DIY Chicken Coop Plans

I have talked here before about the rising popularity of urban chicken coops.  Of course, nothing says "urban" like Ikea...

Recently, a chicken coop primarily made of Ikea products was featured on the IkeaHacker blog:

Click here to see more pictures and read about the Ikea chicken coop...

The family who built this coop spent about $400 to make it.  However, they did make one "deadly" mistake.  They used green plastic chicken mesh to enclose the coop.  Unfortunately, their foster dog broke into the coop and killed their four chickens.  Lesson learned - now they have three new chicks, and have replaced the plastic mesh with wire.

I have to admit, their coop is beautiful.  However, if it were mine, in addition to wire hardware cloth, there are a few other modifications I would make:

*  First, their coop is fairly open and does not appear to provide protection from the cold.  I am guessing they live in a warm climate (yep, the palm trees in the picture gave it away).  However, here in Indiana, this coop would be useless when the cold weather hits.

* There are no perches!  According to the description and pictures on IkeaHacker, the storage unit and drawers are being used as beds for the chickens.  I am guessing these will also double as nesting boxes when the chickens are ready to start laying.  Due to the obvious poo problem, I would not recommend this type of arrangement.

* It appears from the pictures on the IkeaHacker site that they are using softwood shavings as their litter material.  However, since the coop is not completely enclosed, there is a good likelihood that rain will be able to blow into the coop.  In this situation, I would personally opt for bark or gravel for covering the floor, and use the shavings in the nesting boxes.

So, now that you have heard what I think, it's your turn - what do you think?  Will we be seeing more urban chicken coops made from Ikea furniture?

From chicken coop plans to business plans...

Depending upon where you live, you may be able to start a profitable side business selling premade chicken coops.  I recently came across an article about a couple from Oregon who are doing just that:

• Read the article from the Bend (Oregon) Bulletin

According to the article, the couple's custom cabinet shop, that they have operated since 1975, was hit hard by the current economic downturn.  Instead of giving up, they decided to think outside of the box, and began building and selling chicken tractors, compact greenhouses, compost bins, and raised bed gardening systems.

Their products, and especially their mobile chicken coops, have been a huge hit with their customers.  They realized that they were onto something, and recently opened a gardening store.  Although the economy is taking its toll on many businesses, it's inspirational to see this couple's business thriving in spite of everything.

This is just for fun...

---Top Ten Signs That Your Chicken Coop Needs Cleaned---

10.  The police show up to investigate a strange odor coming from your property.

9.  Your hens keep passing out from holding their breath.

8.  Your chicken coop glows in the dark.

7.  Your neighbor now always wear a mask when outside.

6.  You find scratches leading to a tunnel under coop, and realize your chickens are digging an escape route.

5.  State requires that "Caution - Flammable" signs are posted on your coop.

4.  To fumigate your home, you open windows.

3.  Your six month old's first word is "Stinky!".

2.  You are contacted by the FBI and questioned for producing biological weapons of mass destruction.

1.  The smell coming from your chicken coop has received national attention - on the David Letterman Top Ten List!

Just kicking off the weekend by having a little fun!  If you can think of anything else to add to our "Top Ten Signs That Your Chicken Coop Needs Cleaned", leave a comment below...

With the heat of summer here, I know it seems like a strange time to talk about cold weather chicken coop plans. However, here in northern Indiana, summer will quickly give way to the dark, blustery days of winter.

So, while the sun is still shining and the days are still long and warm, let's talk about how you can winterize your coop so that your chickens stay warm even when its twenty below zero.

First of all, some breeds are hardier than others, and can better adapt to cold climates. Scots Dumpy, Orpington, and Wyandottes are just a few examples of breeds that will tolerate lower temperatures. If you have not purchased any birds yet, make sure you take some time to research breeds that will do well in your climate.

However, even the hardiest breeds may experience problems with frostbite on their combs and wattles. Coat these with Vaseline, which will protect their skin and keep it from freezing when the temperatures dip down.

Second, think about adding insulation to your coop. There are a number of materials you can use for this. For example, I recently talked to someone that used foam board.  Although I have only used "traditional" insulation, I think foam core is an interesting idea, and I just might have to give it a try one of these days.  When insulating, make sure you do not cover up any of your ventilation holes. Your birds will still need their fresh air.

Some doting chicken owners even include the purchase of heaters in their cold weather chicken coop plans. To keep things short and to the point here, I will talk about this at a later time. As a matter of fact, there are several gizmos and gadgets you can buy, from heated water containers to microwavable Snugglesafe heat pads and more.  When the snow hits, I will talk about these options a little more.  Now, getting back on track...

If you want your chickens to continue laying eggs in the wintertime, you may want to install a couple of lightbulbs in their coop. Egg laying slows down considerably during the wintertime due to the lack of sunlight. You can trick your hens into thinking the days are longer by using electrical lights.

Well, there's a quick look at cold weather chicken coop plans. If you think of anything I left out, feel free to leave a comment below...

photo credit: tillwe

Although urban chicken coops are not in every neighborhood, they are becoming a more common sight.

It makes you think about how things will be ten years from now.  Will Fido be sharing his dog house and water bowl with a small flock of hens?  It really makes me wonder...

Take the Eglu, for example.  Not even a decade ago, this plastic chicken coop would have been scoffed at by people who raise chickens.  These days, it's a hot seller, with people willing to plunk down a hefty sum of cash to have one in their yard.  Even used ones!  Not too long ago, I came across an eBay auction for a pre-owned Eglu.  The auction still had a couple of days left, but at the time, it had already received sixteen bids, with a current offer of $300.00!

Eglus are nifty, but they are not the only urban chicken coops available.  Any kind of coop that is attractive and fits in well with your landscaping will keep your neighbors from squawking "fowl" play.  While browsing the web recently, I even saw a coop disguised as a garbage can (actually, I thought it resembled a compost bin).  However, the theory behind the design was that people in urban areas are so used to seeing garbage cans, they are "blind" to them.  Sneaky, huh?

This brings me to my next point.  Unfortunately, chickens are misunderstood by many city dwellers.  They have a reputation for being smelly and noisy.  As far as noise, hens are a fairly quiet bunch (much quieter than the teenage boys next door!).  It's the roosters that are a problem.  Hens will be more than happy laying eggs without a rooster present, so if you don't plan to breed your birds, there's really no need for cock-a-doodle-doos at four o'clock in the morning.

As far as the smell - well, you can't really blame the birds.  It's the owner's responsibility to maintain their coop and run.  By using a portable chicken ark or coop, many of the problems with keeping the run clean are taken care of.  Of course, the coop will still need to be cleaned, but it's not too difficult, as long as you make a regular habit of it.

Getting back to the original point...

If you would love to welcome chickens into your backyard, you will first need to look into your local laws.  What are the rules regarding having livestock within city limits?  Many places do allow hens, but for obvious reasons, ban their noisier male counterparts.  Some have restrictions on how many birds you can own, or have minimum requirements for how much land you must have in order to raise chickens.

Of course, some cities still have a strict "no chickens allowed" policy.  If you live in one of the cities, realize that you can change things - it just might take a little work on your part.

Next, you will need to address the concerns of your neighbors.  Educate them on the benefits of raising chickens.  Show them different urban chicken coop plans and pictures, and get their feedback.  Assure then that your chickens will be quiet and clean, and will not interfere with their use and enjoyment of their own property.

I'm sure I will talk about urban chicken coops more, but as I have rambled on for too long already, I will open it up to your comments...

photo credit: thomas pix

Call me crazy, but a chicken coop automatic door just might make your life easier. Early every morning, you (or someone in your family) will have the chore of going out to the coop and letting the birds out into their run or your yard. Of course, at the same time, you are probably taking out some fresh water and chicken feed to your birds, so an automatic door may not seem like much of a necessity.

However, at night, you will want to make sure your flock is safely tucked inside their coop as soon as the sun begins to set. Many of their predators are nocturnal and attack under the cover of dark. If you are delayed at the office or enjoying a night out on the town with your family and friends, you may not like what you come home to find.

This is where automatic chicken coop doors come in handy...

Your birds know when it's bedtime. They will instinctively return to their coop when it's time. However, if you are not able to shut them in safe and sound, they won't be able to close the door on their own - which means that they are still susceptible to attacks.

We came across a couple of handy do it yourself plans that will do the job of closing up the coop when you are not around to do it. The first one uses a drapery motor and controller, a weight, and a 24 hour day timer. Check it out at buildeazy.com.

The second design also uses a digital timer, but instead of the drapery motor, it uses a car door lock actuator. Check it out at nifty-stuff.com.

Remember, although a chicken coop automatic door is great as a backup plan, you should not count on it to do the job all the time. I would use it only in those special situations when you have other commitments and can't be in two places at once.

photo credit: Michael Brannon