DIY Chicken Coop Plans

If you live in a rural area, there's a good chance that either a nearby store or farmer sells do it yourself chicken coop kits.  To find a supplier, it may take some calling around to local farm equipment dealers, feed suppliers, and even veterinarians specializing in livestock care.

If your search is not successful, you may be able to track one down online.  We found a few good sources:

• Green Roof Chicken Coop Kits
• Eglu Cube Chicken House by Omlet
• Brougham ConvertiCoop Kit from Catawba Coops

Not to henpack or anything, but one major disadvantage to purchasing online is that you end up spending quite a bit of money to pay for shipping and handling.  After all, chicken coops are not a lightweight little bundle that the UPS man can just plop on your front porch.  Even if the vendor claims to provide "free shipping", you can bet your bottom dollar these costs are added into the price.

A good alternative is to build one from scratch.  If you can get your hands on a good set of chicken coop plans, you may be surprised at what you can build in a weekend.  The best plans come with detailed blueprints and material lists, and although you will have to cut your own lumber, there really is not much additional effort involved.

As always, if you find any other good sources of chicken coop kits, we would love to hear about them.  Just leave a quick comment below...

When placing a chicken coop, a little pre-planning will definitely help to prevent problems later on.  In addition to how the coop will look in your yard, think about what will keep your chickens happy.

In the heat of summer, a cool shady spot for your birds is ideal.  If you have a nice shade tree under which you can place the chicken coop, then take advantage of it.

Another thing you will want to think about is the placement of the pophole (the bird entrance).  Where I am at in Indiana, the bad weather always seems to blow in from the west or the north.  For this reason, I would avoid placing the pophole in either of these directions, to prevent rain from directly blowing inside the coop.

For the same reason, I would also avoid facing any of the windows toward these directions.  Ideally, the windows should be be located so that they coop is warmed by the afternoon sun.  This will help keep it warmer when cooler weather comes.

You will also want to put it in a location that is easy for you to maintain.  You will be at the coop daily, refilling feed and water, so you want to make sure that it is not situated too far out.

As you can see, placing a chicken coop is not difficult, but a little forethought does go a long way.  A good set of chicken coop plans also helps!

photo credit: bucklava

Wooden chicken coops are the most common kind, although these structures can be made from almost any type of materials.  Take the Eglu, for example.  Instead of wood, it's made from plastic.

However, when deciding on their chicken coop plans, most people select wood because:

* It is fairly inexpensive.  If you are good at salvaging and recycling, it may even be free.

* It is easy to repair.  Broken or split boards can easily be replaced - all you really need is your hammer and nails.

* It is durable.  It can withstand bad weather conditions and will last for many years.

The downside to wooden chicken coops is that they are the perfect home for rodents and red mites.

Mice and rats like to take up residency under low lying chicken houses.  It's easy for them to gnaw through wooden floors, and once inside, they will feast on spilled chicken feed and even eggs.  Keep a lookout for signs that these unwelcome critters have arrived.  When they do, eradicate them as soon as possible by using poisons and setting traps.

Red mites love to hide in the dark corners of wooden chicken coops.  At night, they come out and feed on the birds as they sleep on their roosts.  Red mites can cause significant irritation, and may even cause your chickens to pluck out their own feathers.  To combat red mites, first use a pressure washer to clean the interior of your chicken coop, then disinfect with a poultry safe product.

Despite these problems, wooden chicken coops are one of the best ways you can house your birds.  Just keep your eyes open for problems, and take care of them as soon as you notice them.

photo credit: jelkeschaafsma

Mobile chicken coops, also commonly called chicken tractors or arks, are gaining popularity in the U.S. There are a few common sense basics behind building one of these structures.

Let's talk about them...

It needs to be heavy enough to withstand the elements, yet light enough to move.

I don't know how many times I have heard of someone that built a mobile chicken coop, only to find out that their structure was too heavy to move. Unfortunately, if you are building your own design, this can mean a bit of trial and error before coming up with a good design.

If you finish your chicken tractor, only to find out you can't easily move it, there are a few things yo can do to remedy the problem. First (and simplest), forget about being able to move it on your own, and enlist the help of a family member. Another solution is to install wheels. However, if you do this, make sure they can handle the weight. Otherwise, you may have buckling problems.

It needs to provide protection from predators.

Put careful thought into the type of netting or fencing you use to surround the structure. For example, chicks can escape through two inch poultry netting, and weasels can sneak through to get the chickens. However, if you use galvanized one inch chicken wire instead, your birds will be much safer. It is weasel proof, and larger predators, such as raccoons, will not be able to reach in.

It needs to provide shelter from the elements.

This can be done in a number of ways - with tarps, plywood, and even fiberglass panels. The chickens will need shade from the sun, and will need protection from blowing rain. If you plan to use the mobile chicken coop during the cold winter months, this must also be addressed in the design.

It needs to provide easy access.

You will need to be able to easily access the feed and water containers, as well as any nesting boxes. Depending on the design, you may also need to be able to clean it.

Designs for mobile chicken coops can vary considerably. However, with a bit of planning, you should be able to design chicken tractor plans that are perfect for your free range feathered friends.

photo credit: steven.walling

When deciding on your small chicken coop plans, as a general rule, make sure you have at least a 3 ft. x 3 ft. area for each bird.

For example, if you build a coop that is 4 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft. (for a total of 36 square feet), you should have enough space to comfortably fit four birds.  Smaller breeds, such as the bantams, may need less space, and larger breeds, such as Jersey Giants, will require more.

If you are still not sure how much space you should allot for each bird, err on the side of caution by starting with fewer birds, or making a bigger structure than you think you will need.

Remember too that your birds will need a place to stretch their legs.  If you are unable to offer free range type conditions, make sure you have enough space for a proper run.  As an alternative to using a small chicken coop with an attached run, you may also want to consider building a portable chicken tractor.

photo credit: Arwen Twinkle

Free range chicken coops are commonly referred to as arks or tractors. Basically, this type of coop will allow you to provide your birds with a free range diet, without all the associated hassles.

Free range chickens are healthier, happier birds than ones kept in a coop. They get plenty of exercise, scratching the earth looking for bugs and other goodies to eat. They also receive the health benefits of a varied diet, getting the opportunity to eat a wide variety of bugs and greens.

Eggs and meat from free range chickens taste better too. In addition to taste, scientific studies show that they are also healthier for us, with less cholesterol and saturated fat, and more vitamins A and E and beta-carotene.

Unfortunately, there are several problems with raising chickens this way:

• It can be difficult to keep them out of your vegetable gardens and flower beds.
• They are more susceptible to attacks from predators.
• It may not be an option for birds raised in urban settings.

Use of free range chicken coops is one very good solution to these problems. There are several types that you can build - we encourage you to check out our page about chicken tractor plans for ideas. It's important to keep them lightweight, so that you can easily move them from one area of your property to another. It's also important to build them from materials that will deter predators. If you live in an urban environment, you will want to select a plan that is not only functional, but attractive too (gotta keep the neighbors happy).

photo credit: scillystuff