A chicken coop is one of the most crucial parts of maintaining a happy, healthy flock of chickens. The purpose of constructing a chicken coop is to protect your chickens from dangers such as predators, wetness, draughts, sickness, overheating, chills and escape. While the specifics of your coop will depend on the breed of your birds and your location, the general procedure and important considerations for building a chicken coop outlined here will assist you with your DIY project!
Steps for building a chicken coop
Depending on your skill level, it may take many days to design and a week to build a small chicken coop. Here’s how to build one yourself.
Prepare the ground
First of all, make sure the ground is dry. After a lot of rain, you shouldn’t start construction right away because the ground will be soft and porous, making it challenging to lay a solid foundation. Before you begin construction, take out as many rocks and sticks from the ground as you can, and think about trimming back overgrown bushes and branches that are close by. These, together with neighbouring sheds, woodpiles or other dark, gloomy hiding places, can harbour predators and make it simpler for them to attack your chickens. Also, think about shifting or eliminating these.
Pick your plan
Pick a plan that matches your requirements if you are building the coop from scratch. Beginner-friendly, simple-to-understand coop plans are widely available online, often for no cost.
Build your coop frame
You mustn’t rush the frame itself because doing so will ultimately cost you time because it will cause issues with the construction later on. You face the risk of losing your birds to leaks, draughts, predators or even coop collapse if the structure of your coop isn’t strong and secure.
You can use affordable or recycled materials for the rest of the coop, but if there’s one area where you should invest in high-quality wood, it’s the frame. A much stronger, safer coop will be the result if you double and triple-check all of your angles, measures and fastenings on the frame now rather than later.
Add coop walls
The coop’s frame will now get panels for the walls (as well as two panels for the roof). Once more, lumber or home improvement stores can cut plywood. There are no openings that could allow draughts or predators to enter because the panels are tightly connected to the frame and lay flush along all of its borders.
Additionally, now is the time to close your vents, which is essential for avoiding heat exhaustion and respiratory illnesses. Make sure any vents under the perches can be closed for the winter and that they are covered with metal mesh.
Source: Pinterest
Put in the floor
Some coop plans will specify a dirt floor, and while this may initially appear more convenient, installing a wooden floor will make your coop much safer and dryer in the long run. Your floor doesn’t need to be completely level, but it should be level enough and have securely fastened planks to prevent rocking.
Pick wood that ideally doesn’t have any noticeable knots or holes that could invite predators inside. To further deter burrowers, don’t forget to wire hardware mesh under the flooring. A floor panel’s dimensions are included in the plan. You must screw the floor panel onto the coop’s structure after you’ve installed the side panels.
Add your doors
You’ll require two entrances to your coop: one for you and one for the birds. Depending on the breed(s) of chicken you keep, your bird door will need to be a certain height and width. You can decide to make an entire wall detachable so they can quickly climb in and out.
Some chicken keepers build larger bird entrances so the birds can fit through them. Making sure both openings can be closed tightly to keep predators out and hens in is crucial. You might think about giving your hen entrance the ability to close with hardware mesh rather than a wooden door to add ventilation during the warmer months.
Building nesting boxes and perches
Nesting boxes and perches are all you’ll need because chickens don’t care much for furnishings. Your chickens will deposit their eggs in nesting boxes, which can be any type of container filled with cosy bedding. Set aside one nesting box for every three hens, or even more if you intend to keep a breed that is known for being extremely broody.
Build your run frame
Generally speaking, the same guidelines that we mentioned when creating the coop frame also apply here. However, the run structure won’t need to be as strong and ideal as the coop frame because it will simply need to support chicken wire, hardware mesh and other fencing, not complete walls and a roof. Nevertheless, it should be well-built because a sturdy frame will assist in keeping your fencing secure and safeguard your birds from predators.
Source: Pinterest (naibann.com)
Add your run fencing
Hardware mesh is more expensive; therefore, if necessary, chicken wire can be used above three foot off the ground. To keep out burrowers, use hardware mesh along the bottom and bury it at least six inches into the ground. Although it can be expensive, safety and protection are worthwhile.
Accessorise the coop
The chickens are kept from contaminating their water source by waterers, which are available from agricultural suppliers. For every three or four chickens, get one. Additionally, add either two smaller feed troughs or a feed trough long enough to accommodate all of the birds at once.
Your chickens will have the ideal house if you have enough wood shavings (pine) or straw to cover the floor with a 6-inch layer and place a few handfuls inside each nest box. About once a month, or more frequently, if it appears worn, change the bedding.
Building a chicken coop: Things to keep in mind
- To make sure that the coop is sturdy, your hardware mesh is attached and your walls will keep out the elements, performing a final quality check is a smart idea for the elements and any stray animals.
- For your coop to remain as flawless as the day you built it, regular care and inspections for warping or damage are also essential.
- Keep in mind that a well-constructed coop will save you a lot of time and money in the long run by ensuring the safety and health of your chickens.
FAQs
What type of flooring is best for a chicken coop?
Wood or concrete flooring covered with bedding like straw or wood shaving is the best for a chicken coop.
How much space is needed per chicken in the coop?
Approximately 2-3 square foot of space is required per chicken inside the coop.
What tools are necessary for building a chicken coop?
Saw, drill, hammer, screws and measuring tape are some of the tools necessary for building a chicken coop.
How many nesting boxes are needed for the hens?
One nesting box for every 3- 4 hens will be sufficient.
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