There is probably no better way to start raising chickens at home than by making your own purpose-built chicken coop. It’s one of the most fun aspects of keeping chickens as a hobby, and it’s the perfect way to make sure you’re giving your new chickens the best housing possible.
Your main consideration when designing and building your chicken coop should always be the welfare of your chickens. You should remember to keep in mind some of the following practical points:
Security – Making sure your new chicken coop is strong and robust is crucial to keeping predators out while safely securing your chickens inside. Climate: Whatever climate you live in in your chicken coop, you’ll need to keep your flock of chickens dry and free of drafts in all types of weather conditions. At a later stage, you may choose to raise your own chicks from your existing hens, so you must remember to keep in mind that you will need to consider brood hens. Portability – You may be one of the many people who start keeping chickens in gardens and backyards around town, so it’s helpful to keep in mind that making your coop easy to move, as you may need to move it regularly to ensure your chickens always have good, fresh soil to graze on.
So let’s get started right away!
Once you’ve finalized the design and layout, you’ll need to source some materials. Whatever materials you decide to use, you should have no problem finding them cheaply and easily at your local DIY dealers.
Wood, if it has not already been pressure treated, should be given at least two coats of wood preservative. By treating the wood with care now, you can be sure that your chicken coop will perform flawlessly for many years to come, whatever the weather conditions.
Before joining the joints, especially if you are using new, untreated wood, apply a coat or two of preservative to the internal surfaces to ensure that the joint is fully weather resistant. This small but important step takes only a few minutes in the construction stage and will greatly extend the life of your new chicken coop. There are many types of wood treatment available, but some common ones are very poisonous to livestock and plants, so avoid using them at all costs. Always read the packaging and check if it is suitable before using it for your chicken coop.
Rough sawn lumber from a 2×2 or 3×2 section will be enough to make a strong frame that is also lightweight for portability and will keep your chickens safe from predators.
Select the best quality wire mesh and always buy the best you can afford, as ultimately this is all that stands between your precious chickens and a hungry fox. Welded mesh is always a better option than standard chicken wire. Not only is it much stronger, but it is much easier to work with, and it looks great too. When selecting which netting to purchase, you should keep in mind that your main concern should be keeping foxes and other predators out and keeping your flock safe and secure inside. If using a half-inch mesh seems unnecessary, especially when you think about the size of a fully grown hen, remember that you’ll probably be hatching your own chicks in no time.
Doing this will reduce the amount of light reflected by the cable and make it much easier to see through. Try applying the paint to the wire with a mini short-nap roller rather than using a spray can, as spraying is wasteful when painting the mesh. Peering inside your coop to see your chickens will be much easier as the paint makes the mesh appear almost invisible.
You can choose from a wide range of different types of roofing materials available at your local DIY store. An inexpensive option is to use the type of mineral felt commonly used in sheds and latrines. You can also use a metal type roof sheet that your supplier will be happy to cut to size for you. Working with this type of material is clean and easy and can look great when finished and trimmed correctly.
If you’re not too concerned about price, a cedar shingle or similar finish can be an attractive feature when used to finish your chicken coop roof. If your chicken coop is going to be part of a small city garden, paying attention to aesthetics is always worth considering.
Complete your chicken coop project with top quality hardware and accessories and you will have built a chicken coop that is both practical and strong and will keep your chickens healthy and safe for many years to come.
There’s a lot more to learn about building a chicken coop, but these simple steps will ensure you get the best possible start.