Chicken Coop Plans ? Picking the Right Breed for Your Coop

When you’ve finally decided that you are going to build a chicken coop, have you thought about what breed of chickens you are going to raise? I know that I didn’t when I first started. I thought “A chicken is a chicken right?” WRONG! I did not realize that creating chicken coop plans is not just about the building itself but the chickens you are planning to raise. There are so many different kinds of chickens you could raise, and all have a different purpose. That is why when you first decide to raise chickens it is important to know why you want to raise chickens in the first place. If you are after the chickens for their eggs, then a layer chicken is what you want. If you are looking to their, then you want chickens who mature fast and breed quickly.

In all, there are four main purposes things to think about when picking the right chicken breed for your coop: egg production, meat production, both egg and meat production or keeping them as pets only. There is a right breed for each purpose. There are even breeds that fit non-traditional purposes like feather harvesting, fertilizer production, or home protection. So whatever the reason you have in mind for raising chickens, there is a right breed for you.

However, even though there are many different breeds to choose from, that still might not be enough for you raise the chickens you want. Other factors such the area you live, the space you have for a coop or the local climate will play into whether chicken keeping is right for you.

If you live in a place that have blizzards or snow storms for much of the winter, then you will definitely need a breed that can survive in such harsh weather conditions.

Of course, you can always adapt your coop by adding insulation of other weather proofing methods, but don’t rely on just the coop to keep you chickens safe from the cold. It helps if they themselves can hold up against the elements.

If you live in a hot humid climate, like the desert, then you need chickens that can cope well with the heat, and not become overheated themselves.  To help them out, you could always upgrade your ventilation system or add an external cooling device like a fan or small air conditioning unit.  If you don’t, the heat will place a strain on your chickens which will reduce their egg-laying ability. While there are chicken breeds that are developed to endure the harshest of conditions, they still need shade, water, and food to survive.

As you can see, there is a lot involved with picking the right breed for your chicken coop plans based on you area and weather. Yet, there is more that goes with it. Other things you need to consider are actually building chicken coops, choosing the right chicken coop plans, which feed is best for your birds, etc.  If you want to raise them right, then you must take the time to learn the essentials.

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