There are many considerations you need to take into account if you want to build your own chicken coop. If you plan before you start to build it's not a difficult task to do. How many chickens are you going to have? By figuring that out before you do anything else you make the rest of the process much easier. Knowing how many chickens you're going to keep will help you figure out how big your coop should be. Each chicken requires at least 4 square feet of space (preferably 5 square feet). Each chickens needs at least 4 square feet or space, but 5 square feet is better. For example, I have 16 chickens at the moment. That means that my coop needs to be at least 80 square feet. In this example the math is simple. I need to build a chicken coop that is 8 feet by 10 feet so I have enough room. Please don't build a coop that is smaller than 4 square feet per chicken. When chickens don't have enough room they start to peck at each other which can quickly lead to some of your flock dieing. The next thing that you need to think about is ventilation for your chicken coop. Chickens need fresh air and in the summer the hot air needs somewhere to escape from so it doesn't get to hot inside the coop. In my coop I installed two sliding windows (one on each side of the coop. I also put two vents up near the top of the coop so that the hot air can escape. During the winter I keep the windows closed, but the vents still provide adequate airflow. If you live in a climate that has winter you're coop is going to need insulation as well. Although chickens are pretty good at handling the cold, it can't get too cold or they'll die. As an added precaution I put up a heat lamp in the winter which works just fine. Above all else make sure when building your chicken coop that it's well sealed. All you need to make it draft proof is some silicone and seal up any places that air can escape. As I said earlier chickens can handle the cold, but the combination of cold and moisture inside the coop can cause some serious health problems for your chickens. Your chickens are also going to need roosts where they can sleep at night and if you have hens you will also need some nesting boxes. One thing to keep in mind when building your roosts is that they need to be higher than the nesting boxes. Chickens always sleep at the highest point they can reach (instinct) and if your nesting boxes are high you'll end up with dirty eggs. I've also taken to putting some plactic pallets underneath the roosts to collect droppings as it makes cleaning the coop a lot easier. Nesting boxes need to be comfortable and in a darker place. I put my nesting boxes around the edge of the coop. Each nesting box should be between 8" and 12" square and around 4 inches deep. Make sure you place some fresh straw or hay in each nesting box as needed. It makes the nest more comfortable, but it also prevents any eggs from hitting the wood which can damage them. By planning before you start building your chicken coop will be a success. I've been enjoying fresh eggs for well over 10 years now and store bought ones just can't compare.
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There are many considerations you need to take into account if you want to build your own chicken coop. One thing you'll be glad to hear is that it's not that difficult to build a coop. How many chickens are you going to have? Answering that question will make the rest of the planning much easier. Knowing how many chickens you're going to keep will help you figure out how big your coop should be.
Do you want to learn how to build a chicken coop? Good plans can save a lot of time and frustration. For more information check out this article: Build A Chicken Coop Andrew has been raising chickens for over 10 years. He has successfully built several chicken coops and loves all the fresh eggs that he gets for breakfast.
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