Chicken Coop Set-Up

Before you begin building your chicken coop, it is important to envision your chicken coop set up. By taking the time and properly designing your coop, you can make sure that all the necessary key items are accounted for. You can also research in advance what has worked well or potentially not worked for other chicken coop operators.

There are two main parts to the chicken coop. There is the coop itself, which is the basic building that houses the chickens. And then there is the chicken run, which is usually about 4 times the size of the coop. This is the wire pen that is outside in the grass attached to the coop, where the chickens can run around and exercise.

As noted about, the run is about 4 times the size of the coop. But it is very important that your coop and run be the appropriate size for the number of birds you are housing. You must have 2-3 feet for each chicken on the inside of the coop, and approximately 10 feet per chicken in the chicken run for optimal health and egg production. So when sitting down to draft the chicken coop plans, keep the size requirements in mind.

When planning the interior of the coop, you must have 2 main areas. One area is the nesting area, which will be filled with nesting boxes, where the chickens lay their eggs. The nesting area needs to be a calm, dark, cozy place where the chickens feel comfortable laying their eggs, so it should be separate than the area where the food and water are kept. The feeding area, on the other hand, should be well lit and will be the more open side of the coop.

You also have to set up your coop to be properly ventilated. This can be done by utilizing windows and vents to allow carbon dioxide to escape and the fresh air to get it. The coop must also have properly placed doors. This is for two purposes. First, you must have a small door for the chickens which allows them to get out into the chicken run. Then, you must have a second door that is large enough for the owner to get inside the coop to collect the eggs and comfortably clean the inside of the coop.

These are only a few of the many things you have to keep in mind when designing your own chicken coop. Because of the difficulty in building them, and with the many things you must remember to insure the health of your chickens, many owners buy chicken coops on-line and have them shipped to their homes, which is also a valuable way to get started. If you definitely want to build your own coop, the best bet is to purchase a set of chicken coop plans on-line that include instructions on how to properly set up and build your coop. Chicken coop set up is important and must be well thought out; otherwise you are risking the health and well being of your chickens.