Do you plan to join the majority of backyard poultry farmers this year? This is what you need to know about first-class chicken coops.

Building a basic chicken coop for a small group of birds is a reliable weekend project for a determined do-it-yourself with basic carpentry skills, while more complex coops can easily take weeks (and require advanced carpentry skills) ).

The Internet is flooded with plans for backyard chicken coops. This is a great place to find inspiration, but all chicken coops have two main components: an enclosed space for sleeping and laying eggs and an open-air "chicken run" , During this period you can wander around that day. The enclosed space should lead directly to the runway, but should be at least two feet above it to allow room to collect feces falling from the floor. (Details will be described later.) There are many possible ways to configure a chicken coop, but here is how to build a basic model that can be easily customized according to your aesthetic taste.

The first thing to consider is size. The minimum acceptable size is 2 to 3 square feet per bird in the house and 4 to 5 square feet per bird in operation. However, extra space is always better-just like humans, chickens are prone to quarrels when they are crowded in cramped places at all times.

Chickens need shade in hot weather, so it is ideal to place the chicken coop under a large deciduous tree-they will be cool in the summer and can bask in the sun once the leaves are fallen in the winter. If the field under the big tree is not available, the runway must be covered with shade cloth.

As with most outbuildings, the easiest way is to start with a rectangular frame and add the various components needed. Use natural corrosion-resistant wood-such as cedar or mahogany-instead of pressure-treated wood, which contains heavy metals such as arsenic, which may be harmful to the health of chickens. The open runway should be covered with barbed wire (metal mesh) on all sides to prevent predators from entering.

Click to enlarge. Illustration by Susan Huyser

The inside of the runway only needs to be covered with a thick layer of straw on the ground to absorb chicken manure and moisture when it rains. The watering device can also be hung on one of the rafters (by connecting the wire to the nail) so that the bird can drink when it is outside during the day. (The bottom of the waterer should be 6 to 8 inches above the ground.) If there is no shade during the hottest part of the day, add a layer of shading cloth on top of the wire mesh ceiling. Construct a gentle ramp at least 8 inches wide from the ground to the platform for the enclosed area. Before closing the area, please equip it with the following items:

Place the nest box along the front wall, at least 24 inches from the floor. These can be as simple as wooden shelves, filled with straw. Add a 2 inch piece of wood to the front of the box to prevent the straw from overflowing. Prefabricated nest boxes are also available, although some chicken farmers use plastic litter boxes as nests because they are easy to remove and clean regularly. The location of the habitat should be higher than the nest. Chickens are the offspring of arboreal fowls, they always look for the highest point to sleep (if chickens use them to roost, the nest will soon become dirty).

It is time to add roofs and walls to enclose nesting and habitat areas. Any weatherproof material can be used, but tin is a simple and stylish option for the roof, and wood siding gives the walls an antique look. (An additional 2Á-4 frame is required for the walls and roof structure.) When you build the walls, make sure you plan to facilitate the collection of eggs and cleaning of the chicken coop. All access points should be lockable with raccoon-proof latches-a typical door latch with a carabiner in the turnbuckle is usually enough to frustrate these masked bandits.

Plan to visit from three aspects:

The three types of access doors can be constructed with a simple 2×-2 frame in the same way as the main entrance door of the chicken farm. Don't cover them with wire mesh, but use the same material as the outside of the house. (The anti-sagging kit is not needed in this case.)

Summer ventilation is very important. The chicken door and the part of the floor covered with wire mesh can allow air to enter from below, but it also needs a place for hot air to exhaust at the top. Either leave space between the eaves of the roof and the top of the wall, or cut vents near the top of the wall. In either case, please make sure that these spaces are covered with barbed wire to prevent small animals from entering.

Click to enlarge. Illustration by Susan Huyser

These are the basics of functional cooperatives, but you can customize and beautify it in any way you like. Gorgeous decorations, gorgeous knick-knacks and colorful artworks are the standards of the world's chicken house decoration course.

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There are many benefits to owning your own chicken. Farm fresh eggs are healthier, more delicious, and can be easily obtained from your own backyard. Meat and poultry grow rapidly, have a small breeding space, and are quite cheap for the results of food production. Raising your own chicken means that you can decide the process of making the final product. I personally built a great chicken coop following this simple step-by-step guide I found here: (http://easy-chicken-coop.trusted-source.info)

Can I get printed copies of these plans? Thank you

Hello, I am a little worried about the corrugated roof. I used to work in a corrugated paper shed. When it rains, the noise is deafening and condensation may occur inside. It provides zero-cap insulation. My hen house has a felt roof. cheers

Can I get a plan?

Very useful information. I am staring this weekend.

Thanks for the information. It will be very helpful

Can I get a copy of the plan?

I found this information very useful, and I plan to start a poultry farm at home. Thank you for your support. Samuel Kampala, Uganda

Its structure looks really amazing and inspiring. I like that it is very helpful for my chicken construction. Think you

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