make certain that you maintain door location in mind. 
You also must have a smaller door for the chickens to access the chicken run. 
You also must ensure youve at least 10 feet of running room per chicken within the chicken run. 
Because they all lay eggs at various times, this really should accommodate the chickens. 
They like cool weather, but if its too cold they will get just as unhappy as if its too hot. 
It should be covered usually in chicken wire but ought to be closed in over the winter time to maintain the chickens from getting ill.
Do not forget that even though the chicken coup itself doesnt need to be of a massive size to accommodate your chickens, your backyard have to be large sufficient.
Other than these space concerns, significantly of what you look for in your chicken coop designs is up to you.
One factor you ought to ensure to maintain in mind, though, is that your coop will need to be big enough for you to get inside for cleaning purposes.
This was all about chicken coop designs
With this data, it is possible to give the most effective of the facilities to the chicken.
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The 4 Important Steps of How to Build a Chicken Coop

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When you build a chicken coop, there are four main elements that you want to keep in mind. We will cover them in this article, and when youre finished you will be ready to move onto the next step, getting the plans and breaking out the power tools.
The first step we will cover is size. This has a direct effect on the number of birds you can hold and is often one of the first mistakes beginners make. After that you will be able to pick out the style that best suits your needs and the amount of space you have.
Once you have this information, you will want to look at building both a healthy and safe coop. More on that in a moment.
Lastly you will want to make sure that you build a nice looking hen house. But you may be surprised when you find out how important this step really is.
Some of you may already be itching to break out the power tools, so I will get started and show you how to build a chicken coop.
Step #1: Picking the Right SizeYou may be thinking that this is an understood part of building a chicken coop. You know where you want to put the chicken coop and you know how many chickens you want, isnt that enough? The answer is no. Just because you have a spot picked out, that doesnt mean it is the most ideal. You may also run into trouble if your desired hen house doesnt match the number of chickens you plan to get.
Each chicken requires at least 3 square feet of room inside of the chicken coop. As you can see, this will directly influence how many chickens you can hold, and where you can build your coop.
As you can imagine, if the chicken coop becomes too crowded, your hens will spend the majority of their time fighting for room rather than laying eggs. Since this is the reason, most people build chicken coops, it will waste both the money and time youve invested. So now is the perfect time to decide how many chickens you plan to raise.
In the event that there is too much room in the coop later you always have the options to add another hen or two.
Step #2: Choosing the Right Type of Chicken CoopAs you already might know, there are two types of chicken coops. The first is portable, and is often referred to as a chicken tractor. The other is fixed and is usually built to hold more chickens. Lets look at the two types and you can get a better idea of what best suits your needs.
First well look at the portable ones. There are several benefits to building a portable chicken coop, besides being portable they are easier to maintain. Since you can move the coop around, maintenance is much easier. Instead of bringing the tools to the coop, you can bring the coop to your tools. Cleaning the coop is also easier with portable hen houses.
But there is a downside, and we need to cover that as well. If you build a portable chicken coop, dont expect it to last for a long time. Portable chicken coops are not nearly as stable as their fixed counterpart.
Fixed or static hen houses are much more stable than the portable ones, and a well built coop can last for many years. Of course you need to plan the location for your coop very carefully. Once it is finished, moving it will be a very time consuming process.
Here are some things to consider when you build a static roost. First, chickens need a lot of sunlight. Make sure to build the chicken coop so that it gets as much sun as it can each day. But you will also want provide your coop with protection from the other elements. Strong rain or wind can be a problem, thats why it is a good idea to build your coop under a group of trees or next to a larger building.
Another thing to keep in mind when you build a fixed hen house is that it shouldnt be built on low ground. Make sure to build it on the a higher part of your yard. If you get strong storms, your chicken coop could become flooded. If this happens, you learn what the expression "madder than a wet hen" means.
Step #3: Keeping Your Coop SafeOne of the most important aspects of learning how to build a chicken coop is keeping your birds safe.
There are many different types of predators that will prey upon your hens if you arent careful. This can be anything from the neighborhood cats and dogs to less likely threats such as rats. If you live in the country, you may also be at risk of attracting larger predators.
These can include foxes, coyotes and badgers. You will want to assure that you use strong enough fencing to keep the more determined wild animals out. Make sure to bury your fence deep enough in the ground to keep out animals that try to dig their way into the coop.
Dont forget the threat from above. Hawks will also prey upon chickens, so it might be necessary to cover your chickens run with a roof or fencing.
Step #4: Keeping Up AppearancesLearning how to build a chicken coop can be a really fun experience which also makes a great family project.
A well built chicken coop should be both healthy and comfortable for your chickens but also look nice. Nobody likes an eyesore, and if you dont take the time to finish out your coop, you might get complaints rather than compliments from your neighbors.
This would be a shame, since a chicken coop can add a unique element to your yards landscaping. One that will have your neighbors talking for all of the right reason, and your family supplied with fresh eggs every morning for breakfast.
If you build your chicken coop in the city, you will want to check your city ordinances for any that regulate if and how you can build your coop.
Read More Chicken Coop Plans Here
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How to Build a Chicken Coop Important Factors to Consider Before You Build a Chicken Coop

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When you first start your research on how to build a chicken coop, you may quickly find out that it can be one of the most confusing tasks facing the beginning chicken farmer. There are thousands of different variations, along with a myriad of factors that need to be taken into account before you decide on a final design. And thats just for the chicken coop plans not any of the other factors such as material choices, construction methods, or placement of the coop to just to name a few.  Below youll find three of the most important concepts that can help you before you get started.
Chicken Coops Provide Shelter and ProtectionThe main purpose of a chicken coop is to provide protection to the chickens.Chickens need to be kept warm, dry, and sheltered from the elements, much like their human counterparts! Rain, snow, and wind can all be detrimental to the welfare of the chickens. This can lead to decreased egg or meat production and unhealthy chickens. Not something youll want to deal with when youre first starting out. Keep in mind that the chicken doesnt care what the coop looks like.It only wants it warm, dry, and comfortable.You on the other hand may want to make it look as good as it can, and theres nothing wrong with that.Some people have designed their chicken coops to look like a childs playhouse in order to fit in with the surroundings of their property, while others have built bare bones coops out of scrap wood and pallets.As long as the chickens needs are met, the sky is the limit as to what you build. But as a first timer, youll probably be better off using commercially available plans that have been tested over time.
Protection from PredatorsWhile this certainly falls under the shelter and protection part above, its so important that it needs to be emphasized. Chickens are basically defenseless animals that need to be completely protected from predators.Chickens are especially vulnerable to attacks from raccoons, coyotes, foxes, hawks, and even some dogs. Your chicken coop needs to be an impenetrable fortress for the chickens, providing them complete safety from any of these predators. There isnt much worse than finding that your flock has been ravaged by a predator.Keep them safe!
Clean Chickens are Happy ChickensNot only is it true for humans, its true for chickens too.You need to design your coop so that it provides easy access for you to perform frequent cleaning. In order to provide a place where chickens are healthy and happy, they need to have clean surroundings. This means that youll need access in order to change their bedding and clean up after them on a regular basis. This is often the most important design detail that youll need to consider since its effective implementation benefits you directly.If its hard to clean out the chicken coop, the less likely you are to do it, and in turn the less healthy and happy the chickens will be.Keep them clean and their production will increase.
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An DIY Chicken Coop A Great Way To Start Your Chicken Keeping Hobby

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DIY Chicken Coop
If you have ever given any thought to keeping free range chickens then youve probably also been thinking about building your own chicken coop, but maybe you dont have the first clue where to even start. Well, read on!
The first thing you will need to do is decide on how many chickens you are going to keep. This of course will depend on your available space.
Based on this you can work out how big your chicken coop needs to be and how you would like the finished design to look.
Whether or not you have any experience in DIY you can easily build your own top quality chicken coop in a weekend and its a great project to get the rest of the family involved in too.
If you are uncomfortable working out your own design you can skip this step and start building straight away by simply downloading your chicken coop plans on-line. These downloadable plans are usually very low cost and they also allow you to shop around for the best price for your materials and often save at least the cost of the plans.
With all of this worked out for you in advance, you can be sure of a first rate and practical design. You wont even have to figure out your own measurements.
If you are feeling confident enough to figure out a chicken coop design for yourself, great! But keep a few practical design considerations in mind and you can be sure to build a quality chicken coop that will keep your chickens safe and comfortable for years to come.
Make sure to consider each of these points:Your climate: 
Think of using materials most suited to the prevailing weather conditions where you live.
Practicality: 
Design a chicken coop that allows easy access for cleaning and egg collection. Consider making an egg collection hatch in the roosting area.
Ventilation: 
You will need to allow for adequate ventilation to keep your chickens cool in summer
Lighting: 
You may need to provide additional lighting in the winter time to make sure your hens keep on laying!
Protection and security:
  Your chickens will easily fall prey to predators if you dont provide a coop that is strong and sturdy.
Roosting and brooding boxes:
  Your coop will need to be designed so as to provide comfortable roosting areas for your chickens and brooding boxes if you decide to allow your hens to hatch some eggs.
With a little practice it is easy to design and construct a chicken coop that covers all of these practical points and with a small amount of care and maintenance will last for years. These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to keeping chickens and you can learn lots more about how to build a chicken coop, how to keep chickens and even how to hatch and raise your own chicks with a visit to my website.
Start keeping your own flock of free range hens today and discover not just how practical they are, but just how much more there is to these fascinating creatures!
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Building a Chicken Coop Review Is it Really That

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Building a Chicken Coop Review
I dont normally go around building chicken coops nor is it my common interest but my daughter has suddenly had this fantasy of her own chicken coop, and I went around to do some research and I came across this guide. Did it help me make my daughters dreams come true? Lets find out in this Building A Chicken Coop Review.
Lets get started. So this is what you will learn in this guide:Firstly let me say that this is an easy to read e-book and it covers the basics. Well mostly for me considering that i know nothing of whatsoever to build a chicken coop. In this guide you will learn:
* How to establish a small, portable chicken coop or the environment in the coop to match your needs
* How to design a coop, which makes cleaning easy and time-efficient or just use one of their pre-made designs
* How to build a coop out of the junk you normally throw away (this is a great money saver!)
* How to ensure you have provided the proper type of ventilation so that your chickens and eggs remain safe and optimal
* much more!
The best part about this book was the easy to follow directions. We watched a number of other books on the market and they were completely mumbo jumbo techniques to me as a beginner and it was almost impossible to grasp the concept unless you had been a chicken farmer. This book has made things clear and easy to follow and it is great for anyone who is a beginner or wants something that is quick to read and simple to use.
Other factors that were placed above this book were for economic ends. You can create a chicken coop for FREE with common materials if youre really on a limited budget, making it ideal for anyone on a tight budget.
Final review.
This informative guide called Building A Chicken Coop is certainly one of the best on the market. For the price, you really can not beat it if you are considering to build your own chicken coop and he will pay ten-fold the time and money you save in building supplies. So to answer my first question above, yes I had successfully built a chicken coop for my daughter and it made my day when I saw the look on her face when she saw it completed. Oh and I did take advantage of this situation by getting fresher eggs for my family and money saved in this bad economic times.
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DIY Chicken Coops Doing it Right From Plans to Materials

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DIY Chicken Coops
If you plan on making a chicken house on your own, you will need the help of experts who provided these design plans.
To get your do-it-yourself project perfectly right, we provided some guidelines below.  
Factors such as number of chickens, breed and location of the coop should all be part of the criteria. 
Material sourcesOne of the good things about DIY projects is that they usually cost less than buying pre-built items.
Basic materials for simple, backyard coops are wood and wire mesh. 
Most of the materials for your coop can be found from old or used supplies. 
Old barrels and other scraps can also be used to construct the chicken house. 
It is highly probable that you already have these in your household.
Additional tipsWhen you construct your simple coop, make sure that you incorporate the necessary parts.
Dont forget to also address the issue of insulation and ventilation and protection from predatory animals, strong winds and rain.
DIY chicken coops are easy to construct as long as you have the right plan and the necessary materials.
Get Your Chicken Coop Guide Here
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Chicken Coop Ventilation Learn How to Build a Chicken Coop

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How to Build a Chicken Coop
If youre looking for information on how to build a chicken coop, its going to be very important that youre using proper ventilation at all times. Individuals who arent adding ventilation inside their chicken house will find that the coop takes on a very bad smell, and this can actually make it hard to be around the coop - little own live in it for your chickens.
Here is what you need to know about chicken coop ventilation.
Utilize Your WindowsThe windows in your chicken coop will be ideal for helping to add ventilation to the house since these are what will keep fresh air circulating as well as add enough light to keep the coop lit.
Ideally you want to get a window that can easily adjust because this will allow you to only open it halfway if the weather isnt quite as warm. If you arent going to use windows for ventilation purposes, then you may want to consider instead adding small vents into the sides of the walls to ensure that enough air flow is circulating throughout the chicken coop.
Be Sure The Windows Are Facing The Wind DirectionNow, with the windows, its not enough to just place them on the coop. You also should be taking steps to make sure that they are facing the right direction so that the wind does actually blow through the chicken house. Many people put time and effort into planning good windows, but then dont place the windows where the wind is going to blow. This is a huge mistake from a building standpoint. If theres one how to build a chicken coop tip to take home, this is it. Direction is important.
Double Check The Temperature Inside The Chicken CoopFinally, the last thing that will be important for you to do is to make sure youre monitoring the temperature level in the chicken coop. You dont want it to be too high or too low since anywhere outside of the comfortable range for your chickens will make them uncomfortable and influence their ability to lay eggs properly.
So, be sure youre keeping these points in mind when looking at how to add ventilation to your chicken house.
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Raising Chickens In Your Backyard Chicken Pen

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If you are raising chickens or are intending to do it soon, chicken coop is something you cannot ignore. Although, many people prefer buying pre-built chicken coops available in the market as they find building a chicken coop themselves a bit difficult.
However, the reality is, not only building a chicken cage is simple but is essentially far better option than going for a ready assembled chicken shack. With one or two simple chicken shack plans, we will help you get going with this venture. Well, firstly select the location you would like to build your chicken shed on.
It is better that you build it in your yard or a place where you can watch your chickens all of the time. This hence will save your chickens from predators and will save you of additional costs of fencing or other protecting measures, you otherwise would have taken.
Second thing to consider is that you should build your chicken coop according to the number of chickens you are raising. You can take help of the easy chicken coop plans available on internet to literally start building the coop.
Hence you should install windows and a door to keep air flow. But that doesn’t indicate that you absolutely forget the facet of insulation in cold weathers and in wet or snowy days. You can install a light within the coop as it’ll give them a recurring heating effect.
Moreover, make sure that your chicken coop stays clean every time. You should wash it alternate days or after every 2-3 days but do not let the water accumulate inside. So make your coop in such a choice that it slides the water outside or you can have it facing towards the sun, so that it could get dry naturally soon after you wash it.
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The Best Chicken Coop Design

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Best Chicken Coop Design
A chicken coop is a structure that you construct to provide shelter for your chickens. They can be designed in many different ways. You will find a lot of designs on the internet that you can adopt. But how do you choose the best chicken coop design for your chickens?
You can consider the shape of the coop. There are square based coops. A small portable chicken coop with a 4 x 4 feet base is a good design if you only have about 4 to 5 chickens. A bigger rectangular coop is okay if you have more chickens.
Roofing can also be designed differently. There are flat roofed coops made of steel or aluminum. There are also slanted roofs. Other roofs form an inverted V like a regular dog house roof. There are even roofs that are curved like what you find in many gymnasiums.
To decide on the best chicken coop design, you can also look at its functionality. The basic purpose of a chicken coop is to protect the chickens from the effects of weather changes particularly strong wind drafts and to protect them from predators.
The design of the coop should be such that it has adequate cover when the winds are strong. The cover should be something that can be removed or rolled up when it is hot or humid. The design should also allow the sun to seep through to dry up moisture.
The design of the coop should also prevent predators from easily getting in. It should be strong enough to prevent attacks. Some designs allow burying not only of the frames but the walls as well to prevent predators that dig the soil from getting in.
The layout should also allow easy cleaning. You wouldnt want to have a coop that smells awful so you need to have easy access for cleaning.
There is not one best chicken coop design that can be recommended. It will all depend on your preferences and varying needs.
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Portable Chicken Coop Plans A Movable Backyard Feast

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Portable Chicken Coop Plans
Tens of thousands of home owners are raising chickens in their own personal back gardens with hutches built to portable chicken coop plans, and certainly many reasons exist why individuals do that. Chickens are some of the easiest pets to care for and theyre quite cheap to have around your house, since they supply eggs consistently not to mention meat. While there are lots of good reasons for raising poultry at home, it will take a certain amount of work on your part.
Numerous predators both large and small want absolutely nothing more than to have their claws or talons in your birds, and you will really need to shield your chickens from any cats, dogs, foxes, wolves, hawks, and eagles, along with other wildlife that like to get your chickens. Irrespective of whether you only intend caring for six birds, or whether you expect having 100 hens, your chicken coops and runs have got to be predator resistant.
In the feathery realm of hens, their coops or hutches serve as a residence for the chickens, and as many new flock keepers have realized, constructing stationary chicken houses is actually an easy task, even without former building experience. Nevertheless, theres a problem with constructing a chicken coop you are unable to move, and its the truth that your lawn where the birds live will eventually die in the event the birds arent moved occasionally.
With regards to a chicken house, you should definitely consider using portable chicken coop plans to build a containment that one can conveniently move around your garden. These are called chicken arks or tractors, and this form of chicken house features several advantages, such as:
1) You are able to move your chicken coops and runs around to ensure that predators have a more challenging time getting their hands on your birds.
2) Chickens can do miracles for your yard, because not only do they ingest all the pests, but their dropping are an exceptional fertilizer at the same time. Provided you can move the chicken coops and runs to different areas of your lawn, you can preserve your entire lawn in excellent condition for free.
3) When bad weather arrives, youll have the ability to move your coop. You could then move then to a lot more sheltered area in the garden, where they wont come in contact with too much direct sunlight or serious rain.
There are actually certainly more than 3 reasons why this sort of chicken management is a good idea. When you build with portable chicken coop plans, youre basically making sure youll be able to move your chickens all around your property.
If you have many chickens, you could make a number of smaller chicken arks you can maneuver around using a wheelbarrow. On the other hand, a smaller number of chickens may only call for a couple of chicken tractors of a medium size, which in turn might simply be carried about the garden when necessary. If this sounds like too much work, you can attach a pair of wheels to each ark in order that they can be wheeled around. There is one thing you may be sure of, and that is that your flock will appreciate it, and so will the lawn.
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How to Build a Wooden Chicken Coop DIY Hen House

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If you are serious about creating your own handcrafted chicken coop, then you should take a look at this guideline. After you have made a decision on creating a portable, medium-sized, or premium coop, then you can actually construct the whole project in just one day. Just continue reading to get the complete understanding on how everything is going to happen and the place where you can actually acquire high quality plans to construct a chicken coop.
Settling On the Size of the Coop
Depending on your experience in raising chickens, you will have to select the size of the coop that you require. Apparently, the greater number of chickens you intend to raise, the bigger your coop should be. However, it is recommended that you start to create a larger coop than you expect. A lot of chicken raisers begin with a small number of chickens, but the quantity easily and quickly rises.
There are 3 sizes of coop which you can choose from:
- Small and portable
This is a small and simple 3 sided prism kind of cage. This is suitable for kids who are practicing to raise chicks, but as a permanent residence from 2-3 chickens, this option is not a healthy one.
- Medium sized coop
This is excellent if you still aim for portability and desires a less cage type of housing for chickens and much friendlier. You will also have an increase in laid eggs with a huge, well ventilated, box kind of coop like such.
- Premium coop for bigger number of flocks
One thing, this will ensure you that you will have all you require for years of raising chickens. Premium coops will normally mean that you are acquiring a huge chicken house which is sufficiently ventilated where the chickens can comfortably spread their wings and have a nice quantity of nests and eggs.
Placement, Attraction and Function
The positioning of the chicken coop plays a big role in the good laying of eggs and health of your flock. Be sure that you place your chicken coop in a location where the chickens can acquire sufficient sunlight. Flightless birds in general do not fit in cold weather conditions. When you are residing in a region where you can get poor sunlight, consider setting up a warming light for the birds.
For the function, you want to make sure that you have established an area where you can feed the birds easily and the collection of eggs is simple. Some construction plans will provide you how to construct nests which automatically gathers the eggs.
If you are residing in an urban society, attraction is very significant. It is uncomplicated to keep a coop and repaint the chicken house yearly. This will guarantee you that you are maintaining everything at its best.
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Woodworking Plans How to Build a Chicken Coop DIY Building of Chicken Houses

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Whether you are new to keeping chickens or are an experienced chicken keeper, there comes a time when we need to build a chicken coop. Learning how to build a chicken coop for ourselves can save us an awful lot of money. It may seem like a slightly daunting task but if we follow a set of instructions that are laid out clearly it is surprising how simple and cost effective it can be. If you had plans that would make it as easy as assembling a piece of flat pack furniture dont you think it would be worth the time to do it yourself and save money? Well, maybe that is not the best comparison, we all have problems with that type of assembly!
Before we look at exactly how to build chicken houses cheaply lets take a look at the advantages of building our own chicken house:* It will be much cheaper* A great sense of satisfaction* We can build to the exact dimensions we want* We can modify it to meet our needsNone of these points are an option if we purchase a house for chickens .
If we are on a budget, or even if we know a bespoke house will better suit our needs there are any number of reasons why we should build our own coop for chickens.
What We Need To Build A Chicken House
There are a few things we will need if we are going to begin building cheap houses for chickens ourselves. Dont be put off, it is not as difficult as you may think. Anyone can do it as long as they have the following:
* A good set of plans
* A basic set of tools (drill, hammer, saw)
* Screws and nails
* The necessary lumber
* A weekend to build the chicken houseObviously the most important among these will be a good set of plans. We will want plans that will suit the style and size of the house we wish to build. There are any number of good and very detailed sets of plans available and we will choose the one best suited to our needs.
The amount of tools needed is very basic indeed. If you are very unsure about your carpentry skills then you can even get the lumber yard to cut all the wood to your exact dimensions. This will save you a lot of time and it is very cheap to get the place that you purchase the wood to make the cuts for you. It really will then be as simple as assembling the pieces.
Any quality hen house that we build ourselves will have a few basic design aspects in common and whatever the source of the plans that we use we should ensure that they cover the following comprehensively. If you are designing your own house then you should ensure that you give the following considerable consideration.
What Chicken Houses We Build Will Need
Pay careful consideration to the following, it is very important that all the following points are given some thought, as once built the cheap chicken house will be a permanent structure for some considerable time to come.
* A suitable entry and exit point* Adequate ventilation* A source of light* Shelter from the elements* A warm and comfortable environment* Perches sited correctly for roosting* Chicken nesting boxes and a suitable position for them* Feeders and a water supplyThese are the main points that we need to consider when building chicken houses. Lets take a closer look at them so there no mistakes when we make our D.I.Y chicken house.
Suitable access to the hen houseDepending on the size of the chicken house we will either have a full sized doorway or a simple hatch for the hens to come in and out of. Whatever design is chosen you must ensure that it is always easy to clean out the house when needed.
Adequate VentilationA well ventilated coop is very important. Not only will ventilation keep the birds healthy, it will ensure that noxious fumes do not built up from the chickens droppings that will inevitably collect in the house. A window or a suitable air vent will be the ideal way to ensure that the flow of air through the house is steady and keeps the house a little bit fresher.
A Light SourceFor cold winter days, or times when the birds are inside the coop they will need a good source of light. Not only will this keep them healthy, it is important if we wish to get the maximum number of eggs every day. Hens need a minimum number of hours of daylight if they are to lay regularly. By giving them a light source for maximum hours of daylight we will ensure we get eggs as soon as there are sufficient hours of daylight.
Sufficient ShelterWhatever the design of the hen coop it should be well guarded against the elements. This means that although we want the house ventilated we dont want it to be draughty. This is best achieved by ensuring all vents or windows are sited out of any prevailing winds and that all doors and windows are easily closed if the weather turns bad.
A Warm And Safe EnvironmentHens are not fussy birds but their comfort should be kept in mind when constructing their house. Dont leave nails sticking out where they could damage themselves. Ensure they have good bedding and that the house will stay warm once they are inside. Make sure the hen coop is animal proofed so that no animals can gain access, either to steal the chickens themselves or their feed.
Correct Roosting PerchesHens perch to sleep. They prefer to be off the ground to sleep so we need to construct or incorporate a good perch for them. A roosting perch can either be a log or something similar placed on the ground but better if you use a wide pole or a branch that can be attached off the ground and a little away from the wall. This will be ideal for the hens and will add to their overall comfort.
Chicken Nesting BoxesIdeally the nesting boxes will be well away from the perches. We dont want any chicken droppings landing on or in the nesting boxes. Nesting boxes with a solid and steeply sloped roof are ideal. It stops the birds perching on them and they will stay much cleaner.
You will only need one nesting box for every three birds so ensure it is placed somewhere comfortable and out of the way of the general floor space. If you wish to collect eggs without having to go in to the hen house then make sure the laying boxes are sited against a convenient wall where you can build a hatch that is easily opened form the outside. This will certainly make life easier in the future.
Feeders And Water SuppliesFeeders and water troughs are very inexpensive. If possible always purchase the type that can be hung from a hook. For the water source this is even more important. It will stop it becoming dirty very quickly and will mean that all the birds can get easy access to a fresh drink.
The same applies to the feeders. If possible get a feeder that can be hung up and topped up when needed. Of course, if you are on a tight budget then you can use any suitable container that can be found in the house. I have used simple bowls and old containers in the past as feeders and water troughs. If you have the available funds though, get something a little more professional as just described.
If we bear all the above in mind we will have constructed a great hen coop that will more than meet the standards required to keep healthy chickens. As previously stated, hens are not at all fussy birds. They are very forgiving of less than perfect environments. It is, however, in our best interests to ensure that they are as comfortable and well looked after as possible. A happy chicken will lay an egg a day for a very large percentage of the year.
Build a chicken house to suit both your budget and the number of birds you are going to keep. Bear the above important points in mind and you will be very surprised at just what you can construct with a few days work.
Ensure that you get as good a quality of materials as you possibly can and never rush the construction. It is much better to take your time with the build than to make something that will not suit your present or future needs. I would also recommend starting a compost heap. The mix of droppings and whatever material you use as bedding is a fantastic by product and will work wonders on plants and vegetables when incorporated in to the soil.
Learning how to build a chicken coop may seem daunting but if you follow the above directions and get a good set of suitable plans it will be constructed in a s surprisingly short space of time and will save a tremendous amount of money.
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Finding Quality Free Chicken Coop Plans

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Quality Free Chicken Coop Plans
When building a chicken coop, there are numerous options available: you may choose to purchase a prefabricated enclosure; you may purchase a kit ready for assembly; or, like many people, you may wish to acquire free chicken coop plans and undertake the entire construction yourself. Free plans are readily available, and with the recent boon in the "do-it-yourself" mentality worldwide, its an option that more and more people are choosing.
Before you can choose the right plans for your project, it is important to take stock of exactly what you need. What are you using the coop for? Are you breeding chickens for your familys use only, or will you be selling eggs and chickens to others? How many chickens will you need, and what size of coop will you therefore require? You will also need to know whether you wish your coop to be permanent or portable, as this will affect the kind of free coop plans you are looking for.
Once you have answered these questions, you can start looking for free plans. These can be acquired through local breeder clubs, or sometimes from certain hobby and craft shows that are held around the world. Check with your local chamber of commerce to find out who operates in your area and which shows will be coming to town. Numerous free chicken house plans are available online from websites that cater to the chicken-breeding enthusiast or entrepreneur, and can be found with a simple Internet search. Always ensure that you are dealing with a reputable source; check credentials, or join online forums where you can hear from people that have used those plans (and perhaps acquire even more free chicken coop plans). Before you start any project, understand how much materials cost in the area where you live, and if they are even readily available. Although the plans will help save you a lot of money from a design perspective, you dont want to be paying a lot of money for the materials that are required by your plans.
You should know what to look for with any free chicken coop plans that you acquire. First and foremost, the plans must be easy to understand. This means that all drawings should contain clear measurements and be drawn according to standard drafting practices. Just because free chicken coop plans dont cost anything doesnt mean they should be low quality. If instructions for assembly are provided, ensure that they are step-by-step instructions, and that the steps make sense. If any graphics are provided, ensure that they are clearly visible and ideally contain a view of the completed product. Free chicken coop plans may also provide you with an equipment and parts list, something that is invaluable during construction. The bottom line with free chicken coop plans is simple: if you cannot fully understand the plans, do not use them.
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Woodworking Plans Chicken Coop Plans 6 Crucial Elements For Success

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When selecting chicken coop plans to build from you really need to consider more than just the look/aesthetics of the chicken coop designs. Sure, its important to have a nice looking chicken coop that fits your overall backyard design but there are some other very important things that need to be incorporated into whatever plans you choose.
#1 Space:There is a certain amount of space that your chickens need to be healthy and happy. You must allocate 4 square feet of floor space per chicken. Therefore, a flock of 20 chickens should be enjoying an 80 square foot chicken coop. Do not skimp on space. In fact, it is better to allocate more space if anything. If your chicken coop becomes overcrowded, your chickens quality of life becomes reduced and can cause feather picking and in extreme cases can even cause cannibalism. This is obviously an outcome you want to avoid so never overcrowd your coop.
#2 Light:You need light in your chicken coop to stimulate egg laying. Particularly if you want your hens to lay eggs all year round. As a rule of thumb, you should have 1 light every 40 feet inside you chicken building. If you are just building a small chicken coop, it will be sufficient to have a single light above the watering/feeding section. As a bonus, the light(s) will also be a source of heat for your chickens in the colder months.
#3 Perches:Your chickens have a natural instinct to perch so you must provide them with appropriate perches otherwise they will perch on nesting boxes, feeders and anything else around the coop. This would then lead to these important areas getting covered in droppings which is certainly undesirable. It is as simple as using broom handles for your perches. Again, it is important that your chickens have adequate space on the perches so as a rule of thumb, allow 8 inches of perch space per chicken. To make it easy to keep the chicken coop clean, slip some trays under the perches so the droppings land directly in them, you can then pull the trays out to clean them.
#4 Ventilation:Chickens sweat. Sounds strange but it is true. Your chicken coop needs ventilation to keep your chickens cool in the warmer months and to allow the chickens perspiration to evaporate and escape the chicken coop. You should make sure your chicken coop plans include ventilation in the form of vents in walls or small windows but you also dont want it to be too drafty. You need a nice balance. One way to achieve this is to have the vents on the side of the chicken building that DOES NOT face the wind. This is typically the east or the south. This will also allow fresh oxygen rich air to flow into the hen house and the stale air and moisture to escape. Chickens can handle the cold but not the wet so it is vital to the health of your chickens that the moisture can escape.
#5 Nesting Boxes:If you are keeping chickens for the eggs, your coop needs to have at least 1 nesting box for every 5 or 6 female chickens. The nests should be comfortable and dark so your hens feel safe in them. You should put straw or wood shavings in the nest boxes and make the boxes at least 4 inches deep. If the boxes are not deep enough, your chickens may fight and pick each others feathers. You should keep the nesting boxes clean at all times so the eggs remain clean. Hens should be trained not to sleep in the nesting boxes because if they do, they will soil the area with their droppings. You should not have a problem with hens sleeping in the nesting boxes f you have given your chickens adequate perching space. If you find some stubborn hens that do want to sleep in the nests, close them off at night.
#6 Protection:You need to keep your chickens safe from all sorts of predators such as foxes, coyotes, hawks, raccoons and rats just to name a few. The structure should be strong and no part of it should be able to be pushed over by a person. That is just the way I rate the strength of my coops...Could I push it over? If no, then it is strong enough. There should be no way for rats or foxes to get into your chicken coop to kill your chickens. make sure the fencing goes all the way to the ground. You should also put the wire fencing down under the ground for about 1 foot out from the wire fence. This means when a fox digs at a fence, they will simply hit the wire mesh and will eventually give up or try something else. Use mesh that raccoons cant get their arms through. I recommend using 1/2 inch square wire mesh for all the wire mesh fencing on the chicken coop. This will keep your chickens safe and it also looks quite attractive. Remember foxes are quite wily so check over your chicken coop plans to make sure they are predator proof.
If you keep these six elements in mind when you are selecting or creating your own chicken coop plans then you should succeed in keeping healthy and happy chickens that have the potential to lay 300 eggs each per year.
Woodworking Plans: Guide To Build Your Chicken Coop Your Self.
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Wood Working Woodworking Plans Chicken Coop Plans 6 Crucial

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Wood Working: Woodworking Plans: Chicken Coop Plans - 6 Crucial ...: "When selecting chicken coop plans to build from you really need to consider more than just the look/aesthetics of the chicken coop designs..."
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How to Build a Chicken Coop That Lives Up to Its Name

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How to Build a Chicken Coop
Now that you are about to build a chicken coop, there are several things that you need to think about.
As you can imagine, there are more than a couple of types you can easily build yourself. But before you rush out and get the material ask yourself these questions:
How Many Chickens?
How many chicken do you plan on holding? If youre going to build a chicken coop, you need to ask yourself this question first. This is a very important element of a hen house, and one that many beginners fail to answer.
The number of chickens is directly responsible for the size of the coop. If you plan on raising 10 chickens, your coop would need to be at least 30 square feet. Each bird requires a minimum of 3 square feet of living space. It is always a good idea to build the chicken coop larger than you actually need. This allows you add more chickens in the future, but more importantly it gives your chickens more living space.
Failure to give the chickens enough space will result in poor egg production and produce other problems in the coop.
The Two Types of Chicken Coops
There are two types of hen houses for you to learn how to build. The first one is portable. There are several reasons why you might choose to build a portable chicken coop. One of them is ease of maintenance and cleaning. Another is the flexibility to take the chickens with you. If you plan to raise the chickens as pets, a portable hen house is a good option.
If you prefer durability, a transportable version might not be what you are looking for. In that case you would want to look at a fixed coop. It provides you with a stable steadfast construction that both you and your chickens will appreciate.
Dont worry, if you can build a portable chicken coop, you can build a fixed hen house just as easily.
The Protection Factor
This is also a very important part of learning how to build a chicken coop. And one that shouldnt be overlooked. If you are building a chicken coop for the city, you will be up against just as many predators as in the country. Several common dangers are: dogs, cats, rats, badgers, foxes and coyotes.
Make sure to use a fencing that matches your needs, and meets the size requirements for your hen house.
And while I run the risk of sounding like a broken record, dont neglect your coops security. There is nothing more heartbreaking than looking your children in the eyes and explaining to them that a predator dug under or broke through the fence and killed the chickens.
Looks Matter
Dont neglect the appearance of your coop. Anyone can find out how to build a chicken coop, but there is more to it than that. And it is common that people dont put enough effort into its visual aspect.
You need to build a pleasant looking home for your feathered pets or run the risk of ruffling some feathers with the neighbors. Of course you dont want that, nobody likes an eye sore, but with a little effort your hen house can become the envy of the neighborhood.
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Chicken Coop Ideas For Building One From Scratch

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Chicken Coop Ideas
Chicken coop ideas arent as difficult to come up with as you might think. You do not have to be an qualified farmer or engineer to build an appropriate dwelling for the new chickens. The excellent news is that quite a lot of chicken pen blueprints can be found for you to purchase, or you can even make your own. Provided you follow some high-quality blueprints, constructing your hut shouldnt be overly demanding.

The Right Way to Put together Your HutchThere is no right way to build a chicken pen. in reality, chicken coop ideas include all forms of shapes and sizes. A few are incredibly basic, whereas others go to more effort to make the coop look more impressive.
What you really want to think about is how big you would like the coop. This depends on what number of chickens you ultimately need to tend.

Using Ready-Made BlueprintsReady-made plans are fantastic for planning chicken coop ideas. But it is advisable be sure that theyre detailed enough and cover all features of the plan. They should also be uncomplicated to follow, so as to create a well-made coop regardless how knowledgeable you are. After all, you need your run to be secure for the chickens, and to last over time.
Dont merely buy into any old series of plans. You want to make sure that they come with precise dimensions, instructions for adding ventilation, adding windows as well as nesting boxes. All these are critical features of the new coop. There are even several styles of coop, such as the A frame, the box structure and more.
You need to ask how much cash youll manage to spend on the coop, what number of hens youll be taking care of, if youre likely to be doing all of the work yourself, and how much familiarity you have. Some coops are considerably more upmarket than others, and these could be best off left to another person to put together. However, if you wish to lower your expenses and just would like something that will keep the chickens secure, then building an easy design on your own from scratch should do the job perfectly.
It doesnt matter what you eventually choose to construct, there are actually a huge number of chicken coop ideas on hand if you have a look around. The best news is that building your own chicken coop can really help to save you some huge cash, and it will only normally take you a weekend to construct it!

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