How to Build A Chicken Coop? A Top-to-Bottom Handbook for Beginners!
Building a chicken coop seems intimidating, but it’s doable if you have the right approach. You just need to implement the right idea.
So, How to Build A Chicken Coop? You should find tons of ideas for your chicken coop. You can use wood, plywood, plastic, and debris. So, the idea is all yours, but how to assemble everything and make a chicken coop, needs to be well elaborated.
I’ll try to cover everything about building a chicken coop. I guess, all your common asking will be resolved in this article. Keep on reading to have a comprehensive idea about building a chicken coop.
Table of Contents
How to Build A Chicken Coop? Where Should I Position It?
As I said, you just need to implement for building a coop.
So, decide the coop size and location. Then, opt for the construction and end up with the outfitting job.
Now, the priority! The location of your chicken coop is critical for maintaining hygiene and protecting your flock. Choose a spot on high ground to avoid flooding, mud buildup, or excess moisture. If you can’t find an elevated area, build the coop off the ground.
Place the coop relatively close to your home or in a high-traffic part of the yard. This deters predators that may be scared off by human activity. Avoid large plants or thick foliage where predators could hide.
Aim for a spot with good southern exposure to provide warmth and sunlight, which encourages egg-laying.
However, make sure the area gets some shade during hot days too. You may want it near a tree with high canopy cover, or plan to add a shade tarp over the run.
How Much Space Do My Chickens Need?
According to experts, most breeds require a minimum of 3-4 square feet of coop space per bird. It’s when they can access an outdoor run.
For example, many people ask, how to build a chicken coop for 6 chickens. For six standard-sized chickens, you’d want a 24-square-foot coop at the minimum. Similarly, for 20 standard-sized chickens, around 80 square feet of space sounds sensible. However, that’s a rough measurement.
The run itself should offer at least 4 square feet of space per chicken. If you can’t give your flock outdoor access, provide 8-10 square feet of coop space per bird instead.
In addition to total square footage, your coop design must account for roosting bars, nesting boxes, feeders/waterers, and ventilation. Overcrowding leads to fighting, limited resources for subordinate birds, increased waste buildup, and health issues.
What Materials Should I Use for the Chicken Coop?
While you can get creative with repurposed materials, there are some ideal options for parts of the coop.
- Floors: Inexpensive plywood coated with linoleum is easy to clean. An elevated wood floor helps deter predators and prevent rotting.
- Walls & Roof: Any untreated wood can work for the main structure. Choose plywood for easy installation of windows/vents.
- Nesting Boxes: Wood shavings or straws create a soft lining for eggs. Provide 1 square foot box per 3 hens.
- Roosting Bars: Install a 1.5-inch dowel rod perch at least 2 feet off the ground so birds can roost.
How Can I Protect My Flock from Predators?
Securing your coop against predators is one of the most important design considerations. Key precautions are as follows.
- Elevating the Coop: Raise the Coop 8-12 inches off the ground so snakes, digging mammals, and other pests can’t burrow underneath. Use pressure-treated wood for the base.
- Secure Doors/Vents: Install lockable latches that raccoons can’t easily open. Ensure any windows are fully covered with hardware cloth.
- Hardware Cloth Run Walls: Avoid chicken wire, which predators can tear through. Use 1/2 inch rigid hardware cloth instead.
What Other Features Should I Include for the Poultry Coop?
Proper ventilation is vital for preventing illness or ammonia buildup from waste.
Your coop should have vents making up around 20% of the total wall space, ideally higher than the roosting bars. Windows or vents should open for cleaning or be covered with removable hardware cloth.
If you live in a cooler climate, you may want basic insulation and a way to provide supplemental heat in winter. Or you could build an attached, insulated box for eggs to prevent freezing.
You’ll also need a way to provide light in winter, as longer daylight hours promote egg production. A low-wattage bulb on a light timer can help extend the day.
Finally, install an exterior nesting box door to allow egg collection without entering the coop. Be sure the human-size door is large enough to easily move through while holding a basket or other supplies.
How to Build A Chicken Coop for Beginners? A Step By Step Guide
With your coop design plan in hand, you’re ready to start the construction process:
- Step 1: Clear the area of debris, sticks, rocks, and low-hanging branches. Remove any potential predator shelters like woodpiles nearby.
- Step 2: Using your plan’s measurements, build a sturdy, level, and square base frame from pressure-treated lumber. This will support the full weight of the finished coop.
- Step 3: Securely install plywood or other boards horizontally along the frame, with no gaps, to form the walls and roof components.
- Step 4: A warm, dry, slightly elevated floor is essential. Use solid wood floors with hardware cloth underneath to deter digging pests.
- Step 5: The coop needs a human door large enough to enter, collect eggs, and clean. Hinge it to open fully. Make a separate, shorter bird door to allow hens to enter the run.
- Step 6: Nesting boxes want a soft base like wood shavings. Install a roosting bar 2 feet up at the proper size for your breed.
- Step 7: Use hardware cloth with openings no larger than 1/2 inch for all run walls and coverage. Bury an apron of it along the ground’s edges to prevent digging underneath.
All you need is some basic tools and a solid plan to build a secure, bien coop that meets all your flock’s needs! Let the egg-collecting begin.
But the thing is, the above-mentioned thing is a generalized idea for making chicken coops. You can make chicken coops on wheels that can be moved. For that, do nothing specific but only a little more mechanical work to fit a wheel in the coop. Some people utilize their chicken coops with cattle panels.
However, building a chicken coop isn’t an easy job at all. You have to know how you want to make one for your chickens. It’s not like building chicken coops in Minecraft, or Stardew Valley.
Related Articles:
- Common Mistakes In Chicken Coop
- How to Winterize the Chicken Coop
- Affordable Dropping Boards For Chickens
The following video might help you understand how to build a chicken coop cheaply.
FAQs
Have a look at the following Q&A. I hope all these will align your knowledge more on this matter.
Q: How can I camouflage my chicken coop for better security?
Paint the coop in earth tones like greens and browns to help it blend into the surroundings. You can also cover the run area with brush trimmings or plant vines/shrubs around the outside. It’s to obscure it from would-be predators.
Q: What’s the best way to provide dust bathing areas for my flock?
Chickens love to take dust baths to keep their feathers clean. Create a dedicated dust box or shallow pit filled with dry soil, sand, or wood ashes and located in a sunny area. Line it with hardware cloth to prevent escape.
Q: How can I make my coop more environment-friendly?
Use recycled or reclaimed lumber and materials when possible. Install high-efficiency windows/vents. Consider adding a green roof with soil/plants to provide natural insulation. Position for passive solar heating. Use solar-powered doors/lights.
Q: Can I include a chicken cam to monitor my flock?
Absolutely! Many coops now incorporate wifi cameras. It’s so that owners can keep an eye on their birds from their smartphone or computer while away from home. Just be sure to properly secure the cabling.
Conclusion
Don’t stress too much over building the perfect chicken coop. At its core, it’s about making a nice little home for your feathered friends to feel safe and comfortable. Sure, follow some basic guidelines, but don’t get bogged down in the tiny details. Have fun with it!
So grab your tools and get to work crafting those nesting boxes and others. In the end, you’ll be rewarded with happy and healthy chickens.
