How to Build a Chicken Coop That Lives Up to Its Name

Now that you are about to build a chicken coop, there are several things that you need to think about.
As you can imagine, there are more than a couple of types you can easily build yourself. But before you rush out and get the material ask yourself these questions:
How Many Chickens?
How many chicken do you plan on holding? If youre going to build a chicken coop, you need to ask yourself this question first. This is a very important element of a hen house, and one that many beginners fail to answer.
The number of chickens is directly responsible for the size of the coop. If you plan on raising 10 chickens, your coop would need to be at least 30 square feet. Each bird requires a minimum of 3 square feet of living space. It is always a good idea to build the chicken coop larger than you actually need. This allows you add more chickens in the future, but more importantly it gives your chickens more living space.
Failure to give the chickens enough space will result in poor egg production and produce other problems in the coop.
The Two Types of Chicken Coops
There are two types of hen houses for you to learn how to build. The first one is portable. There are several reasons why you might choose to build a portable chicken coop. One of them is ease of maintenance and cleaning. Another is the flexibility to take the chickens with you. If you plan to raise the chickens as pets, a portable hen house is a good option.
If you prefer durability, a transportable version might not be what you are looking for. In that case you would want to look at a fixed coop. It provides you with a stable steadfast construction that both you and your chickens will appreciate.
Dont worry, if you can build a portable chicken coop, you can build a fixed hen house just as easily.
The Protection Factor
This is also a very important part of learning how to build a chicken coop. And one that shouldnt be overlooked. If you are building a chicken coop for the city, you will be up against just as many predators as in the country. Several common dangers are: dogs, cats, rats, badgers, foxes and coyotes.
Make sure to use a fencing that matches your needs, and meets the size requirements for your hen house.
And while I run the risk of sounding like a broken record, dont neglect your coops security. There is nothing more heartbreaking than looking your children in the eyes and explaining to them that a predator dug under or broke through the fence and killed the chickens.
Looks Matter
Dont neglect the appearance of your coop. Anyone can find out how to build a chicken coop, but there is more to it than that. And it is common that people dont put enough effort into its visual aspect.
You need to build a pleasant looking home for your feathered pets or run the risk of ruffling some feathers with the neighbors. Of course you dont want that, nobody likes an eye sore, but with a little effort your hen house can become the envy of the neighborhood.

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