Though it may sound a little complicated at first, but building a chicken coop is a simple and logical process. The first and foremost thing that the owner has to do is take a look at the surroundings and make decisions that would be the best choice for providing proper shelter. The weather in the area where the chicken coop is to be built will play a important role. The owner has to make the correct choice for the material that will be used to create the walls and roof of the chicken coop. Using organic materials like hemp or locally available simple canes can be used to construct a sturdy coop that will keep the chickens safe from predators and at the same time provide adequate ventilation. The temperature of the surroundings where the chicken coop is built will play a very important role in the way the animals behave and their moods. Keeping the chicken coop in a shaded area will definitely improve the living conditions inside the coop. The chicken coop constructed should be big enough so that there is plenty of space for the chickens to move around easily.

Another important factor that has to be considered is the flooring that has to be provided inside the coop. Chickens usually have the habit of scratching the surface of the place where they are standing. This means that the chicken coop’s floor should not be too hard at the surface as that might injure the talons of the chickens. The flooring has to be soft and a little damp so that the chickens can scratch around without any problems. As the chickens defecate within the chicken coop, wood shavings can be put on the flooring. This is a very interesting alternative to normal flooring as it serves many purposes. The wood shavings keep the floor soft and moist most of the time and also have the tendency to absorb the waste that the chickens produce. When the chickens scratch the surface these wastes are automatically moved to the bottom and fresh wood shavings rise up to the surface. This keeps the chicken coop clean and hygienic.

Looking at the various questions that arise in how to build a chicken coop, the answers most of the time lie in simple, logic and straight forward organic solutions. Providing a suitable place for the chickens to take refuge from external threats is one of the best ways of saving and increasing the value of investment in poultry.

The most fundamental aspect that one has to notice is the material that will be used for construction of the chicken coop. Many people would prefer synthetic materials and form a net over a rigid structure, but it is always better to use organic materials for building the coop. While synthetic materials have the advantage of being long lasting, they are not that good when it comes to heat retention and comfort for the chickens.

The area in which the chicken coop is to be built will also play a vital role in the way the coop is constructed. If there are too many predators, then it becomes necessary to make the coop very strong with adequate ventilation. In certain cases where underground predators are present, it is necessary to make the flooring of the chicken coop very strong. Space must be provided for the chickens to move around within the coop as they have a tendency to move around a bit even at night as they are very light sleepers. Keeping the chicken coop free of sharp ends is a must, as this will prevent the chickens from getting injured when they run around or flap their wings.

The food and water supplies for chickens must be provided so that they can eat at any point of time during the day. It will be very thoughtful to make sure that there is some amount of hygiene maintained in the area where the food is kept. When too much or too little food is kept in the coop it starts to decay or starts a fight between the birds as they compete for meager resources.

Cleaning the chicken coop is a very important thing as viruses and bacteria that thrive in organic waste have the tendency to infect chickens. This not only reduces the health of the birds, but also can cause infection to other animals kept nearby. Clearing the chicken coop of any waste at regular intervals is a priority and the chicken coop must be constructed by taken the frequent activities into account. Space must be provided at the base of the coop to make sure that the wastes produced by the chickens do not get mingled with the base of the coop and create a foul smell and cause infections. Provision must be provided at the base of the coop to periodically change the soil below the coop so that the organic wastes are removed before they cause any harm to the birds.

The first factor to be considered would be the weather conditions in which the chicken has been kept. A very hot and humid climate means the coop should be built with wire mesh that will allow easy circulation of air throughout, and keep the temperature within the coop moderate. The mesh should be strong enough to withstand attack by predators at different times and also maintain the shape. The reason for rearing chickens is mostly for the eggs, and hence there should be adequate facility for the chickens to lay their eggs safely, and for the person rearing the chickens to retrieve them. The best option would be to use a bed of straw or similar soft and organic material to keep the eggs from impacting and breaking on hard ground.

The chicken coops should always be spacious enough for the chickens to move around. Fowls are usually very restless and require space to move about without which they become very temperamental and might even injure other birds in the coop. There should be a separate hygienic place for food and water to be placed inside the coop. The positioning of the food and water bowl is important. It should be easily accessible for the birds, and at the same time should provide proper separation from the dirt and waste material in the coop.

Cleanliness is very important when it comes to maintaining healthy birds and as such adequate facilities must be provided for removing the organic wastes that the birds generate. By keeping the floor of the coop as a mesh at the bottom to collect the waste, it might be an easy process to maintain the overall hygiene of the coop. Another option for maintaining the coop is to use wood shavings for the floor of the coop. The birds have a habit of scratching the floor while looking for food. Using wood shavings makes sure that the waste matter that has been deposited will move downwards and settle down at the bottom when the birds scratch the floor.

These droppings can even be used for manure at later stages for various plants. The security aspects of the chicken coops also will have to be taken into account. Making the wire mesh that forms the wall of the coop strong and flexible, it is easy to keep away predators without causing any congestion inside the chicken coop. Digging in and placing the wire mesh a few inches into the soil will keep out the burrowing predators that might otherwise dig through the soil and get into the chicken coop to have a tasty snack. By taking such simple steps and precautions, a person can easily create chicken coops that will be functional and also not too costly.

If you are thinking that chicken coops are not really necessary if you are keeping chickens it would be a good idea for you to think again. The reason that chicken coops are needed is to protect the chickens from predators and also to protect the chickens from the weather.

Chicken coops should always be situated off the ground so when it rains, the excess water can drain away quickly and easily and one thing that so many people don’t even consider when they are deciding how to build a chicken coop is that there should be an outside run.

Chicken coops with an outside run will ensure that the chickens are happy and content but when you are looking how to build a chicken coop, you should make sure that the chicken wire which protects the runs is dug down at least one foot to ensure that hungry predators are not able to find a way underneath to attack the chickens.

When you are looking at different designs when deciding how to build a chicken coop you should make sure the finished chicken coops will make it easy for you to clean. Dirty chicken coops are one of the main causes of illnesses in chickens so when deciding how to build a chicken coop, do yourself a favour and go for a design that will make cleaning as easy as possible, it should also mean that the cleaning time will be cut down to a minimum.

There are various other things to consider when thinking how to build a chicken coop which will make your chickens much happier, make sure the chicken coops are facing the sun so the chickens will be able to enjoy natural heat and also make sure that the chicken coops are well insulated and don’t let in any water.

The site is of a great help for the poultry farmers or chicken raisers to explore the method of raising chickens. For building a chicken coop a well-planned method is suggested on the site.

A plan to build chicken coop:

Planning:

The base of the chicken coop must be solid and it would be wise to place the coop at a high spot. It is essential to ensure that the yard and the coop do not get accumulated with the puddles of water in the rainy season. Pre-determination about the size of the coop is essential. The chickens require area of 8 to 10 square feet per bird in the yard. Sketch of the design drawn on the paper would be important. It would be wise to include a large door for entering the coop for the collection of eggs and to clean the coop. You should always put the windows on the South facing side to make the sun warm the coop in cold season of winter and for airy ventilation in the summer season. Search around your property to find some important materials that can be utilized for making the chicken coops. An old shed, plywood or scrap lumber can be used wisely to make a chicken coop. The inside of the coop should be accommodated with a nest box that is required for 5 to 6 eggs laying hens in the flock. It is essential to make a perch space of 8 to 12 inches for each chicken. Poultry farm owners can purchase any other additional building materials which are required by them to enhance the comfort level of the chickens. It would be wise to enclose the yard with the chicken wire or any other strong fence.

Building:

The building of the chicken coop should be well planned and well designed. It must be constructed in the manner so that the front and the yard area face towards the South. To prevent the rain from directly falling over the door always make a slopping roof. For checking the predators, cover the windows firmly with the chicken wire. In order to completely close the openings but still leave some space for the light to enter, sliding glass windows can be installed in the chicken coop.  A latch can be placed on the door for securing the coop. Fencing the entire yard is important and it must be 4.5 feet high from the base. For checking the predators entrance into the yard bury the fence 10 inches deep and angle it out away from the yard.

Raising chickens is a skilled job and it requires special training to manage it properly. This site is a complete package that offer all the essential knowledge required for the chicken raising and building a chicken coop.