How to Build a Chicken Coop

Posted on January 1st, 2009 by monsterguide

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How to Build a Chicken Coop

Here are some steps that will aid you along the process to building a basic chicken coop. Building a coop is by far much easier than you might think.

A chicken coop is the most valuable part in raising chickens as it provides a home, food and nesting for the chickens. Here are some of the key elements and factors to building a sturdy and long lasting chicken coop.

Planning

Question #1: How many chickens and hens will this coop house?
Question #2: How many windows will it have and will it provide enough sunlight?
Question #3: Will there be easy access to the inside for maintenance?

These are some questions you must answer before going down and getting the materials and supplies. These are all factors of the planning stage.

When choosing the location for the chicken coop, pick an area far away from any brush, trees or shrubs. Building a chicken coop next to these areas can be harmful or even dangerous to the chickens, as these places are homes for snakes, rodents, and other animals that could seriously harm these little creatures.

Required Materials

Wood (2 x 4)
Concrete cinder blocks
Chicken wire or fence wire
Insulation strips
Some nails
Some screws
A saw
A hammer

Before you build the coop, you should have planned and designed the chicken coop mentally with a vision in your head. Once you have this vision, you will need to design and sketch it out on paper. Draw every angle and every feature even if you are not an artist. This is necessary before you start building; with no reference, this could spell disaster.

Building the Chicken Coop

Before beginning, you should have all of the required equipment already cut out. This will make your chicken coop a lot easier to build.

Step one: Lay out all of your materials and supplies.
Step two: Start with your wood post, by driving them into the ground at least 12″. This will provide a safe structure for your coop.
Step three: Hammer in and secure the chicken wire using a hammer and galvanized nails, wrapping the wire completely around and blocking off with the 2×4 wood blocks.
Step four: Insert the insulation strips.
Step five: Using non-rust aluminum, apply the slanted roof.
Step six: Screw in with a power drill and drill directly onto the secured post.