Perhaps you landed on this page because you are looking for a set of chicken coop plans. If you would like to skip the remainder of the information on this page, feel free to go directly to out reviews of chicken coop plans.
If you would like more general information on chicken keeping and as well as advice and tips on selecting the best chicken coop designs for your needs we include the following resources:
- Building a Chicken Coop:
- Types of Chicken Coops: There are many different varieties of chicken coop designs. Learn about the various types of chicken coop designs available, as well as the pros and cons of each type.
- Chicken Coop Setup: Not only will proper setup help to ensure that your flock will have adequate access to food water and a sanitary environment, it will minimize the effort required to properly maintain your chickens.
- Chicken Coop Ventilation: This is one of the most important, but often overlooked aspects of chicken coop design. Our article on chicken coop ventilation outlines the most important design features to include to ensure adequate ventilation to promote proper chicken health
- Chicken Tractors: Chicken Tractors are an economical choice for those desiring just a few chickens. The construction is simple thus making this a good choice for those with limited construction knowledge and tools.
- Other Helpful Articles
What you should Consider Before Selecting a Set of Chicken Coop Plans
- Number of Chickens to Be Housed: As a general rule, you can expect about 5 eggs per week per chicken. Of course many factors influence this including age of the hen, breed and overall health. A good rule of thumb is to plan on approximately four square feet of coop for each chicken.
- Available Land for Coop: In some cases, you will be limited by the room available in your yard. When planning be sure to avoid areas subject to inundation and ponding.
- Local Zoning Ordinances : Although many municipalities are becoming more friendly towards chick-keeping even in urban and suburban areas, its is always best to check with the local zoning office first. Many will allow a few chicken, but will limit the number.
Chicken House Options
- Free Chicken House Plans: Although I have not found many free chicken coop plans that are well documented and complete, for those who have experience in construction, free chicken house plans and even photo images may be all that is required to complete a working coop.
- Purchased Chicken Coop Plans: Payed plans provide a step up form most free plans in that they typically come with complete instructions, a materials list and dimensioned construction documents.
- Adapting an Existing BuildingSometimes a structure already on the property can serve as a good coop with proper modifications and additions. Storage sheds can often be easily outfitted to serve the need of a small flock.
- Purchase a Pre-built Chicken CoopFor those not interested in dealing with a construction project, pre-assembled coops are available. These generally run from $500 to $1500, so a DIY chicken coop is definitely more cost effective.