Kits for Building Chicken Coops

Posted by Business
By Eric Moore


So you're ready to build a chicken coop but aren't quite sure where to start. This is a common problem that you can easily address by looking for chicken coops plans either online or in the store. The problem is that there are so many different things that need to be done in order for the chicken coop to be a success. For one thing, you need to make sure that there is a place for the chickens to nest.

Choosing your Kit
How large your kit is will be decided by the number of hens you plan to house. A standard 4'x4' coop will house three to four hens of normal size. Each adult chicken needs about four square feet of space and you can figure square footage by multiplying the number of feet (four by four = 16 square feet).
Chickens also require access to exercise so they can get fresh air and sunshine. This will mean a chicken run attached to the coop.
Most kits will not include the run. Sometimes the run can be purchased separately as a kit or added yourself with some good wire and know-how.
When you purchase your chicken coop kit, pay close attention to the specifications of the coop. Sometimes, space not usable to the chickens is included as part of the kit's measurements. Just as your home's living space does not include measurements of bathrooms and closets, a coop's nesting boxes and roosting spaces are not included in the chickens' living space.

In addition to this you will need to provide your chickens a place to eat. There are a number of different food dispensers that you can invest in for your chickens. For instance you could take a look at long dispensers with grated openings. There are also smaller models, and then you have the automatic food dispensers. Something to note here is that you never want to give your chickens an open container of food. They might eat it, they might not, but they will always defecate in it.

Tip #3 - Guard Your Coop From Weather and Predators
It is important that you build your chicken coop with protection in mind. Both weather and predators can wreak havoc on your coop, so build it with these tips in mind.
Build the coop on a high area with ample drainage and locate it facing the sun. In the event that it rains, this location will not only ensure that the coop does not get flooded, but that it dries quickly when the sun comes out.

Finally you will need to devise a way for the chickens to leave their coop. This is a very important part of a chicken coops plan because the chickens need to be exposed to natural light throughout the day. You will also need to decide what type of wire you want to use for the pen. There are various types of chicken wire and you will want to choose something that your chickens cannot easily poke their heads through.

Are you read you ready to build your chicken coop? Do you think you have what it takes? Make sure you have a decent set of plans and that will involve searching the internet. There are plenty of sites out there that provide decent chicken coop plans, and all you need to do is find them. One site you could check out is




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