Types of Chicken Coops

Chicken coops used to be fairly boring and cut and dry. Due partly to the increased use of the Internet, chicken owners everywhere are sharing their plans and photos of their chicken coops with people all over the country. By just doing a simple Internet search, you can find hundreds of varieties of chicken coops, coop building plans that can be purchased, websites dedicated to the creation of your very own chicken coop, and forums where chicken enthusiasts can correspond about building their chicken coops.

There are 2 main types of chicken coops. They are wood and Eglus (or plastic).

The typical chicken coop which most people have seen is a wooden coop. There are many varieties to the wooden coop, and they can be all shapes and sizes. You can buy wooden chicken coops crafted for you, or if you are handy, you can build your own. On-line you can buy building plans to do it yourself, along with instructions and suggestions on what materials are best for what coops.

Most chicken coop builders generally use 3 materials when building their wooden chicken coop. These are: wood (2 by 4’s that are untreated to protect the health of the chickens), shingles for the roof to keep bad weather out, and siding or some kind of exterior protection. Naturally you will also need screws, nails, and various other materials. You will need wire to build the chicken run on the outside of the coop also.

The second kind of chicken coop is the Eglus coop, which is a plastic, tent-like structure that looks similar to an igloo. These plastic coops claim to be predator proof and come with an attached chicken run. They are advertised to be urban friendly, and are intended for people without a large backyard. They only hold a few chickens, so the best bet for someone who plans a large scale chicken operation would probably be best set with a wooden structure. But for people who live in cities or just want to have 2 chickens, the Eglus is a great option.

Besides building or purchasing the coop itself, there are many other things to keep in mind when preparing to have chickens. You will need to purchase or build nesting boxes, where the chickens will lay their eggs. These nesting boxes will be within the coop itself. You also have to make sure you have room for the food and water for the chickens. You have to have windows and doors, and a proper ventilation system to allow fresh air to get in but to preclude drafts from entering the structure.

Owning and operating a chicken coop can be quite rewarding. To learn more about building your own coop, you can purchase many different building plans on the Internet to help with the process. If you are planning on purchasing a plastic coop, you can also order these online to be delivered directly to your home. Whichever way you go, finding the type of coop that best fits your goals as a chicken owner and lifestyle are very important.