Chicken Coop Design Tips

Table of Contents

Chicken Coop Design

You don’t have to stress over what to do with your chicken coop design. It can be as simple or extravagant as your imagination and your budget permit.

Initial Considerations

Decide on how big or small the coop will be.

You should allocate a floor space of 2 square feet per chicken. That’s one nest box (measuring about 1 ft/sq.) for every three chickens. However, you have also have to consider the breed of chicken you are intend to purchase. For instance, Jersey Giants are large breeds and you’ll need an additional square foot of floor space.

Make a sketch.

It’s always easier to follow a chicken coop design if you sketch an image on paper (with measurements) first. This way you’ll have a blueprint to refer to and follow when building the coop.

Identify your preferred location.

it would be helpful if you already have a space in mind. Take into consideration the location relative to the sun – southern exposure provides more warmth and sunlight. Do you need to run a fence to the area? Is it near a barn or garage? Remember to build the chicken coop on high ground to avoid the possibility of flooding and mud problems.

Be sure to include a floor and door in the plans.

The door can be a simple piece of wood (1×2 frame) with hinges and a latch. It should be large enough for you to be able to enter and exit to collect the eggs. If you are building a wooden floor, make sure it is raised about 6 inches off the ground. If have the budget, you may build a concrete floor. Consider having electricity to the coop – a low-watt bat will be beneficial especially during the winter months.

Consider the area’s ventilation.

Include in the plan several openings near the ceiling for better air circulation. Chickens will be comfortable in moderate temperature, that’s around 55°F. You might also want to consider installing a pair of 1 ½ inch dowels across the upper part of the chicken coop. Doing so will allow the chickens to roost off the floor during the night.

Bringing Your Chicken Coop Design to Life

When you’re ready, you can bring your plans to the lumber yard. They will help you determine the things you need, including the stocks, tools, and equipment. In addition, consider building the frame with 2x4s or use several sheets of plywood for the walls. You may use a sheet of plywood for the roof, then covered with roof shingles (or you can also use a single piece of metal sheet).

The people in the lumber yard will be able to provide more tips and information on what materials to use for your chicken coop.

Ideally, a small flock of about 6 to 8 hens would fit a 5×200-foot coop. If the area or location allows you more room to build, it will be better. If you think there will issues about predators in the area, you can bury a layer of chicken wire about 6 inches deep under the coop and the run. This will foil diggers like dogs, skunks, and foxes. Keep in mind that mink and weasels will be able to slip through the standard 2-inch wire, so to keep these animals out, use a couple of 2-inch layers or 1-inch wire. If you find holes in the coop, make sure to cover them to protect the hens.
Don’t forget to add accessories to the coop. Start with the essentials like the waterers which are available from many farm suppliers. Waterers will keep the hens from fouling their own water supply. The standard is one waterer for every 3 or 4 hens. You’ll also need a feed trough that is long enough for all the chickens in the coop to feet simultaneously. If there is no available lone ones, you can just get 2 smaller ones.

Make sure to provide enough wood shavings or straw on the floor, a 6-inch layer would suffice. Also, there should be a couple of handfuls for each nest box so your chickens can live comfortably.

The bedding should be changed at least once a moth or if the layers begin to look flat.

Conclusion

If you need a little more help with your design, you can check some online information, so you have an idea on what you need to include. Likewise, there are builders that you can solicit advice from. The people at the lumber yard would also be able to provide you with all the help you need when building a chicken coop design.