CHICKEN
COOPS
10 THINGS YOU NEED FOR
A BASIC CHICKEN COOP
CHICKEN COOP RELATED TOPIC LINKS
FRUGAL CHICKEN COOP
CHICKEN COOP LINKS
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SECTION 1
10 THINGS YOU
NEED FOR
A BASIC
CHICKEN COOP
If you’ve been dreaming of eating freshly gathered eggs in the morning,
you may be considering building a chicken coop in your backyard or on
your homestead.
Designs and plans can vary widely for chicken coops, depending on what
building materials you have on hand and how many chickens you want to
raise. However, there are some basics every good coop needs.
First, select the site for your chicken coop. You will want a southern-facing
location on higher ground that offers adequate drainage. Chickens can be noisy
and smelly, so look for spots that won’t bother your family or your neighbors.
Healthy birds need plenty of room to move around. Local restrictions differ,
but each bird requires three to five square feet of space. If they are to be
inside the coop all day, plan on doubling that space. If you are including
an outside run, allow at least 10 square feet for each bird.
Chickens are sensitive to cold and damp weather, so include plenty of ventilation
in your plans, but make sure you offer your chickens adequate protection from cold
drafts. Light stimulates egg production, so make use of natural lighting wherever
possible, and you may want to consider installing electric lights for the winter.
Keep accessibility – both for your chickens and for you – uppermost in your mind
when building your coop. You will need convenient access to various areas of the
coop in order to keep them clean. Handy access doors and dropping trays can make
clean up easy.
In addition to the lumber, roofing, windows, and hardware needed to build your
structure, here is a basic shopping list for a chicken coop.
1. Roosts
Chickens have a natural roosting behavior, and they feel more at ease when
they are perched. In fact, this is the position in which they sleep, and
chickens sleep a lot! You will want to provide nine to 10 inches of perch
space for each bird. You can use wooden rails or bars for their perches.
2. Nesting Boxes
Hens like to nest in boxes to help them feel safe and secure. Look for simple
and easy to clean wooden boxes. A nesting box should be least four inches deep
and large enough so that a hen can comfortably lay her eggs. Aim to have at
least one nesting box for every three hens.
3. Nesting Pads
Nesting pads encourage hens to lay eggs inside the nesting box and also help
provide a softer surface that helps protect eggs from breakage.
4. Waterers
There are many products on the market to use as waterers for your chickens.
This two-gallon heavy-duty stand-alone waterer maintains a constant water
level and can be paired with a heater base in the winter. Another plus is
that its edges discourage roosting.
5. Feeders
You can allow chickens to eat on demand with certain feeders. With a 20-pound
capacity, this feeder is designed to keep out rodents and other birds.
6. Dust Bath
Chickens like to give themselves dust baths. It is their way of keeping their
feathers clean and free of parasites. If dry soil is not accessible to your
chickens for this behavior, offer them a box or a hole filled with dust bath.
The box or hole should be large enough for a chicken to lie down in and to be
able to spread her wings in – usually about two feet by two feet.
7. Heating
To provide your birds with extra warmth in the winter, you might need a small
heater. Some styles are safe and easy to use with no bulbs or lamps to replace.
8. Bedding
Line your coop with straw, wood chips, or shavings for bedding. Add more bedding
material to keep your birds warm in the winter, and use less in the summer to
protect your birds from overheating.
9. Shade
Make sure your chickens have a comfortable spot away from the heat of the sun.
Use shade cloth or slanted roofing to offer your chickens a safe haven in the
summer months.
10. Predator Protection
Careful attention to screening, windows, and doors will help keep your chickens
safe from predators, including raccoons, coyote, foxes, birds of prey, and even
neighborhood cats and dogs. Protect your chickens by using a sturdy wire mesh
around the entire building and placing a padlock on the door if you have one.
Research the predators in your area and add extra deterrents as necessary. One
option is to add a solar powered light to scare away night-time predators.
How To Build
a Chicken Coop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXPNiL8rrqE
How to Build a
Chicken Coop 101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgrnVtYIKyg
Backyard Chickens &
Chicken Coop Tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK94Yq5qXE4
10 Things You
Need for a Basic
Chicken Coop
https://homesteadsurvivalsite.com/basic-chicken-coop/
Things to Consider
when Designing a
Chicken Coop
https://www.dummies.com/article/home-auto-hobbies/hobby-farming/chickens/things-to-consider-when-designing-a-chicken-coop-195930/
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RAISING CHICKENS 101:
HOW TO BUILD A
CHICKEN COOP
https://www.almanac.com/raising-chickens-101-how-build-chicken-coop
CHICKEN COOP
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
https://www.almanac.com/chicken-coop-design-considerations
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SECTION 2
CHICKEN
COOP
RELATED
TOPIC
LINKS
Tips for Planning
Your Chicken Coop
https://www.thespruce.com/plan-and-build-your-chicken-coop-3016689
The Deep Litter
Method Will Keep
Your Chicken Coop Clean
https://www.thespruce.com/keep-chicken-coop-smelling-clean-fresh-3016827
Top 10 Tips for
Building a Chicken Coop
https://www.thespruce.com/building-a-chicken-coop-3016589
The 7 Best Chicken
Coops of 2022
https://www.thespruce.com/best-chicken-coops-4153598
How to Predator
Proof Your
Chicken Coop
https://www.thespruce.com/predator-proof-your-chicken-coop-3016559
12 Free DIY
Chicken
Coop Plans
https://www.thespruce.com/free-chicken-coop-plans-1357113
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SECTION 3
FRUGAL
CHICKEN
COOP
Here are 10 things to consider before building
or buying your new coop.
1. Where to build it?
Do you have easy access to power and water if you need it? Is there
shade and or protection from the wind?
2. How big?
You will need at least 2 square feet of floor space per chicken. We
like to give them more than that.
3. Mobile or not?
Do you want to be able to easily move your coop and chickens around
onto fresh pasture?
4. Building materials
Consider your climate, ease of construction, and expense. Think about
materials you might already have laying around.
5. Chicken door
If you’re coop is above ground level you will need a ramp to the hole
big enough for them to fit in with a closable and latch-able door. A
10" by 10" hole is the recommended size, but ours is 8" and works fine
for the hens. We will likely need to enlarge it for the meat ducks.
6. Ventilation
There should be plenty of air flow without being drafty at night.
Adjustable ventilation is ideal.
7. Nesting boxes
Easy access to the nesting boxes for you and the chickens is a must.
You will need 1 nesting box for every 4 to 5 laying hens and
1' x 1' x 1' is a good size for a nesting box.
8. Easy access for cleaning.
Are you going to need to get the wheel barrow in the coop?
Is the door big enough?
9. Roosts
You should have at least 8 inches of roosting space per hen. Your chickens
will be on the roosts all night pooping and pooping so make sure they are
not above the nesting boxes or their food and water. You’ll want to think
about the easiest way to clean under them. If you are just raising meat
chickens you will not need roosts.
10. Predator proof
Predator proof is the whole point of a coop, so make sure there are no spaces
bigger than one inch anywhere on the coop. Some predators are pretty smart
making secure latches on all doors and windows a must.
There is no such thing as a perfect coop. Each situation is different; where
you live (climate, neighbors, road?…) what kind of chickens you have and why
you have chickens will all be huge factors in what kind of a coop works for
you! A little forethought before you order or build will save you a lot of
adjustments and frustration in the long run!
A Vlog About Our New Frugal
Chicken Coop and 10 Things
You Should Consider BEFORE
Building or Buying Your Coop
https://sufficientacres.com/2016/07/01/a-vlog-about-our-new-frugal-chicken-coop-and-10-things-you-should-consider-before-building-or-buying-your-coop/
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SECTION 4
CHICKEN
COOP
LINKS
5 Things to Know Before
Building A Chicken Coop
https://www.gardeningchannel.com/5-things-building-chicken-coop/?fbclid=IwAR3iAPfKKOF5BEFWe49C3FTCOA1rbDgKblBWO3sdhg2gPNFNGSM0PQpre3k
10 Free Chicken
Coop Plans For
Backyard Chickens
https://thepoultryguide.com/free-chicken-coop-plans/
10 Hacks You’ll
Want to Steal for
your Chicken Coop
https://rootedrevival.com/10-hacks-for-your-chicken-coop/
10 Things You Can
Put on the Floor
of a Chicken Coop
https://www.organizewithsandy.com/10-things-you-can-put-on-the-floor-of-a-chicken-coop/
The 16 Best Backyard
Chicken Coops
https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g35822003/top-chicken-coops/
20 DIY Wood Chicken
Coop Free Plans
https://homeandgardendigest.com/20-diy-wood-chicken-coop-free-plans/
20 Free Plans for an
Easy DIY Chicken Coop
https://backyardchickenproject.com/20-free-chicken-coop-plans/
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37 Chicken Coop
Designs and Ideas
https://homesteading.com/chicken-coop-designs-and-ideas/
45 Free Chicken
Coop Plans With
Simple DIY Instructions
https://www.chickensandmore.com/chicken-coop-plans/
54 Free DIY Chicken
Coop Plans & Ideas
That Are Easy To Build
https://www.ecopeanut.com/diy-chicken-coop-plans/
61 Free DIY Chicken
Coop Plans & Ideas
That Are Easy to Build
https://morningchores.com/chicken-coop-plans/
65 Free Chicken
Coop Plans You
Can Build at Home
https://www.diycraftsy.com/chicken-coop-plans/
Backyard chicken coops
https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/
Chicken Coop Ideas (100+ IDEAS)
https://www.wirefence.co.uk/chicken-coop-ideas/
Chicken Coop
Necessities
5 Must Have Items
https://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2020/03/27/chicken-coop-necessities-5-must-have-items/
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The Coop: Top
10 Tips Before
Buying/Building
https://blog.mypetchicken.com/2018/01/10/coop-top-10-tips/
The Deep Litter
Method Will Keep
Your Chicken Coop Clean
https://www.thespruce.com/keep-chicken-coop-smelling-clean-fresh-3016827
DIY Chicken Coop Plans
http://www.diycoopplans.com/
Easy DIY
Chicken Coop Plans
https://www.organicconsumers.org/sites/default/files/chickencoopbuildplans.com_free_5_chicken_barn_plans.pdf
Free Chicken
Coop Plans
https://barngeek.com/chicken-coop-library/free-chicken-coop-plans
Free Chicken
Coop Plans
https://freechickencoopplans.com/
Free Chicken
Coop Plans
https://silverhomestead.com/free-chicken-coop-plans/
Free Chicken Coop
Plans with PDF
Download – Material List
https://www.construct101.com/5-Free-chicken-coop-plans/
The Garden Coop
http://www.thegardencoop.com/
The Happy
Chicken Coop
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/
Predator-Proof DIY
Chicken Run Project For
Your Backyard Chicken Coop
https://homesteading.com/chicken-run-project-diy/?fbclid=IwAR3aX1RekaHCOyw133pra08g2xyzalmXI6ERe4mVIdKzbReKzlJXwp-qAxQ
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Handbook on
Poultry
Diseases
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/55/handbook-on-poultry-diseases
Animals:
Common and Scientific Names
http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/swetc/azso/back.1_div.3.html
American Society
Of
Animal Science
ASAS
https://www.animalimagegallery.org/
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Feedipedia
http://www.feedipedia.org/
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