Anyone who is considering raising backyard chickens knows that a home chicken coop is a necessity to raise chickens the right way. Chickens certainly need a safe place to eat and sleep. They also need shelter from the elements. However, the idea of paying top dollar for a chicken coop and having it delivered can be a very expensive option. This is why building your own backyard chicken coop may be a feasible thing to do.
This article is going to give you the top tips to consider when you are building your own home chicken coop.
1. Focus on Planning: Have you ever heard that old saying that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail? Even when building a chicken coop, that old adage stands true. If you take the time up front to plan your home chicken coop, you and your chickens will reap the benefits later.
There are questions to take into consideration such as: How many chickens will you have, what size will your chickens be, how many feeders and waterers will you have, how will you have access to the coop, how many windows will you have and how will you keep your chickens safe? The last thing you want to do is build your coop and then find out that it is not sufficient for your needs.
2. Pick a location for your coop: Next, you need to find a spot in your yard that is flat and free of high weeds or woods. You need to protect your chickens from rodents and snakes. Also, make sure that you leave space around the coop because you may want to construct a run. You also need to be able to gain access to the coop, so leaving room around it is important.
3. Draw your coop on paper. You need to sketch your coop on paper. Remember that it does not have to be a beautiful masterpiece. You are focused on the usefulness and safety of your coop rather than beauty. Make a list of all of the materials you are going to need so that you can be prepared and price out your job.
4. Start building! Now that you have taken the time to plan, it is time to start building. As you build, take great care to give your coop plenty of ventilation as well as protection from outside predators.
Building your own home chicken coop can be a good experience if you understand the process. However, if drawing your coop is a frustrating experience and you really have no clue about where to begin, you might want to purchase some inexpensive design plans to help you along. These resources are invaluable to the new coop builder as they can even tell you what kind of coop to build.
