Here’s how to plan and build a coop for your brand new flock! We will also cover the basic requirements for a safe coop, discuss ideal materials, and discuss some basic coop maintenance.
image from Recho Traranta from Pixar
Raising a flock of chickens can be expensive; setting it up for the first time can be even more expensive. Fortunately, resourceful breeders can save a lot of money by building their own chicken coop. In this article, you’ll get step-by-step instructions for planning and building the perfect chicken coop.
3 steps to follow when planning the perfect chicken coop
image from Kirsten Hughes from Pixar
- Figure out your parameters. The parameters of the coop will depend on your plans for the flock. Once you know how many birds and what kind of birds you want to have, you can plan an appropriately sized chicken coop.You must also consider the weather and wild animals Where do you live and where do you want to put your coop. If you live in an area that is often very warm, shade will be crucial; if you must place your coop on low ground, you may be more interested in an elevated coop design.
- Choose your plan. Once you know what kind of co-op you want, you can start looking Collaboration plan To suit your needs – or at least your requirements, you can tweak it to suit your needs.
- Sourcing your materials. When choosing wood for your coop, be sure to avoid pressure-treated wood, which holds up well outside but also releases toxic copper compounds into the soil around the coop. Tropical hardwoods and treated softwoods are better and safer choices. If reducing costs is your main concern, you can take down old furniture like bookshelves and cabinets and transform them into a chicken coop. Many businesses will also give away old wooden pallets for free, though be sure to look for pallets marked “HT,” which means they’ve been heat-treated rather than treated with the pesticide methyl bromide.
The Build Process: Get the Coop Up and Running
- Build the frame. Take the time to create a strong, fitting frame. This will have to support the rest of your coop, and rushing things here will hurt all other parts of the project.
- Add walls and roof. The walls can be made of plywood; however, depending on how often you get rain or snow, you may need a stronger or more waterproof roof. Be sure to screw the walls down and as flush with the frame as possible to keep out drafts and keep marauding animals out. You’ll also want a barrier that extends at least 6 to 12 inches into the ground to deter digging predators.You can create this barrier by building the walls down to the ground or by creating an “apron” hardware cloth (a solid metal fence consisting of small squares of heavy wire mesh) buried at least 12 inches deep, or 1 or 2 inches into the ground, then run parallel to the ground around the perimeter of the house, and run.
The hardware cloth is durable enough to deter predators.image from Tatiana Ole from Pixar
- Put up the fence. When you install fencing (called “penning”) around your coop, remember chicken wire Designed to keep chickens in and out of space – not keep predators away from chickens. So while you can use barbed wire to keep your flock out, you can’t use it to protect your flock from stubborn predators. When deciding what type of fence to build your enclosure with, consider what kind of predators live in your area.For ultimate protection from clever predators of all sizes, consider a ¼” or ½” built covered chicken runway hardware cloth. If you’re dealing with less predator pressure, locked your flock in a safe coop at night, and don’t worry about aerial predators, you can opt for a bare runway made mostly of barbed wire and hardware cloth while you run near the bottom 12 inches. (As with coop walls, you’ll want to bury the grid at least 6 to 12 inches in the ground.)
- put it in the door. Most breeders cut two doors: a large one for themselves and a small one for the hens. Others opt to remove the entire wall, or slide it out of the way on rollers for easy access. (If you’re not sure you’ll remember to keep your chickens in the coop every night, consider a automatic chicken door. You can buy one off the shelf or build one using the plans in TGN “Automatic Chicken Door” Project Guide.)
- Cut off the vent. Vents allow fresh air to enter the house and help prevent disease in the flock. The two most important vents should be near the roof; these can be covered with hardware cloth, but should remain open year-round.Placing them near the roof allows the air to circulate without the birds catch a cold。 Depending on the climate where you live, you can add as many other closeable vents in the lower part of the coop as you want to help keep your girls cool in the summer.
You can also enjoy:
“The 13 Best Chicken Breeds for Cold Climates”
“Indoor Feed Systems: How to Grow Food in Small, Dark Places”
“Cheap, cut! 4 new ways to feed your chickens (almost) for free”
What to do after the chicken coop exterior is complete
image from Evelyn Brown from Pixar
- Install internal functions. Perches can be as simple as a 2×4 placed high up in the coop; chickens always sleep on the highest available surface to avoid predators. Install at least one nest box for every three hens; old milk crates or wooden crates if they haven’t already been incorporated into your co-op program.
- Place predator deterrents. In addition to your hardware grid, you can use a variety of things to keep predators out of your coop.Shiny, moving objects can scare away birds of prey; you can hang old CDs on string or place some Reflective tape flapping in the wind. Other predators may be scared off by the owl figurine. There are also a variety of commercial products available for these purposes.
- Perform regular inspection and maintenance. This is perhaps the most important part of building a coop. Over time, wood can warp and split; screws can loosen; fencing can peel off. You can check for leaks and drafts in the coop structure by flushing with water and looking inside for damp; fencing and other problems require careful visual inspection. Paying attention to all these little problems and fixing them as soon as possible will keep your girl warm, dry and safe.
A good coop is the best start to a happy, healthy flock. Building your own chicken coop can be a daunting task, but it also guarantees that you will have the perfect coop, built just for your brand new flock.
You can also enjoy:
“5 Excellent Reasons to Keep Backyard Chickens”
what do you think?
Did you build your own chicken coop? What advice do you have for first-time chicken keepers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chris has been raising chickens in his backyard for over 20 years. She has a flock of 11 chickens (including 3 silkies) and is currently teaching people around the world how to care for healthy chickens.
