| All across the country, people are rediscovering | | | | front of the coop towards the South - for the |
| how to build a chicken coop, and learning how to | | | | sun's warmth during the winter will be a welcome |
| beat the recession by raising chickens - at home. | | | | relief to your chickens. |
| Urban Chicken Movement | | | | Insulation in the walls and ceiling can be crucial in |
| It's true - something called an "urban chicken | | | | hot and cold climates. Insulation will keep the |
| movement" is taking place in cities including | | | | interior temperature moderate and avoid the |
| Indianapolis, St. Louis, San Francisco, Ann Arbor, | | | | extremes that can damage and kill your birds. |
| Mich., and Madison, Wis. Folks are petitioning their | | | | Ventilation is also a real need and should be a part |
| city councils and zoning boards to allow them to | | | | of your building plans. Ammonia and dampness |
| keep chickens (and sometimes roosters) on their | | | | from chicken waste can accumulate to harmful |
| properties - in the city. | | | | levels if not properly ventilated. And, the |
| Why would you want to raise chickens in the | | | | ventilation that you provide should be draft - free, |
| city? Fresh eggs are better, and chickens at | | | | that is, you don't want excessive air movement |
| home are part of the "back to earth" movement | | | | that could chill the chickens during a cold night. But, |
| that is becoming quite popular in recent years. | | | | you do need to effectively ventilate your coop. |
| If you've become interested in raising chickens in | | | | Plan to build on well-drained soil. Puddles and |
| your backyard, you'll need to build a coop for | | | | permanent wet spots combined with wastes |
| them to live in. Building a chicken coop can be | | | | from the birds can contribute to a very |
| easy and cheap, but there are a few guidelines | | | | un-healthy environment. |
| that you should follow. I've researched a few | | | | Even if you live in the city, you'll need to make |
| basic facts you should know to build your own | | | | your chicken area predator-proof. Dogs, cats, |
| chicken coops. | | | | raccoons and other carnivorous animals will see |
| Common Sense | | | | your chickens and their eggs as tasty treats - |
| Common sense will go a long way - especially | | | | and will attack them if allowed. That's why good |
| true when you're designing your own chicken | | | | doors and windows that seal are a definite must |
| coop. | | | | to protect your chickens. |
| Make it easy to clean. Like any outdoor animals, | | | | Give them Light |
| chickens produce wastes that will need to be | | | | As mentioned above, locate the coop with |
| removed and surfaces cleaned and disinfected. | | | | windows pointed towards the South, so that |
| Make sure you have easy and unobstructed | | | | radiant energy from the sun can be absorbed and |
| access to the interior. Build floors that are easy to | | | | used to help heat the building. Even in cold |
| hose out. One trick experienced builders use is to | | | | climates, the chickens will generate their own |
| slope the floor towards a door or access hatch. | | | | heat, but the building must be well-sealed and free |
| That way, when hosed out, all debris and water | | | | from drafts when windows and doors are closed |
| flows naturally out - no extra labor required! | | | | and latched. |
| Build with materials that can withstand harsh | | | | For maximum egg production, electric light bulbs |
| environments, water, extreme temperatures and | | | | are a must. As the days shorten during fall and |
| repeated cleanings. Steel, concrete, aluminum and | | | | winter, egg production tends to drop off as well. |
| heavy-duty plastics will probably hold up much | | | | An electric light bulb or two can keep your |
| better that plain plywood, chip board and drywall. | | | | chickens "inspired" to keep producing eggs at a |
| Inexpensive vinyl windows are great for chicken | | | | summertime level. |
| coops - they're easily cleaned, and come in a | | | | Food And Water |
| variety of sizes. Corrugated steel roofs are | | | | Commercially manufactured feeding bowls and |
| cheap, almost indestructible and install very quickly. | | | | watering troughs can do a great job of keeping |
| Design | | | | your chickens healthy - assuming that you place |
| Always plan ahead when building your chicken | | | | them properly in the coop. Chickens really are a |
| coop. Make sure your design is easy to read and | | | | mess when it comes to eating - many people |
| to calculate materials from. You should be building | | | | throw feed on the floor (in a small area) of the |
| from a sketch or set of plans at the very | | | | yard in addition to the feeders. Why on the |
| minimum. | | | | ground? |
| Space requirements are important - how many | | | | Chickens have an instinct to "scratch" for food - |
| chickens will you be providing for, and how much | | | | and if you don't allow for this instinct to happen, |
| room do you have to keep the birds in?How | | | | you may have big problems with proper feedings. |
| many chickens are you allowed to keep on your | | | | Most commercial food manufacturers will give you |
| property? You may want to get this information | | | | an ideal dimension at which to place their feed |
| before the construction begins. | | | | bowl, but a good rule of thumb is to mount the |
| If you're building in the city, you must be | | | | food bowl at a height roughly equal to that of a |
| considerate of your neighbors. While it may be | | | | chicken's back. That way, they can't scratch and |
| tempting to build as cheaply as possible, the | | | | spill food everywhere. |
| aesthetics of your coop may be a real standout - | | | | Same goes for the height of the watering bowls - |
| in the wrong way. The last thing you want to | | | | chickens, like most animals, need a good source |
| happen is to aggravate your neighbors with a | | | | of clean drinking water. If you just have one or |
| "hick barnyard" scenario in your backyard. Plus, | | | | two birds, then a plain water bowl might make |
| the nicer and neater your chicken coop is, the | | | | the most sense. For more birds, you may want |
| more apt you'll be to take care of it - and your | | | | to consider some type of semi-automatic |
| chickens. | | | | watering system, where you fill a bladder or tank, |
| Protect From The Weather | | | | and the water levels in the bowls are |
| No matter which part of the country you live in - | | | | automatically maintained throughout the day. |
| you're probably going to get some weather | | | | Really, building a chicken coop isn't difficult at all. |
| extremes. From excessive heat in the desert | | | | You just need to keep in mind these main points, |
| Southwest, to frigid and snowy winters in the | | | | and you'll have a successful venture on your |
| Northeast, your coop must protect your chickens | | | | hands in no time. |
| from all of the likely weather that can happen in | | | | Cost? While many factors can affect what you'll |
| your part of the country. | | | | pay in materials for your chicken coop, I've built |
| Your building should have proper doors and | | | | then for $20 way up to $400 for real fancy |
| windows - doors and windows that open and | | | | buildings with lots of extras. Some of the best |
| close, and seal as well. For good ventilation, you | | | | coops I've build started out as other peoples old |
| should have screens that will withstand the | | | | ones - then I rebuilt and adapted to save money |
| animals and weather conditions. If you live where | | | | and make a better building. |
| the winters are cold, you may want to face the | | | | |