Chicken Coop Designs

Four critical things you must know when choosing a chicken coop design:

One of the most important decisions you need to make when raising chickens is where they will live.  There are certain basic things every chicken coop must have, such as roosting bars, feed and water containers, ventilation and plenty of floor space. But you also have a number of other design options to choose from depending on how you intend to raise your chickens.

1) How many chickens will you house in your chicken coop?

Each bird needs about two square feet of space inside. If you plan to have a chicken run (a wire enclosed exercise area) you’ll need eight to ten square feet per bird outside as well. A study done by Mother Earth News in 2007 showed that hens raised on pasture lay eggs with more vitamin A and other nutrients than their caged commercial counterparts. So, you’ll want to give your birds plenty of space to roam, hunt for insects, and scratch in the dirt. And they’ll reward you with more nutritious eggs.

2) Will you be collecting eggs?

Some people raise chickens solely as pets. But if you plan to collect eggs, you’ll need to be sure you have enough nesting boxes inside. A nesting box is a cozy wooden box filled with straw or wood shavings where your hens can lay their eggs comfortably. To get them used to using a nesting box, leave it on the floor for a week or so. Then move it about 18 inches off the floor and away from the noise and hubbub of the main part of the coop.

3) Will you be using the manure as fertilizer?

In that case, you’re going to want wheels and handles on the coop for easy transport from place to place. This design is called a “chicken tractor” and it’s very popular with urban farmers. They come in a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes.

4) What’s the climate like where you live?

There is some controversy on how well chickens handle different climates. One school of thought is that chickens are very hardy and thrive in well-ventilated coops with little more than chicken wire stretched over a wood frame.  The idea is that warm, humid and cramped conditions lead to disease and unhealthy birds.

On the other side, some people believe that chickens can get sick from drafts and wet weather. They feel the whole purpose of housing is to keep the birds warm and sheltered from the elements. In this case, the hen house will be enclosed with a door that can be shut up against the elements.

There probably exists a bit of truth in both ways of thinking, depending on where you live and how extreme your seasons. If in doubt, use common sense, or check with your local agricultural extension agency.

BONUS: Why purchase your chicken coop online?

Of course, the most important purpose for housing isn’t to keep the chickens in, it’s to keep everything else OUT! Raccoons, weasels, foxes, coyotes, even aggressive urban dogs and cats will try to break in and make a meal out of your pets.  Smaller pests like mice, rats and snakes can also sneak in and seriously damage your flock.

Unfortunately, even the best building plans for housing animals can leave gaps and weak points where predators can break in. That’s why many people choose to purchase online rather than make their own.  You’re sure to get a great looking coop that’s sturdy and safe. And that means happy chickens!

If you do decide to build yourself, make sure your get your chicken coop plan from a reputable source and use materials marked “suitable for exterior use.” Plywood rots quickly in wet weather, and predators can break right through rotten wood.

We recommend ChickenCoopSource.com to anyone looking to purchase a chicken coop online. They have a wide selection of styles to choose from, great low prices, 30 day guarantee and their customer service is legendary.  Choose wisely and give your chickens a happy home.