Selecting Backyard Chicken Coops – 101 : chicken coops

Anybody who wants to grow chickens will come across this problem sooner or later – the moment when you have to choose from among the hundred different kinds of backyard chicken coops available in the market.

It can be a daunting task, truth be told, and the fact is that you can easily end up wasting precious time and money in trying to figure out what you need in your chicken coop.

That’s not a problem though. With proper guidance and an idea of what you’re looking for, choosing the right chicken coop for your backyard will be as easy as choosing a new brand of shampoo.

What goes on inside the coop?

If you don’t know what the chickens do inside the chicken coop, then stop shopping for a coop and read up on your chickens again. But in case you’re lazy, here’s a refresher:

* Chickens spend almost ninety percent of their time inside the coop. Forget your backyard. Chicken coops are the chickens’ homes, and they will rest here, lay their eggs here, most likely feed here, and probably even die here.

* This will also be where you will grow new chicks. A spot inside your coop will be reserved for your incubator.

With these two basic things in mind, you can now go on and start planning your coop. You should consider the size and the materials that you intend to use for the coop. Also, you should ask whether you prefer to make one or purchase a ready-made coop.

Materials and Size

How big should your chicken coop be? This can be determined by asking yourself two simple questions:

* How many chickens do you intend to keep?

* How big is your backyard?

That’s pretty much it. If you still can’t get an idea of how big your chicken coop, then you probably aren’t thinking hard enough!

As for the materials you should use for your coop, remember the three rules of location.

First, if your location experience rough weather most of the year, you’re better off with backyard chicken coops that use strong base materials.

Second, if you have a big backyard, you can set up a decent fence, a makeshift shed, and that can be your coop.

Just put in nesting boxes for your hens.

Thirdly, you have to consider what your local chicken predators are. Coyotes do more damage than raccoons.

Know your territory, and your chicken coop will be masterful.

Build a coop or buy a coop?

This is a good question, but ultimately, the answer lies with you. Do you have the skills, resources, and the patience to make backyard chicken coops for yourself? Or is your patience like bread and will the endeavor of building your own coop be the cause of your early demise?

Just keep these points in mind when looking for your perfect chicken coop. If you need more information, call up your local hatchery and toss your questions their way.

A video tour of Grandpa Bruckner’s chicken coop. Grandpa built the coop for Grandma’s 3 chickens. Built in Portland Oregon.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Related Chicken Coops Articles