Chicken Coop

As people look to buy local and grow more of their own food, some will turn to raising they own food. Once you have mastered the art of gardening, raising chickens for eggs and sometimes meat, is a logical next step.

If you have a small (urban) area, raising chickens can be a great choice. Of course the first thing you need to do, is check your local by-laws. Some residential areas to not allow you to raise chickens or any other fowl (birds). At the same time, it’s a good idea to bounce the suggestion off your neighbours to see if they have any objections. Chickens will make some noise and there can be a bit of aroma in the air.

So you are ready to rasie your own chickens. You’ll need a chicken coop!

A chicken coop, also called a chicken house or hen house, will protect your chickens from weather and predators. You’ll need about 3 sq. ft. of floor space inside the chicken coop, for each hen and another 5 sq. ft. of space outside the chicken coop or hen house. Inside the chicken coop you will need nesting boxes, a watering device (waterer) and something for feeding your chickens.

Build or Buy a Chicken Coop?

This question usually comes down to how handy you are. A chicken coop does not need to be fancy, the chickens won’t complain, but it does need to be functional and sturdy. You may find it hard to locate someone who sells chicken coops as well. Farmers can buy in bulk and get better pricing. Most farms I know, make their own chicken coops as well. There are many free designs to be found on the Internet.

Thinks to keep in mind when buying or making a chicken coop.

• access for cleaning – chickens will make a mess. Ensure it’s easy to clean the coop.
• local weather – you need ventilation and if you are in a cold climate, you may need heating (heat lamp).
• gathering eggs – again, easy access is important. A door over or behind the nesting boxes is nice.
• portable – do will you want to move it around, providing fresh grass, every other week or so?
• locks – need to keep the chickens in and predators out. But make sure your lock can be accessed from inside in coop.

Chicken Coop Plans

• Chicken Coop Plans
• Backyard Chickens
• Henspa

More on Chickens

• Raising Chickens
• Chicken Recipes

Enjoy!

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• Chicken Recipes

Filed under: DIY, Grid