Building your own chicken coop is not only great fun; you'll find yourself entertained by the hens but you'll receive fresh organic eggs at the same time! Chickens are relatively easy to look after and don't require much attention but you will need to plan your chicken coop carefully before bring any hens home.
The first thing you should decide on is where to place the coop. Ideally it should be as near to the house as possible so you can keep an eye on them and protect them from predators. Once you've decided where you'll be keeping the coop, it's time to find the best design for your particular needs.
Chickens need space in order to feel comfortable. Keeping your chickens in a comfortably spaced coop is not only more humane it also allows them to become better layers. Chicken kept in cramped quarters experience a decrease in egg production. You should devote 4 square feet for each hen, so calculate accordingly. It goes without saying that the more chickens you buy, the more space you'll need. Never skimp on space or you'll have some very unhappy hens on your hands!
Once you've determined where you'll put the coop and how big it should be, you should choose a design that will allow the chickens to roost and lay eggs. You will need to include nest boxes and a place for the chickens to roost on. Chickens like roosting on elevated roosts to try to construct your chicken roost about 4 feet off the ground. And provide them with a ramp.
You don't need to use expensive materials to build your coop with, just make sure the coop is weather resistant and sturdy so predators won't be able to get at your flock. Safety is crucial as chickens are easily preyed upon by many predators such as foxes, rats and raccoons. Make sure nothing can burrow or dig into the coop.
You'll also have to provide your flock with a chicken run. Chickens love to forage and scratch around and providing them with the space to do so will result in happier and healthier chickens (and more eggs for you!).
As you can see it isn't all that complicated to start your own chicken coop. As long as you follow these simple guidelines, you should be well on your way to starting your own little poultry farm in your backyard. Keep them safe from predators and weather, provide them with the space they need and feed them well and you should soon have more organic eggs than you know what to do with!