How to Build a Chicken Coop

So, the thought of farm fresh eggs sounds kinda good to you, does it? But first, you need to figure out how to build a chicken coop. It's really not that hard.

The first thing you will have to think about is the design. There are lots of ways you can go about this. If you are not afraid of a little trial and error, you can sketch your own. Not so adventurous? You can purchase chicken coop plans which lay everything out in step by step detail. Another option is to take an existing garden shed, or other small building, such as a doghouse or wooden kids playhouse, and modify it so that it is chicken-friendly.

Chicken-friendly? Yep, that's what we are really referring to when talking about how to build a chicken coop.

Chickens don't ask for much, but there are a few things they really can't live without...

Nope, chickens are not water fowl, and they are not too keen on getting wet.  Avoid installing their house and run in areas of your yard that tend to be "swampy", and make sure their pophole and windows don't face the direction where the rain typically blows in from. 

Also, if you live in a place where winters are long and cold (like we have here in Indiana), considering insulating your chicken coop.  Certain breeds can handle the cold weather better, so put some thought into that too. 

If you are also raising chickens for eggs, you may also want to consider running lights to your coop.  Egg production is directly tied to the number of daylight hours.  If you can mimic the longer days of summer with a couple of light bulbs, then there's a good chance your ladies will keep laying eggs, even during the shortest days of the year.

Chickens are a little plucky about where they lay their eggs - and you should be too.  You will need to provide one nesting box for every three to four birds you own.  For average-sized birds, the box opening should be approximately 12" x 12", and it should be about 8" deep.  For bantams (miniature chickens), the boxes should be smaller, and for larger breeds, more space should be provided.

Make sure to put a generous bed of straw or light-colored softwood shavings in the bottom of the nesting boxes.  After all, you don't want any cracked eggs!  Also, if you can set up the nesting boxes to have external access doors, this will make life much easier on you (or whoever has the daily chore of collecting the eggs).

Chickens need a place to perch when they sleep. They feel more secure the higher the perch, but since they are not so good at flying, you should provide a ramp or ladder for them to climb up. Depending on the size of your birds, the perches should be about two inches wide, give or take, and the top edges of the perch should be rounded off.

Also, make sure your perches are placed at the same height. Your hens will squabble with each other over what they think is the best spot (kinda like the kids, who will argue with each other over whose turn it is to collect the eggs!).

Make sure the perches are placed higher than the nesting boxes. Otherwise, the nesting boxes might look too inviting, and they will end up sleeping there instead. Not a good thing, considering chickens are expert multitaskers - they can sleep and poop at the same time!

You need to keep your coop and run clean. This is vitally important for the health and well-being of your birds. The floor of the chicken coop should be covered in straw or softwood shavings. Every three months or so, you will need to sweep out the old litter and replace it with new.

In addition, if you are installing a run, realize that the chickens will "foul" this area in no time. You will need to move the run on an annual basis, or use a deep litter run filled with bark or gravel. The bark or gravel will need to be dug out and replaced annually.

There is more to installing and maintaining a proper run, but since we are discussing how to build a chicken coop here, we will save that for another time.

Your peeps will need some ventilation in their coop.  Since hot air rises, it's a good idea to drill some holes near the top of your structure.  Also, you can use windows for this too, but you will need to install tough steel gauge wire or a similar material to keep predators out.

That's right, once your chickens move in, the other critters in the area will stop by frequently to see if they can pick up a free chicken dinner. If you want to know the real reason why the chicken crossed the road, it's because she was kidnapped by a hungry fox. Poor Henrietta!

Foxes, weasels, raccoons - they would all like some of your finger-lickin' good chicken. This is why it’s vitally important to make sure to put some extra thought into the materials you use to construct your coop. The heavy gauge wire you use on the windows should also be used around the run. Many owners also bury part of the wire underground, to prevent foxes and other critters from burrowing underneath. Also, make sure the latches and other hardware you use to secure the coop and nesting boxes are predator-proof.

Mice and rats will also be attracted to your chicken coop. Many coop designs feature a hen house raised a couple of feet off the ground. This prevents the little rodents from taking up shelter underneath the coop, and raiding it for spilled chicken feed and eggs at dinnertime.

As you can see, there is a lot involved with figuring out how to build a chicken coop, but hopefully this has helped lay a solid foundation for you to start.