3 Secrets For Building Simple Chicken Coops

Even simple chicken coops can be a pain to build if you don’t do the proper planning at the beginning. As with any project in life, you need a map, a guide or instruction to do it right.

Learning something new can be difficult, but conversely it can also be fun. Clear concise instruction eliminates fear and reduces the complex to simple steps. Learning to build simple chicken coops is no different. And ‘simple’ does have its advantages. Complexity can present problems that simplicity avoids.

Once you have decided that you are going to build a backyard chicken coop then you need to decide: One – where will you locate it in your yard? Here are some straightforward guidelines to help you choose the perfect location in your yard.

Choice of location is affected by the topography of your yard. Of prime importance is how well the area drains of water. You need to avoid areas where water can gather even if it is only for a short time. Your birds will be stressed if they have to face an on going damp environment. Good drainage is very important.

How will you use natural light to your best advantage? Chickens lay eggs on a 26 hour cycle and that is affected by the amount of light they receive daily. Can you use those patterns to their best affect by manipulating the orientation of the coop in relation to sun? For instance what is the best direction to orient the windows? You may need to consider some artificial light augmentation.

Is there any natural protection from cold winter winds? If you live in a sub or tropical climate this is a non-issue, but for those of us in northern climes it is of some importance. Other structures in the yard can provide protection form a cold winter blast as can trees and evergreen bushes. But you don’t want the coop out of sight because of the potential danger of predators raiding your coop.

Once you have covered off these concerns the next step is to determine what materials are available to build the coop from. Chicken coops are a terrific use of re-cycled materials. The most common is reclaimed wood and old windows. Some folks will want brand new on everything, which is fine but remember going this route will add to the cost. To save money–good plans cover off the use of reclaimed as well as new materials and are a great idea.

Step three–plan on making sure each chicken has the room she needs to inhabit the coop stress-free, by choosing a coop of the correct size for your intended flock. This decision may depend on how many eggs you hope to harvest on a daily basis. You also want to make sure you are looking after the chickens’ roosting, nesting, feeding and watering needs in a way that keeps your chickens stress free.

In conclusion the key to building simple chicken coops is to use good quality plans. Without those ‘simple’ goes out the window and complicated roars in!!

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