Build your own chicken coop: 4 tips for a great career

So you know that any kind of chicken coop worth its salt needs a career, right? I bet you also think that anything old will do, as long as it keeps the chickens inside. Actually, keeping his chickens on the move should be the least of his worries when building his own chicken coop.

These are the four things you should think about when building your own chicken coop.

Size

The run should allow about 10 to 15 square feet per bird (roosters will need less space, if you are handling older standard sized chickens go for the 15). In this way, all the girls have their space, there will be less chance of fights and the floor will be easier to clean.

Protection

More important than keeping the chickens inside, a run is your first line of defense when it comes to keeping predators out. Now I know, it’s a fence. But have you thought about how high that fence will have to be?

How about how deep into the ground it should go? There are many predators like fox and raccoon that will dig under your fence and catch your chickens.

What about the type of mesh you’ll need to use? I know you are probably assuming that when you build a chicken coop, chicken wire will do the job. Truth be told, it’s pretty flimsy stuff. There is no match for the teeth and claws of a raccoon or a hungry dog.

How about some kind of roof over it to protect your chicken from climbing and flying predators?

Floor

What you put on your pen floor can mean the difference between a truly enjoyable and easy-care experience for you and your chickens and one that is actually a huge chore.

When you build your own chicken coop out of organic materials like straw, hay or wood chips, it’s a fantastic idea and after you’ve cleared the ground you can put the dirty soil back into the garden as compost. However, there is a great disadvantage in the use of these organic materials. You’ll need to clean runout regularly, especially once it gets wet. Organic material absorbs moisture, and it doesn’t take long for the decomposition process to begin. If you are not vigilant and don’t hurry to clean up the wet straw in a short time, you will have a dirty, smelly run and really unhappy chickens.

The best flooring for your chicken coop is a mixture of sand and crushed stone or tiles. Sand is fantastic for keeping the ground clean and for drainage, shingles help keep the sand loose and “fluffy” so it doesn’t harden and compact.

Ceiling

You may or may not want to put a ceiling on your career when building your own chicken coop, but if you have the energy and the budget, it’s definitely a good idea.

Not only will it prevent climbing and flying predators from stealing your precious chickens, but when done correctly, it will also provide shelter from the elements for your chickens and their run.