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?

This post is from Chicken Coop Plans, where you can learn more about raising chickens.

Urban Chicken Coops from Ikea?

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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...

This post is from Chicken Coop Plans, where you can learn more about raising chickens.

Top Ten Signs That Your Chicken Coop Needs Cleaned

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Before I chit chat any more, here are the ones I recommend...

The one great thing about these is that you don't have to wait around for them.  They are downloadable, which means they could be in your hands within the next five minutes.  Ten minutes from now, you could be getting in your truck with a complete list of materials, driving to a nearby lumber store.  And by the end of this weekend, you could have a brand new, handmade chicken coop sitting in your backyard.  That's the beauty of the internet.  I don't know how it works - I just know it does!

I also really like the fact that these plans provide details for three different size coops - small, medium and large.  Today, you may be thinking that a couple of chickens are all you need, but after having these pleasant birds around for some time, you may decide you want to expand your flock.  If and when you come to this decision, you can refer back to these plans, and build a bigger coop.

Need another reason?  Well, unless you have owned chickens for some time, you may be a little lost as to what your birds will really need.  This leaves the door wide open to problems.  Once those problems do become apparent, then you will have to spend additional money (and time) to fix them.

Replacing chicken wiring, hardware, and lumber can be expensive.  Also, it's likely these fixes will need to be made at the most inconvenient times.  Raccoons, foxes, neighborhood dogs - they don't have a schedule like we do.  They don't care that a mid-week attack will put you at conflict with getting through that pile of paperwork sitting on your desk at the office and fixing the coop (if you are lucky enough to have any survivors!).

A good set of chicken coop building plans will help you get things right from the beginning - and in the long run, it will save you time, money, and hassles.

This post is from Chicken Coop Plans, where you can learn more about raising chickens.

My Favorite Chicken Coop Building Plans

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Where will the chicken coop be located?  Deciding on a good location is very important, not only from an aesthetic viewpoint, but from a practical one as well.  Make sure you can easily carry feed and water to your chickens.  Also, if you have nearby neighbors, address any concerns they may have regarding the location of your chicken coop.

Do you need any building permits?  Depending on the size of your structure, you may be required to obtain a building permit prior to starting construction.  Research your local ordinances to find out what steps, if any, you need to take before starting.

How many chickens do you plan to keep?  You will need to make sure your chicken coop is adequately sized for the number of birds you plan to keep, as well as the types of breeds.  As a general rule, allot a 3 foot x 3 foot space for each chicken, give or take depending on the size of the breed.

How much do you have budgeted for the project?  Even if you are working on a tight budget, make sure you use materials that will last and provide adequate protection and shelter for your birds.

Make sure you include adequate ventilation and natural light.  Your chickens also need these to thrive and be healthy.

What's your climate?  If it's hot and sunny, you may want to position your chicken coop in a shady area of your backyard.  If you have bitterly cold winters, you may want to consider adding some extra insulation to the interior of your coop.

Provide nest boxes and perches.  You should have one nest box for every three to four birds.  A twelve inch square 8-10 inches deep is a good size box for most birds.  You should also provide roosting perches for the chickens to use at night when they sleep.  To avoid any chicken fights, make sure to position all perches at the same height.  They should be placed well above floor level and higher than the nesting boxes.  If necessary, build a ramp or ladder to make the perch more easily accessible for your birds.

These are just a few pointers for building a chicken coop.  A good set of chicken coop plans will also help. If you would like more information, stick around awhile and do some more reading...

photo credit: erix!

This post is from Chicken Coop Plans, where you can learn more about raising chickens.

Tips for Building a Chicken Coop

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