Chicken House Plans – 7 Steps To A Better Chicken House

Posted by Ann Wallis

You’ve decided to take the leap and start raising your own backyard chickens

Building a chicken house for one’s feathered friends can save you cash and will let you customize the house to fit your specifications. Prior to hammering that first nail, confirm that your chicken house plans take into account these seven key elements:

1. Size: You need to allow enough space for your chickens. For standard chickens 3-4 feet square inside the house and 6-10 square feet within the run is recommended. For bantam chickens you can get away with 2-3 square feet indoors and 8 square feet outside per chicken.

2. Lighting: Chickens need light in order to lay their eggs. Where possible try to face the coop towards the sun and install windows to bring in the light and also the warmth.

3. Ventilation: You chicken house should be well ventilated to let the fresh air in, but not drafty. If high winds can be a problem, consider building the coop in a sheltered location.

4. Insulation: Don’t forget to take into account temperature changes. In cold climates your chicken house will have to be insulated.

5. Feeders and Waterers: The feeders and waterers should be easy to get to by both man and bird. Consider installing automatic waterers for a constant supply of freshwater.

6. Nesting Boxes: If raising chickens for eggs, it is important to have nesting boxes for the hens to lay in. Provide one nesting box per two hens. They don’t want to be crowded when laying!

7. Predators: Chickens are tasty, not just to us but to a wide range of predators. Make sure your chicken house and run are protected on all sides including below ground level and above. Take into account the burrowing and flying predators! Well-known predators include foxes, raccoons, coyotes, skunks and hawks. Wire mesh fencing is often used to keep the chickens in and predators out. Make sure when you are putting in fencing to dig down at least one foot to protect your chickens from burrowing predators.

It is important when constructing a chicken coop to have a written blueprint to work with. If your chicken house plan takes into consideration these seven factors, you’ll be well on your way to creating a safe, secure home for your chicken flock.

Ann Wallis is a long-time gardener that has recently stumbled on the delights of raising backyard chickens. For more information on raising chickens as well as the best chicken house plans visit http://simplechickenhouseplans.com