Need A Small Chicken Coop Plan?

Raising Chicken Tips: Requirements: Construction of a Small Chicken Coop

A small chicken coop is what you normally call a chicken’s house. It’s their kingdom! A hen’s castle. So you have to make sure to keep their house maintained at a four star accreditation for this will help the chickens grow healthy and happy. Therefore, to keep it the way it should be, there are specific requirements to deal with to build a coop that will satisfy both you and your chickens. You, the poultry owner, of all people should understand this.

Requirement #1

Regarding its design, the coop must be secured from any kind of predator. Every single angle in the pen – sides, below and above, must be structured to withstand the attacks and desires of predators who are always on the lookout for a free meal. When selecting a wire mesh, be sure it is the right one. There are many kinds of predators. They scour within the area of your coop unnoticed just waiting for the time when they can attack. You have to make sure that the coop is impenetrable because some predators like raccoons just reach out for their prey, easily.

Requirement #2

In connection with requirement number one, this is a continuation. Aside from predators, you have to secure the coop from those nasty rats and mice. They burrow through the ground and come up from below. If the coop floor is not blocked, these rodents will slip into the hen’s quarters. Rodents are attracted to the food you’re giving your chickens and the droppings they excrete.

What’s more devastating is that these pesky rats love eggs. So whenever laying season comes, they gather too. Want to get rid of them? Good idea. But prevention is better than cure. That is why preventing them to come into the pen is better that getting rid of their presence completely. All you need to do is construct a floor within the pen, otherwise, bury a fence about 12 inches deep around the hen’s house. Be sure that the materials you will use for the fence and the floor is thick or hard enough for them to impossibly bite through.

Requirement #3

The way you build your coop must not be drafty or breezy. Subsequently, seasons will change and so would the weather. That is why; your coop must be able to endure any kind of natural effects.

Requirement #4

Roosting poles must be provided for your hens to slumber. It must have an approximate 2-inch wide rounded edges. You allot an 8 to 10 inch space between every bird. Construct nest boxes to encourage egg laying. One nest box is equivalent to three to four chickens. Situate the boxes several inches above the ground. Do not let it touch the soil. Place these nesting boxes somewhere private where no one can bother them while they’re doing their thing. Safety is the very first policy one should follow.

Requirement #5

Your coop must be roomy. Spacious. You have to allot at least 3 square feet for every bird. There should also be space where the feeder and the waterer can hang about 7-8 inches above the ground.

Requirement #6

The coop must be accessible for the owner’s sake ONLY. Make sure your door is tight so predators and rodents will not be allowed. Easy accessibility can help you clean the coop so that bacteria and bugs do not fester.  Use materials that are easily cleaned and can stand up to frequent cleaning.  Put some thought into these materials so as to make it easy on yourself.  Chickens like a clean coop.

For more information on Chickens and Small Chicken Coop Plan as well as larger chicken coops I suggest you investigate this site:

Click Here –> http://smallchickencoop.com

As a related subject, you might want to consider a shed plan that you can easily convert into a hen house.  You can find a free shed plan at http://shedplanman.com.  This plan works pretty well and if you use recycled materials you can build it pretty cheap.

SMALL CHICKEN COOP PLAN – How many chickens are you planning on?

HOW TO CHOOSE A CHICKEN COOP

After all the research that has been done, I can tell you that there are a lot of different styles of chicken coops out there: Large, small, rectangular, triangular, portable, self-contained, urban, free-range… and the list keeps going on.

How do you make a decision on the chicken coop plan that’s right for you? Here’s some food for thought on this matter:

• Are you going to have one bird or 10 birds? One of the most critical decisions  to get right when choosing your coop is “how big of a coop do you need”?  If you choose a small chicken coop plan that’s too small, you’ll overcrowd your chickens, leading to sickness and aggressive behavior.  Start with 4 square feet per chicken.  Always build bigger than you think you will need seems to be good advice.
• What is your climate like in your region? If you live in an area that gets frequent snowfall, bitter cold, or heavy wind, you need a coop that’s well built, and sturdy. Likewise, if you live in a climate with lots of sun and hot temperatures (anything over about 80°F), you need a coop that won’t overheat and that offers lots of shade throughout the day.Some communities have zoning laws and restrictions on chickens. Does yours? Even if it does, you still may be able to get away with having a small flock of 2 – 3 hens, as long as you choose a coop design that’s low profile and easy to blend into your landscaping. Not telling you to break the law here, just saying…
• Remember, hens are pretty quiet little creatures.  Roosters are definitely not! A rooster is not needed for your hens to produce eggs, so if you live in a neighborhood (be a god neighbor) you may want to consider buying female sex-link chicks to ensure you get only hens.
• You need to consider the ventilation of a chicken coop carefully. Don’t choose a chicken coop that’s under ventilated! Word of advice: a coop that’s healthy for your chickens will not be based on residential building practices. Chickens adapt very quickly to even very cold temperatures, but they won’t survive a coop that’s over- insulated.  They need fresh air-but not too drafty.
• Are you planning to build your own coop from plans? Make sure the designer offers proof that they have actually built the chicken coop plans and they work. Maybe I’m too picky, but many chicken coop plans you can buy online or in books are nothing more than “fantasy models” built on a CAD program, not in real life. These kind of “plans” are usually subject to “how the heck do you build that?”errors and common sense failures. If they don’t offer real-life photos, and/or video of actual built products, then you may want to consider another plan!  Try this free shed plan and customize it into a chicken dream coop!
• Will maintenance on, and in the coop be easy or difficult? I love to watch the chickens and their antics.  That is fun.  Cleaning their coop isn’t. Make sure to choose a chicken house that’s has easy to clean surfaces, convenient cleanout access,  and is built well enough that you won’t spend a lot of time and money on repairs.
• Do you have a set budget for your coop? Pre-built coop are usually your most expensive option, with a pre-cut coop kit running slightly less. Building your own coop is the least expensive option, also the most rewarding, plus you can customize it. Using reclaimed materials can really offset the cost and you can be “green” at the same time.  Not to mention the uniqueness.

Above all, have fun.