Small Kitchen Garden Tips and Tricks » how to build a chicken coop

Hints On Guide On Where To Get Chicken Coop Plans

Isaac Wood — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:17:32 +0000

If you have decided to keep chicken in your compound, you will need a chicken coop for them. A chicken coop keeps chicken safe from predators, gives them shelter at night and in extreme weather and also give them a place to nest which is important for egg-laying chicken. Step one for building a hen coop is getting chicken coop plans.

This is easily solved by getting free internet plans which should have some basics. A coop should be placed on the upper rather than lower end of a slope so that water does not collect around it. When it comes to size, each chicken needs four to six feet of its own space with two extra feet allowed for nesting hens.

Wood is mostly used to make the place for hens, although almost any kind of material can be used. You can also use scrap lumber, convert an old shed or camping trailer. New lumber may be expensive and it is not absolutely necessary. You can reuse glass for the windows too.

Ensure that the plan you pick has a window and door and the windows face southward. This is to provide ventilation more so in warm months and enough sunlight in colder and darker seasons. The plan should also have a nesting area and provide from six to 10 inches for every hen to perch.

The floor is a big deal because of the droppings. One option is to have a hen wire floor with a container underneath to collect droppings. You can also use the deep litter method where four to eight inches of wood pellets, sawdust or wood shavings are placed on the floor. The droppings are stirred to the top into the bedding below. Decomposition will begin and the bedding will start reducing at which point more is added. Then the coop has to be emptied and cleaned out just once or twice a year and you will have some compost for the garden.

When it comes to construction, the frame goes up first followed by the sides and then the roof. Slope the roof a little so water never gathers on it. See also that the doors and windows are secured using hen wire. Put latches on the door and then put in the nest boxes and perches.

Next, the feeding bowels and watering should go in. Place them such that they are at the same level as the chickens backs. Hens tend to scratch a lot and they will scratch against them but away from the water and food to avoid contamination.

You may have a different idea such as a movable place. These are also called chicken tractors. No floor is placed on them and they are easily moved from spot to spot which ensures no part of the lawn gets flattened. This is also a good solution for urban dwellers where space is tight. For the lawn, there is the benefit of free and frequent fertilizing and for you, the need to clean up droppings is eliminated. Whatever plan you have exactly, you can find chicken coop plans on the internet and at no cost.

There are a lot of places to get that chicken coo plans but ours are really easy to comprehend. We can tell you how to build a chicken coop the correct way.

Q&A: How to build a chicken coop?

Guest — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:32:11 +0000

Question by Amanda: How to build a chicken coop?
Looking online for an easy way to keep chickens in a limited area of my yard. Have seen a lot of ideas but still looking.

Best answer:

Answer by chelleb
Ok easy get some T-posts and some chicken wire and make a coop and put a door on the front you need boxes up off the ground with a shelter over it. We had chickens and a snake got in and was eating the eggs and when we shot it yolk went everywhere you have to make sure Racoons can’t get in they love chciken. The cool thing is chickens eat anything and fresh eggs are the best. You should have a clean water source that has a line that fills its self.

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Q&A: how to build a chicken coop?

Guest — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:32:55 +0000

Question by Ben Palmer: how to build a chicken coop?
I’m looking for information on how to build a chicken coop at home. I’m not very experienced in building things so it would need to be quite simple. Anyone know of some good how to build a chicken coop plans?

Best answer:

Answer by Russ
Alright, chickens are cool. =P

There’s a great product on how to build chicken coops… actually it gives you everything you need to start your chicken coop regardless of size of budget with so much more info on how to take care of them so you have a thriving flock.

Article that explains more:

http://www.squidoo.com/bill-keene-building-a-chicken-coop-ebook

Good luck!

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How to build a chicken coop plan?

Guest — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:33:17 +0000

by goosegrease

Question by Prathap: How to build a chicken coop plan?
Hi yahoo answers what is a chicken plan…Where it has to be implemented

Best answer:

Answer by thresher
http://ezinearticles.com/?Chicken-Coop-Plan-Its-All-in-the-Drawing&id=2548525

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plans on how to build a chicken coop ? Whats the best source?

Guest — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:34:01 +0000

by zbartrout

Question by Jacklass: plans on how to build a chicken coop ? Whats the best source?
I’m going to start raising chickens very soon and I need a good source for finding plans on how to build my own chicken coop.

Best answer:

Answer by Samantha
http://www.buildingachickencoop.com/ > You can buy the book of instructions.

http://www.readycoop.com/ > Plans for 25 dollars.

http://chickendiyguides.com/index.php > Plans for 40 dollars.

http://buildachickencoop.org/ > Guide to Building Chicken Coops

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Build-a… > Some tips for getting the best chicken coop. (not plans, just tips)

Good luck! Hopefully one or more of these websites has the answer for you!

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Q&A: How to build a chicken coop?

Guest — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:32:18 +0000

Question by Rat Cue: How to build a chicken coop?
Where to find chicken coop plan? I wanna build a chicken coop.

Best answer:

Answer by hemendo
I build a chicken coop last month and it is not hard. I looked around in the web for pictures and after some research I chose my design. Start simple with a box shape and later you can make additions. One important thing is to know how many chickens you plan to have and the type of weather of the region. I live in TX so I added extra ventilation windows covered with wire for protection. You need to allow 2 to 3 square feet per chicken living in the chicken coop and 4 to 5 square feet outside. Don’t underestimate consider that a good chicken lay one egg a day (I plan to have 3 chickens) I also added vinyl (you can find small pieces at Home Depot or similar stores) to the plywood flooring to make it easier to clean. Another important thing. Do not use treated wood. Take a look at the sire below you may find it interesting.
Good luck and have fun with your chickens.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.html

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How To Build A Chicken Coop?

Guest — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:32:19 +0000

Question by Jeffrey Higgins: How To Build A Chicken Coop?
I want to build a chicken coop. How to build a chicken coop from home? Can anyone suggest an online chicken coop guide? Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by David
You should check out Chicken DIY Guides.. it’s an easy to follow step by step chicken coop building guide which shows you what to do every step fo the way when building a chicken coop at home from scratch.

You can check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/yzuqa7b

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How Do You Build A Chicken Coop In Harvest Moon: Tree Of Tranquilty?

Guest — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:33:27 +0000

Question by grave digger: How Do You Build A Chicken Coop In Harvest Moon: Tree Of Tranquilty?
I don’t know how to build a chicken coop but i know where to buy animals oh yea i don’t know if this is something to do with it but the root of the tree is still there.

Best answer:

Answer by Super
i can’t remeber his name but go to the carpenter guys place (by the mine) and say “Build Chicken Coop” its very easy……………

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How to Build a Chicken Coop?

Guest — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:37:20 +0000

Question by johndr10: How to Build a Chicken Coop?
Hi, I’m looking for tips on how to build a chicken coop in my back yard. Any tips and suggestions would be helpful. If you got some links to relevant sites I’d also appreciate it.

Thanks

Best answer:

Answer by Sweetgrass
the cooperative extension also called 4-h has blue prints and instructions..look it up

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How to build a chicken coop?

Guest — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:32:54 +0000

by kittygutz

Question by Bau Lae: How to build a chicken coop?
I wanna build a chicken coop so that my little dog won’t scare my chickens.
How to do that? BTW, I have 3 chickens.

Best answer:

Answer by Peter
This site will give you an idea of how to build one

http://www.freewoodworkingplan.com/index.php?cat=212

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