Backyard Chicken Coop – 4 Things You Need to Know Before Building

Building a backyard chicken coop is a relatively simple task and certainly makes economical sense. But, there are several things you need to consider before you go to task. While the benefits of having a backyard chicken coop are honestly obvious (endless supply of organic eggs, fertilizer for your garden, self sustaining agriculture, and even a fantastic project for your kids), there are certain key components to building your coop that should be incorporated into the design.

 1.      Research the angle of the sun. When you build your backyard chicken coop, you need to take into consideration the amount of direct sunlight that will be hitting the structure. Too much or too small sunlight can have a dramatic effect on the health and productivity of your birds. Setting up your backyard chicken coop so the appropriate amount of natural sunlight can permeate the structure can have a huge impact on the quality and quantity of eggs produced.

2.      Know what breed of chickens to use. There are many breeds of chickens, or hens, that you can buy for use in your backyard chicken coop. Certain breeds of chicken are really more likely to adapt well to the climate in your region. Research the climate, and consider even talking to your local Agricultural Extension agent to get their opinion on what breed of chicken would be best suited for your area. In most states, there are Agricultural extension agents assigned to each county. If you look at your state government website, you should be able to locate a phone number to give them a call.

3.      Knowing what wood to use for your backyard chicken coop is vital. Chickens are known to peck and tear up wood structures, and if your structure is made out of particularly porous materials, your brood of chickens may peck the wood into oblivion. Doing some simple research on the best types of building materials to use will save you the expense of repairing your chicken coop year after year.

4.      Survey the local wildlife population. Knowing what kind of wildlife you have in your area will also be an vital factor to consider. The ancient saying of the fox in the hen house certainly holds right. But, it is more than just the sly ancient fox you need to be concerned with. Coyotes, wolves, owls, hawks, and even stray cats can pose major threats to your backyard chicken coop. If these animals are prevalent in your area, you should build your coop to minimize the chances of any of these animals getting to your brood.

Building a backyard chicken coop can easily be done in one afternoon, and it is certainly the most economical route to go instead of buying a pre built coop. All you need to do is a small research before starting, and your experience should be both pleasurable and rewarding for years to come. Obtaining a set of chicken coop plans and list of materials is not too hard either. Most coops can be built using everyday household tools such as handsaws, hammers, and screwdrivers.